Gone with the wind

SHELF PANTHERS MATCH REPORT 6 FEBRUARY 2011
Shelf Panthers 0 Rastrick 6 Severe Gale Force 9

The wind was the undisputed winner of this encounter. Roaring diagonally across the pitch from the south west corner, it threatened to deposit large chunks of Huddersfield onto unsuspecting players and spectators.

Never mind the match – even the raffle was turned into a lottery, with a number of tickets being snatched into the air and heading off in the general direction of Aberdeen.

The Panthers came into this game with two big wins under their belt, while Rastrick were riding high in second place in the league. On a quieter day (only gale force 8, maybe), the two teams might have produced some cracking football. As it was, the ball spent much of the first half hurtling into touch. It was a bit like watching rugby union (although infinitely more entertaining, of course…).

Apart from a close-range effort from Toby, which bobbled agonisingly along the goal-line in the seventh minute, first-half chances were few and far between for both sides.

But on the stroke of half-time, the visitors went ahead with a nicely-judged lob over the advancing Tom Brett.

The odds were now heavily stacked in favour of Rastrick, who could look forward to playing down the slope and with the wind advantage in the second half. To the delight of the vocal visiting support, they duly obliged with five further goals, in the 48th, 50th, 54th, 66th and 69th minutes.

But Shelf can take plenty of positives from a gutsy performance in gusty conditions.

Tom Brett conjured up an outstanding save, diving acrobatically to palm away a certain goal. Man of the Match Jonny put in a tremendous defensive performance, with some tireless tackling and brave blocking.

Robert showed some delightful touches in midfield, the best of which saw him ghosting past a series of challenges before playing a lovely through-ball which Toby almost managed to convert. And the Panthers front-man went close again after some neat interplay between Tom Mann and Dylan down the left wing.

In reaching the half-way point in the season, the Panthers have had to contend with wind, rain, frost and snow. What meteorological mayhem does next week’s rescheduled trip to 3D-land have in store?