Ten man Dynamo throw away two goal lead at NSG
EVOSTIK PREMIER LEAGUE DIVISION ONE SOUTH LOUGHBOROUGH DYNAMO 3 KIDSGROVE ATHLETIC 3 LOUGHBOROUGH Dynamo let a two-goal half time lead slip at home to Kidsgrove Athletic, the game finishing 3-3 with Dynamo down to ten men for the closing stages.
Dynamo captain and former Kidsgrove player Ash Hodgkinson was in on goal in the fifth minute, and drew a good save from visiting goalkeeper David Parton. Next to threaten was Dynamo midfielder Alistair Smith, after a good pass by Josh Riley, but was offside.
Dynamo had been threatening to take the lead, and this did happen in the 20th minute when Parton saw his punch from a centre slice up into the air, Hodgkinson meeting the ball to head home.
Kidsgrove thought they had equalised in the 25th minute when, from a free kick just on the edge of the Dynamo penalty area, Kyle Diskin hit a terrific shot which cannoned off a post and hit onrushing Kidsgrove captain Anthony Malbon and ended up in the back of the net. Fortunately for Dynamo an offside flag came to their rescue and the home side capitalised on this by going straight down the pitch, Paolo Piliero firing home a low shot from a right-wing centre.
Kidsgrove came back into the game in the 29th minute and reduced Dynamo’s lead when a foul by Dynamo centre back Carl Sibson on Malbon saw referee Richard Walker award a penalty. Diskin took the penalty and drove a fierce shot which drew an outstanding save from Dynamo goalkeeper James Martin, but the ball spun loose and Diskin followed up to prod the ball home.
Two minutes later Hodgkinson hooked the ball into the Kidsgrove penalty area after a corner, centre back Jack Andrews heading over.
Dynamo restored their two-goal lead in the 38th minute when a long ball from Martin found Luke Smithson, the Dynamo forward producing an outstanding shot which swerved and dipped over Parton. Three minutes later a good turn and pass by Smith to Hodgkinson saw the Dynamo front man’s low shot well saved by Parton.
Two minutes before half time a Louis Keenan shot direct from a free kick close to the edge of the Kidsgrove penalty saw an outstanding save by Parton, who turned a shot bound for the top left-hand corner of his goal over his crossbar.
Dynamo started the second half in a positive manner, taking the game to Kidsgrove, and Hodgkinson had a great chance in the 54th minute when he met a centre by Luke Thorogood from the Dynamo right, but his header went straight at Parton. A Dynamo break in the 60th minute saw Smithson set up Hodgkinson, Parton saving his low shot.
After looking like Dynamo were going to extend their lead, the opposite happened and Kidsgrove scored when Lee Cropper met a centre from the visitors left and put his header back across Martin. This was quite a jolt to Dynamo’s confidence, and Kidsgrove started to threaten the home goal.
Two minutes after the goal Martin did well to collect a high ball under pressure. Kidsgrove number eleven Darius Palma then came in on the far post to net but was ruled offside. Dynamo then suffered a blow in the 80th minute.
Sibson, who had been lucky not to receive a yellow card when conceding the first half penalty, received a straight red card for a reckless foul.
Pressure grew on the Dynamo defence even more after this, and the inevitable equaliser arrived in the 85th minute when Diskin netted his second goal of the match, his powerful low right foot drive went beyond Martin’s right hand.
Kidsgrove went looking for the winner against ten-man Dynamo, and the ball spent much of the closing stages in and around the home penalty area. But in the three minutes added time Dynamo took the ball down the pitch, and good play by substitute Manuchim Oke-William and Smithson saw the latter’s shot blocked for a corner.
The final action of the game saw Martin come out of his area to clear under pressure and ensure Dynamo came out of the match with a point.