Step 4 safe
Dynamo secure place in pyramid
EVOSTIK PREMIER LEAGUE DIVISION ONE SOUTH LOUGHBOROUGH DYNAMO 3 MARKET DRAYTON TOWN 1 LOUGHBOROUGH Dynamo ensured their place at Step 4 of the non league football pyramid for another season with a come from behind 3-1 home win over Market Drayton Town.
Dynamo had several players missing from midfield for this encounter, with Luke Thorogood and Dan Gordon drafted in to that role from right back and left wing respectively, and it showed in the first half, which was a dismal 45 minutes with very little entertainment for the spectator.
Market Drayton went in at half time with a one goal lead, and they were the team more likely to score in the first half.
The 16th minute saw the first threat on either goal when a centre from the Market Drayton left by Glyn Coney evaded any of the Town forwards. Two minutes later a corner saw the visitors’ Tyrell MacFarlane put in a powerful header straight at home goalkeeper Charlie Taylor.
The 20th minute saw Dynamo’s first threatening attack when Danny Durkin fed Sam Thorpe, the Dynamo number 9’s shot being blocked. In the twenty-fifth minute Market Drayton took the lead. A low centre from the right found Coney who had the time to collect the ball, turn and drive a low shot past Taylor.
Three minutes later Durkin’s powerfully struck shot was deflected just over the Market Drayton goal, but following this the visitors were the stronger team for most of the half. Dynamo did threaten again as half time approached, however. Thorogood’s shot was deflected for a corner, from which Dynamo captain Luke Foster headed over. On the stroke of half time, from another Dynamo corner, centre back Jack Andrews put his header wide, this being the last action of the half.
If the first 45 minutes was lacking of entertainment, the second period livened up considerably, and Dynamo drew level in the 54th minute.
A low centre from the Dynamo left bounced just in front of the visitors’ goalkeeper Mate Dzecki who dropped the ball, which then ran between his legs, Thorpe managing to get the decisive touch to score.
This gave Dynamo a real boost and the match became much more competitive, with both sides pressuring the opponent’s goal without making a clear cut chance to take the lead. This all changed in the 72nd minute, however. Dan Gordon took a long throw on the Dynamo right and propelled it into the Market Drayton penalty area. Andrews met the ball and put a powerful looping header over Dzecki to give Dynamo the lead.
But the visitors were not out the match. A minute later a good run by Market Drayton’s Jud Ellis saw Foster make a good tackle to clear the danger. Back came Dynamo, and a Louis Keenan hook shot went just over Dzecki’s crossbar. Keenan was prominent again in the 84th minute when his pass found Jordan Spearman, who shot just wide.
Dynamo sealed the game in the 89th minute. Market Drayton were high up the pitch in search of an equaliser when a fine pass by Keenan set substitute Josh Riley clear of the visitors’ defence. Riley went one-one with Dzecki and beat the visiting keeper with a powerfully driven shot.
A minute later the same players almost produced a repeat when Keenan fed Riley who, this time, saw his shot deflected for a corner which was cleared.
Four minutes added time were to be played, but this was the last goalmouth action of a match that had started rather dismally but had improved in quality, the 3-1 result ensuring Dynamo have a comfortable run-in to the end of the season, unlike the previous two seasons.