Six-shooter Toby guns down Silkstone

MATCH REPORT 11 OCTOBER 2009

Shelf Panthers u-13s 7 Silkstone 5


Panthers striker Toby Mears just can’t stop scoring. His double hat-trick against Silkstone takes his tally for the first five games to 18 – a figure he didn’t reach until April last season.

But, while Toby grabbed most of the glory – and another wad of his dad Simon’s generous cash bonus – this win over one of the league’s fitter and more competitive sides was built on a strong team performance despite the absence of midfield stalwart Ross with a back injury.

It means Shelf have now surged six points clear at the top of the table with a 100 per cent record.

Central defender Tom Wood turned in another fearsome display of long-range shooting. One thunderbolt flew into the net after six minutes, only for the goal to be disallowed for offside. Twelve minutes later, another effort from outside the penalty area pinged off the post. Then, in the dying minutes of the match, he struck the crossbar with a free-kick from way out on the right wing before Adam Renard tucked the ball home in the resulting goalmouth scramble for the Panthers’ seventh and final goal.

Meanwhile, Robert celebrated becoming a teenager with a Man of the Match performance which saw him provide great crosses to set up three of Toby’s goals.

And there was plenty more to enjoy. Tom Mann hit a volley from just outside the area which fizzed into the keeper’s hands. Jonny saved a certain goal with a perfectly-timed last-ditch challenge. William and Sam tackled like demons against strong opponents. Luke made two spectacular diving saves.

And at least the torrential downpour should help us all acclimatise in time for next week’s epic trip into the Pennine wilds to face 3D Dynamoes.