Panthers get the wind up

SHELF PANTHERS MATCH REPORT 28 MARCH 2010
Marsden 6 Shelf Panthers 1

The Panthers suffered their first league defeat of 2010 – and only their second of the whole season – against a tough Marsden side.

Right from the start, the omens weren’t good: a rutted mud-patch of a pitch on an exposed hillside in a howling gale against brawny opponents, some of whom looked as if they might eat raw sheep for breakfast.

The wind-chill made it feel about minus ten – and Shelf were caught cold as the home side burst straight through to score within seconds of the kick-off. It was a pattern that was to be repeated throughout the match: Marsden’s two best players rampaging through some uncharacteristically limp Shelf tackling to create a host of scoring opportunities.

Marsden were 3-0 up at the break and, despite Lee’s valiant attempts to rouse his out-of-sorts team at half-time, the visitors simply couldn’t get into the match.

As the Pennine clouds scudded by at breakneck speed, silver linings were hard to find, but at least Shelf’s one and only goal was the best of the game – a lovely shot from Tom Wood in the 47th minute that curled from the left edge of the penalty area into the top right hand corner of the net. The defender has now got on the scoresheet in each of his last three games.

The Panthers could also take heart from another energetic and determined performance by Dylan to win his second successive Man of the Match award.

Luke pulled off a great diving save from a 52nd minute penalty and – with Marsden blasting another against the bar in the first half – the Shelf goalkeeper has managed not to concede a spot-kick despite facing three in the last two matches.

The Panthers’ goal-machine Toby failed to get on the scoresheet in a league match for the first time since 18 October – at least giving his dad Simon some welcome financial respite.

With their closest rivals Silkstone only managing a draw, Shelf remain top of the league – and surely they won’t be this under-the-weather again in the remaining few weeks of the season.