Not a vintage performance from the Panthers, but 3 points nevertheless against top of the league Piper United.
This fixture was, by quite some margin, the hardest test the Panthers have faced this season. Going into the fixture United were top of the league by a point, having played a game more than Aylestone and Cressall.
The game started fairly evenly, with both sides having early chances. However, most of the pressure was being applied by the home side. There were early chances for Gab and Gange, and if Salmon had done better with his cut back, after a run down the right, the scoring could have been opened in the first 20 minutes. The Panthers faithful didn't have to wait too much longer for the opener though. Jack had a fantastic game at the back and was swinging in some beautiful free kicks which were dropping just infront of the keeper, and it was the MOM Everard who crossed a free kick from just inside Pipers half on the left which was knocked back by Salmon and fired home by Higgs. It's 3 in 3 now for the local lad Trevor who is showing why he is one of the first names on the teamsheet.
The Panthers grew in strength after the opener, but were looking slightly fragile at the back with a few strong and skilfull opponents. The half time whistle went with the Panthers 1-0 up. Not the greatest first half performance by the Panthers, but they deserved their lead.
Welshy commented at half time that the Panthers second half performance "could only get better", and "they will certainly come out better". He was correct with both statements.
The Cressall corner count has been high in recent games and there have been very few chances created from them. Things certainly changed after the break in this encounter. The game became gritty, understandable really considering the top of the table clash that this had been billed as, and the Panthers started showing some determination. John Rowe had been putting in some great corners and it was an outswinger from the right that was met by Everard to make it 2-0. The home team should have been in the clear and could have built on this lead, but the Panther's second actually triggered a spirited and fighting comeback from the away side. The possession immediately changed to being dominated by Piper and the Panthers were starting to have less time on the ball, which was disrupting their passing style of play. United got back into the game with a controversial penalty decision, given after Welshy allegedly handled the ball. The penalty was calmly slotted to make the scoreline 2-1.
With the play now being dictated by the away teams midfield, a change needed to be made. The 4-1-4-1 formation, which worked so well for the Panthers previously, was recreated with Shaw being replaced by Turner, who fitted in between the back 4 and the hard working midfield. This changed the play and helped slow down the frantically paced game, which meant the Panthers had more time to play their own way. This resulted in the Panthers third goal; the second from a corner. Almost a carbon copy of Everards goal, but this time Rowe swung in a peach for Welshy to get on the end of.
This, however, wasn't the end of the scoring. In what was a great game for the neutral, the away side made the last 10 minutes extremely tense by getting a second after a scruffy challenge on the right gave them a free kick. This was put into the box with pace, headed back and turned into his own net by Welshy.
The game finished at 3-2 but not before several heavy challenges were put in, which was great to see: the Panthers, for the first time this season, were in danger of losing their 100% record and they were fighting for it.
Waterboy Seb Sroka, who unfortunately missed the game due to illness, said: "what was the score?! what? they weren't told? what? bo***cks."
