High hopes thwarted by Highlanders

SHELF PANTHERS MATCH REPORT 11 SEPTEMBER 2011
Lepton Highlanders 5 Shelf Panthers 3

Three fine opportunist goals weren’t quite enough to give the Panthers a share of the points on the opening day of the new campaign.

Credit must go to the Shelf players for refusing to be over-awed by Lepton’s top-notch stadium, which boasted a proper clubhouse, bacon butties and even a professional-looking dug-out. You half expected to see Sir Alex Ferguson chomping and scowling inside.

Would Lepton’s standard of football live up to the quality of their facilities?

The home side had the better of the opening exchanges, but after 12 minutes a wonderful piece of individual skill by Man of the Match Robert gave the Panthers the lead. He brought the ball under control with his right foot, took it round a defender, and then hit a left-foot shot which flew over the keeper’s head before dipping into the net.

The lead lasted just two minutes, though. Most of the Lepton team appeared to be trying to surpass the nearby Emley Moor mast, and this height advantage helped them score an easy headed goal which had Lee fuming about poor marking.

Shelf restored their advantage with a trademark Toby left-foot shot high into the net from the right-hand edge of the penalty area.

Brave goalkeeping from Tom Brett protected the Panthers’ lead, and they went further ahead after 22 minutes when Ryan seized onto a loose back-pass, took the ball in his stride and hit an instinctive shot that sailed over the keeper.

But, despite the 1-3 score line, Lepton’s air superiority and all-round strength were beginning to take control of the match. They skimmed a post after 32 minutes and narrowed the deficit to one goal six minutes later with an unstoppable shot from 20 yards.

The home side piled on the pressure after the break, and surged into the lead with well-taken goals in the 61st and 64th minutes.

And the outcome was effectively sealed in the space of an action-packed minute. First, Robert sprinted onto Toby’s through-ball and outpaced the defence but was foiled by the keeper, who dived at his feet to prevent a certain equaliser. Then Lepton hammered the ball up to the other end and forced it home from close-range to make sure of a 5-3 win.