Mann of the moment

SHELF PANTHERS MATCH REPORT JANUARY 23 2011
Shelf Panthers 10 Westend Tigers 0

Midfield magician Tom Mann and striker Toby hit four goals each as the Panthers romped to their second high-scoring victory in successive weeks.

Shelf’s first, after six minutes, was one of the goals of the season, as Toby latched onto a long ball out of defence, beat his marker on the right wing, then dribbled along the edge of the area before finishing with a left-foot shot into the bottom corner.

Three minutes later, it was 2-0. Toby’s cross hung tantalisingly in the air, and Tom Mann headed it powerfully into the roof of the net.

Despite forcing corner after corner, the Panthers couldn’t add to their lead, and when Westend went close with two efforts, there were one or two concerns that Shelf might suffer the same sort of collapse they’d experienced against Greetland a fortnight before.

But those fears were allayed by three goals in the last seven minutes of the first half. First, Robert found himself with acres of space in the penalty area and coolly slotted the ball past the keeper.

Then Dylan’s flick set up Toby for another clinical close-range finish. And on the stroke of half-time yet another pinpoint corner from Tom Wood found Tom Mann stooping low to send a looping header over the keeper and into the net.

Playing up the slope after the break, Shelf initially struggled to add to their lead, although this more subdued period was livened up by a kamikaze diving header by Jonny to clear a rare Westend attack.

But as the half wore on, the Panthers midfield – superbly orchestrated by Man of the Match Sam – took complete control of the game again. The home side finished with a five-goal salvo in the last 18 minutes – and came close on at least as many occasions.

Toby completed his fifth hat-trick of the season when he ran onto Adam Renard’s through-ball and stroked it past the advancing keeper.

Tom Mann’s hat-trick followed two minutes later. Toby’s shot was saved by the keeper and, with defenders blocking his route to goal, he squared the ball for Tom to slot home from ten yards.

Adam Renard’s typically all-action performance was rewarded with a 57th minute goal – a long-range screamer into the roof of the net.

Four minutes later, Adam McDaid came within a whisker of his first goal of the season. His crisp snap-shot seemed destined for the top corner, but the keeper flung himself across the goal to make a fine save.

There was still time for Tom Mann and Toby to make it four goals apiece. Tom’s was buried from close-range after good work in the penalty area by Sam, while Toby’s was set up by a yet another powerful run and cross by that Mann again.

So the Panthers have every reason to be in good heart for next week’s foreign jaunt into The Land That Satnav Forgot to face 3D Dynamos. Don’t forget your passports…