Honours even as Shepshed Dynamo and Loughborough Uni FC battle it out in goalless stalemate

UHLSPORT UNITED COUNTIES PREMIER DIVISION

SHEPSHED DYNAMO 0

LOUGHBOROUGH UNIVERSITY 0

SHEPSHED Dynamo and Loughborough University fought out a hard fought but entertaining goal less draw at The Dovecote Stadium Tuesday evening.

The first half was an evenly balanced affair and although Dynamo had more of the goal mouth action in the second half neither side were able to break the stalemate in this local derby.

Although an evenly balanced half the more creative chances came from Dynamo. The University doing well to block John King’s effort on five minutes. Four minutes later Josh Egginton over lapped down the left hand side his cross was met by Matt Melbourne who could only steer his effort across the goal.

Shepshed were a whisker away from taking the lead on 17 minutes King’s effort was tipped onto the post by James Stallan who was fortunate that the rebound fell straight to him whilst still on the ground.

The University then had a great chance of their own Paul Braithwaite rounded Matty White in the Dynamo area but Jordan Wakeling although slipping still managed to block Braithwaite’s shot.

Captain Jake Betts then had two chances for Shepshed on 26 and 28 and twenty eight minutes but Stallan was in the right place to deal with both. Two minutes later Liam Hurst’s corner avoided everyone.

Loughborough ended the half strongly Connor Smith firing over on 31 minutes and Will Dawes firing wide in injury time.

Shepshed came out strongly in the second half in the 53rd minute King found Melbourne but his shot was comfortably saved by Stallan.

Dynamo continued to look the more likelier side to open the scoring. King again the provider on 57 minutes finding Reece Morris who advanced on the keeper down the left, Stallan managed to get a hand to the ball and, Morris chased the ball down but was unable to retrieve it before it went out for a corner with the goal at his mercy if he had kept the ball in play. Two minutes later King fired wide from the edge of the box.

The University’s best chance of the half fell to Smith on 71 minutes forcing a save from Matty White.

Shepshed pressed for that elusive goal which with three points would see them leapfrog Loughborough to the top of the table. Bett’s header was saved by Stallan who then denied Melbourne from the rebound on 78 minutes. Three minutes Stallan did well to turn Hurst’s dipping corner over the crossbar.

Shepshed had two further chances to break the deadlock in the last ten minutes Sam Moore on his return to The Dovecote had his shot saved on 82 minutes and Betts firing over a minute later.

The final chance of the game fell to The Universities captain Olly Davis but his effort went wide.