Adam calls the tune in Panthers' Highland fling

SHELF PANTHERS MATCH REPORT 10 APRIL 2011
Lepton Highlanders 3 Shelf Panthers 1

Playing the smallest member of your squad at centre-back isn’t conventional coaching wisdom.

But when that player is Adam Renard, it doesn’t seem to matter. Not only did he somehow contrive to win the lion’s share of headers against attackers who looked double his height – he also managed to fold away the stepladders in time to pop up on the left wing, in midfield, in the opponents’ penalty area etc. etc…

His all-action display deservedly won Adam the Man of the Match award, though there was some disappointment at his inability to go round the touchline selling raffle-tickets during the first half in addition to his other duties.

Having lost the first match of the season 5-1 at home against the same opponents, Shelf might have feared the worst, particularly as the absences of Ryan and William meant their only available substitute was a black Scottie dog with a burning desire to get on the pitch.

But, in balmy spring sunshine, the Panthers had the better of a pulsating first half which saw Toby, Tom Wood, Adam Renard and Robert all go close.

At the other end, Tom Brett had to react smartly to smother an over-enthusiastic header back by Adam Renard, and the Shelf keeper also pulled off an excellent low diving save to thwart an onrushing Highlander.

The home side went ahead in the 28th minute, but the Panthers hit back two minutes later with one of the goals of the season. Tom Mann - who produced a fine first-half display of attacking midfield play – weaved past a couple of defenders before firing a shot from the right edge of the area, which flew like an arrow past the keeper and into the left-hand side of the net.

Lepton had the better of the second half, and wrapped the game up with goals in the 50th and 61st minutes.

But Shelf had their moments. The Highlanders’ keeper had to scramble to palm away a long-range volley from Luke in the 64th minute, and two minutes later Robert’s header from a Tom Wood corner was cleared off the line.

Meanwhile at the other end, a thunderbolt free kick whizzed inexorably towards the back of the net…until a certain mini-dynamo somehow sprang up on the goal-line to get his head to the ball.

Was that a jet pack hidden under his shirt?