Shepshed Dynamo 1 - 1 The Mikes

“Not a game that will live in the memory”, declared one home stalwart at half time, as the teams slugged it out on a grey February afternoon. Tommy Jackson made his debut between the sticks (our fourth keeper this season?) and with Owen Parry out injured, Harry Craven led the front line. Callum North tucked in behind him, while Pierre Phillips took the centre half’s role. Forty-two players have, so far, represented the Mikes in this topsy-turvy season: nice to see two home grown youngsters stepping up to the mark! Since our last visit, the Dynamo have upgraded their facilities, making the whole campus reflect their Club colours. All three seating areas, and the covered terrace, have been refurbished with new cladding, and painted black and white, while both pitch and ground boundaries have been replenished with black metal work. One of the eight floodlight pylons now bears telephonic aerials. All this gives an uplifting environment, making up for the inevitable loss of direction, as visitors wind their way through Shepshed’s complex streets!

The game’s beginning ominously replicated that of the Tuesday previous’s defeat at Rushden. Three minutes in, a long Ben Usher-Shipway throw ended up with Harry Sweeney, whose lovely curling shot hit the bar. Was frustrating history going to repeat itself? Anyway, the Mikes looked the team more likely throughout the first half, O’Shane Stewart going close on two occasions, Callum North closed out at the foot of the post, home keeper Brandon Ganley making a fine diving save as the half hour approached. Little play was on the floor, hopeful punts forward constituting most approach work. Dynamo had two misguided efforts from distance in reply. Interval score: 0-0. A half time announcement from the referee stated he wouldn’t tolerate homophonic sentiments from the young rowdies in the Stand. Your Chaplain had already had a word with them about monkey noises, and a lady Steward and a senior spectator had further words later on. It would be a shame if a decent Club, as this is, got into trouble because of an undisciplined minority.

The second period was a more even affair; but seven minutes after the restart, the hosts were ahead. A smartly taken free kick in midfield caught the Mikes napping, and Shaun Ruzvidzo was bearing down on goal with nothing to stop him…except an obvious foul, which grounded him. Kyle Dixon converted the spot kick: 1-0. Matters now progressed in random fashion, no one coming near to scoring. With twenty minutes left, Craven reverted to his usual defensive berth, Ricardo Dudley moving upfield to lead the line. At this point, despite everyone putting in a physical shift, physio services were only required once: the industrious Dixon going down with cramp. With five minutes to go, Ganley had to tip a North effort, from way out on the right, over the bar; but it looked as if Boldmere were heading for their fourth straight defeat (three of them without scoring) in a row. As added time began, however, a long forward curver found Joe Hull near the penalty spot, and his header looped over Ganley to gain a deserved equaliser. That should have been that; but, with only a minute left, someone (who shall be nameless) threw a home player floor ward. The inevitable melee followed, and a yellow card each way served to demonstrate rudimentary justice, meted out by an unsighted official. At least we went to the Dovecote, and didn’t lose…again.

Shepshed Dynamo: Brandon Ganley; Jahdahn Fridye-Harper; Shaquille Jack Lynch; Jordan Smith; Edwaid Elhaghany (Harry Wakefield, 90); Niall Prenderville; Pearson Mwanyongo; Kyle Dixon (Jordan Wakeling, 87); Zayn Hakeem; Charlie Wakefield; Shaun Ruzvidzo (Kieran Cummings, 87).
Subs. not used: Shaquille O’Neill-Brooks; Leo Farruch.
Boldmere St Michaels: Tommy Jackson; Ricardo Dudley; Kai Knight; Joe Hull; Pierre Phillips; Jack Byrne; Harry Sweeney; Harry Craven; Callum North; Ben Usher-Shipway (Ross Evans, 73).
Subs. not used: Callum Ballinger; Callum Gittings; Tazivaishe Chibaya.