Fine second-half display lifts evening gloom

SHELF PANTHERS MATCH REPORT 27 APRIL 2011
Shelf Panthers 3 Brighouse 6

The Panthers ran the league’s champions-elect close in a hard-fought end-of-season encounter.

This season’s only evening fixture started with spectators being blinded by the low spring sunshine and ended with them peering through the gloom as darkness fell and temperatures plummeted. A Shelf Juniors fund-raising appeal for floodlights (or at least patio heaters) is surely needed.

On the pitch, things began badly. Brighouse, who had lost just one of their previous 17 league games, raced into a 3-0 lead in the first 24 minutes and, with the home side creating few chances despite playing down the slope, a real drubbing looked to be on the cards.

But the Panthers forced their way back into the match, and Toby rattled the crossbar with a shot from way out on the right wing after 32 minutes. Less than a minute later, the same player fired home from inside the penalty area, only for the goal to be disallowed for offside.

Brighouse made it 4-0 two minutes after the break, but Shelf pulled one back after 44 minutes when Adam Renard was barged over in the box and Toby struck a perfect penalty hard and low into the right corner.

Jonny’s customary header off the line a minute later kept the score down, but the visitors extended their lead to 5-1 with a well-worked move after 48 minutes.

That could have been the signal for a full-scale collapse by the home side, but instead they rolled their sleeves up, began playing their best football of the match, and gave their high-flying opponents a real scare.

The Panthers’ second goal, after 52 minutes, was a real cracker. Harry Talbot brought the ball instantly under control and chipped it high into the net from 30 yards out.

Two minutes later, Shelf reduced the deficit to 5-3 when Adam Renard’s right-wing cross left Toby with a simple tap-in at the far post.

Brighouse were starting to look worried, particularly when Ryan’s snap-shot forced their keeper into a fine diving save.

But the visitors made sure of the points ten minutes from time through a sweetly-struck half-volley that sailed into the net over a crowd of players.