New Mann makes an impact

Shelf Panthers 6 Battyeford 3
27 September 2009

New signing Tom Mann hit a first-half hat-trick on his debut as the Panthers notched up their third win on the bounce at the start of the season.

After last week’s ten-man heroics at Hepworth, Shelf had 13 fit players to choose from – and they needed plenty of reserves of strength and energy against a dangerous Battyeford side.

Things looked ominous when the visitors took the lead after 14 minutes, despite playing up the slope in the first half.

The Panthers were level two minutes later when Adam Renard flicked the ball to Tom inside the area and he steered it past the keeper. But within a minute they fell behind again after leaving an opponent unmarked when the ball was crossed from the left.

Would their heads drop? You could almost hear a sergeant majorish bark from the other side of the world ordering them to get a grip – and they came storming back with three goals in ten minutes to take a 4-2 half-time lead.

Tom’s second was the pick of the bunch – a sweetly-struck first-time shot that flew into the net after Robert cleverly played a corner along the ground into his path. The third – lashed home by Robert – and the fourth – a powerful high shot to complete Tom’s hat-trick – both owed much to the speed and tenacity of Adam Renard.

Would a two-goal cushion be enough for the Panthers as they toiled up the slope in the second half?

Two minutes after the break, they were 5-2 up when Toby unleashed a thunderbolt from way out on the left.

Battyeford bravely came back at them but were denied by some confident and athletic goalkeeping by Man of the Match Luke, including a magnificent dive to keep out an effort which looked destined for the bottom left corner.

Luke could do nothing about Battyeford’s third after 43 minutes, but six minutes later Toby sealed the Panthers’ victory by side-footing his tenth goal of the season into the roof of the net after a great run by Sam.