The Shelburne Vets are showing they won't be going out quietly as the team came up with a huge effort against - almost pulling off an upset in game one of their best-offive Junior C quarter final playoff series against the heavily favored Caledon Bandits on Tuesday night.

It was an unlikely leader that stepped up and took charge for the Vets, Midget call-up Daniel Craig.

Shelburne wasted no time in putting Caledon on notice they were going to have to earn any wins as Craig put Shelburne out to an early two goal lead before the Bandits offence finally connected for a pair of their own midway through the opening frame.

Making the most of their chances, Shelburne once again took the lead when Jon Nevills combined with David Irons and Jordan Monahan on the power play at 13:58 before Irons was again the setup man on a goal by Josh Menzies just over a minute later.

Again Caledon would rally back to even the score but some heads up ball in the final seconds of the opening frame gave Menzies all the opportunity he needed to notch his second and send both teams into the first intermission with Shelburne leading 5-4.

Swapping goals through the bulk of two, Caledon finally seemed to find their stride late in the period to take a one goal lead into the third then added another early in the final frame making it 9-7.

Down but far from out, Shelburne continued to battle back and with 2:23 left, Craig popped his fourth of the game to put them within striking distance of the equalizer only to have Caledon cager Matt Vivieros close the back door allowing them to hang on to post the 9-8 win.

The action shifts north for game two of the series at 8 pm Friday at the Dundalk Arena before returning to Mayfield for game three of the set at 7 pm on Sunday.