Panthers knocked for six after fine first half display

SHELF PANTHERS MATCH REPORT 18 SEPTEMBER 2011
Shelf Panthers 3 Rastrick 6

The league season is a marathon, not a sprint. Unfortunately, in these days of 40 minutes each way, the same could be said of each match. And, just as they did last week, the Panthers raced off like express trains – only to run out of steam in the second half.

Shelf knew they would have their work cut out against a team that finished third in the league last season and narrowly missed out on promotion.

But it took the the home side just six minutes to take the lead, as Tom Wood’s corner from the left was met by Robert with a powerful header from inside the six-yard box.

Three minutes later, Dylan’s flick-on header found Toby sprinting down the left wing before tucking the ball past the advancing keeper from an improbable angle into the bottom right corner of the net.

Man of the Match Toby slotted home his second after 27 minutes, running onto a great through-ball from Sam.

A minute later, Robert drifted away from his marker and found himself with a gilt-edged chance, but his finish from six yards out was more two points to Wigan than one goal to Shelf.

Nevertheless, the Panthers went in at half time with their tails up after a first-half display that saw them thwarting the visitors at the back, winning ball after ball in midfield, and carving out plenty of chances.

Lee was purring with satisfaction at the break – but within a few minutes he was snarling at his team.

Playing down the slope in the second half, Rastrick scored two quick goals from corners – the first just a minute after half time and the second six minutes later.

Things nearly got worse a couple of minutes later, as the visitors cracked a shot against the Shelf crossbar. The away fans’ protests that the ball had crossed the line could be heard back home in Rastrick.

With the game entering a crucial stage, Shelf began to steady themselves and fashioned two good chances in the space of two minutes midway through the second half. But first Adam Renard chipped the ball just over, and then Ryan, in a good position at the far post, came within inches of getting his head to a cross from midfield playmaker Tom Mann.

If those chances had gone in, Shelf might have pushed on to victory. Instead, they collapsed.

A powerful shot direct from a free kick 16 minutes from time brought the scores level, and further goals in the 66th, 70th and 80th minutes gave those vociferous Rastrick fans plenty more to shout about.