We was Rob-bed

SHELF PANTHERS MATCH REPORT 6 MARCH 2011
Shelf Panthers 4 Shelley 5


Maradona against England, Giggs against Arsenal…and now Hawley against Shelley. A new name has been added to the pantheon of scorers of great goals.

It may not have been celebrated with hirsute shirt-waving, but the Panthers’ 40th minute strike to make it 4-4 was a classic team effort – a sharp interchange of five or six passes that started in their own half and scythed through the opposition midfield and defence. Dylan swept the ball out to Toby on the left wing, and his teasing cross beat the goalkeeper and found Robert arriving at the far post to lash the ball home.

Unfortunately, just as they had against Linthwaite a fortnight ago, Shelf found themselves scoring the best goals but still losing an entertaining match.

They started in rip-roaring fashion, with Toby cracking a shot against the bar in the first minute, and the first goal coming less than 60 seconds later. When the ball broke out of the Shelley defence, Tom Wood got to it ahead of his marker and unleashed a 35-yard screamer that flew into the roof of the net.

But – despite being named after a rather effete Romantic poet - Shelley proved to be a determined and robust side, and just two minutes later they equalised with a close-range effort through a crowded penalty area.

Four minutes later, Tom Mann restored the home side’s lead, meeting Adam Renard’s cross with a neat finish low into the net.

It looked as if more Shelf goals would follow. But Man of the Match Robert headed just over the bar following a mazy run and left-wing cross by Toby, and Adam Renard’s 30-yard half-volley was well saved by the keeper.

After that, though, the Panthers went off the boil, and a two-goal blitz in the space of a minute put Shelley 3-2 up.

Another goal-poacher’s strike from Tom Mann sent Shelf in level at half-time. The visitors took the lead four minutes after the break, but that was cancelled out a minute later by Robert’s wonder-goal.

When Shelley took the lead again with 26 minutes remaining, it looked as if both sides could reach double figures. But, in a barnstorming end to the game, both keepers pulled off a string of athletic saves and Toby was denied by the crossbar for the second time.