Kings of the Jungle

SHELF PANTHERS MATCH REPORT 10 OCTOBER 2010
Westend Tigers 1 Shelf Panthers 4

On paper, this looked like the clash of the league’s big beasts – Tigers v Panthers. In the event, Shelf roared to a comfortable victory which would have been even more comprehensive if their finishing had been anywhere near as deadly as their approach play.

The game was less than two minutes old when the Panthers made a breakthrough. Sam – who put in a magnificent display of attacking midfield play to win the Man of the Match award – hit a lovely pass into space for Robert to sprint onto and fire an unstoppable shot high into the net.

Even though they dominated possession and went close several times, Shelf had to wait until the 20th minute for their second. Tom Mann stroked the ball through to Toby inside the area. Toby’s first shot was well saved, but he made no mistake with the rebound.

Luke’s desperate block-tackle on the goal-line stopped the home side pulling a goal back in a rare attack, but the Panthers were soon back in their stride and Robert crashed a shot against the bar after a goalmouth melee.

Then, four minutes before half time, Shelf scored their best goal of the season so far. Sam raced ahead of his marker to win the ball in midfield, then surged down the right wing and put in a tremendous cross which Toby met perfectly with a deft volley.

After the break, the Panthers continued to control the midfield with a combination of slick passing and strong running – but they just couldn’t find the net. Rumours began to surface that a Far Eastern spread-betting syndicate had placed several million dollars on Shelf missing ten open goals from less than six inches out.

Sam got the ball caught under his foot on the goal-line; then he hit a post from close-range and Tom Mann poked the rebound wide.

Then, after 67 minutes, Westend pulled a goal back through a penalty after Jonny used his superhuman powers to make an opponent fall over in the area despite the absence of any physical contact.

A minute from time, though, the Panthers cemented their first win of the season when Sam finally squeezed the ball into the net off a defender from a tight angle.

Next week’s Panthers’ training session is believed to involve a football, a very short distance and a very large barn door.