Panthers just can't manage to claw back deficit

SHELF PANTHERS MATCH REPORT 30 OCTOBER 2011
Rastrick 7 Shelf Panthers 3

For the fourth time in eight games this season, the Panthers took an early lead, only to end up losing the match.

Adam Renard was first on the score-sheet this time, acrobatically hooking the ball through a crowd of players after just five minutes.

Boosted by last week’s fine performance against Wooldale, and determined to avenge Rastrick’s flattering 6-3 victory in September, Shelf had the better of the opening 20 minutes and should have increased their lead.

But Robert tapped the ball wide after skipping round the keeper and almost walking it into the net. And Sam’s close-range header from Reese’s long throw also went just the wrong side of the post.

A breakaway goal after 22 minutes brought the scores level, and suddenly the match swung in Rastrick’s favour.

In the space of one frantic minute, two excellent Tom Brett saves kept the home side at bay, and Rastrick saw another effort bounce off the crossbar. So it was no surprise that Rastrick surged into a 3-1 lead with goals in the 36th and 37th minutes.

The Panthers could have pulled one back before half-time when Adam Renard ran onto Adam McDaid’s great through-ball and unleashed a powerful shot which the keeper did well to hang onto.

And two minutes after the break, they reduced the deficit to 3-2. Jonny – who gained his third Man of the Match award of the season for another full-blooded display – won a crunching tackle and played the ball down the left wing to Ryan, whose cross was skilfully knocked past the goalkeeper by Adam Renard’s stomach.

Rastrick restored their two-goal cushion within a minute through a well-placed lob. They were denied by a fine reaction save by Tom Brett, but made it 5-2 with a goal direct from a free kick after 56 minutes.

Panthers supporters were frustrated a minute later when Robert’s pace took him clear of the defence and racing one-on-one against the keeper, only for the referee to pull play back and award a free kick to Shelf for an earlier foul on him.

Ryan, Robert and Adam Renard all went close as Shelf piled on the pressure. And they finally got their reward after 72 minutes when Adam Renard’s corner fizzed through a crowd of players before being turned into the net by Robert at the far post.

It looked as if the Panthers really might turn the match around and grab a draw – but goals in the 78th and 79th minutes sealed it for Rastrick.