Shepshed Dynamo edged out
FA VASE HEBBURN TOWN 2 SHEPSHED DYNAMO 1
SHEPSHED Dynamo saw their FA Vase journey end with a narrow defeat away to Hebburn Town on Saturday.
Dynamo, fresh from back-to-back league victories, made a bright start to the contest.
With 10 minutes played, they won a free kick on the right. Liam Hurst played the ball short to Pearson Mwanyongo and the latter shifted the ball on to his left foot and curled a wicked shot an inch wide of the far corner.
Hurst and Mwanyongo combined again moments later. Their excellent exchange of passes released Hurst down the right. He crossed low for Matt Melbourne, but Hebburn ‘keeper Andrew Jennison dived low and saved well.
The Hornets responded shortly thereafter when they won a corner that Graeme Armstrong headed over the bar, but they were soon behind.
Joe Pheasant rose highest to meet Hurst’s corner and he powered a downward header into the net to give Shepshed a deserved lead on 35 minutes.
Dynamo then had a gilt-edged chance to double their advantage six minutes later. The referee pointed to the spot after Sam Moore went down under pressure in the box.
Karl Whymark assumed the responsibility for taking the penalty, but his well-struck attempt grazed the crossbar and bounced over the net. And the Hornets soon capitalised on this misfortune to sting the visitors.
Shepshed were caught napping as they failed to clear their lines from a Hebburn foray forward. The ball fell to former Newcastle United midfielder Michael Richardson, who struck a sumptuous shot low into the bottom corner to level the match in first half stoppage time.
A second Hebburn goal turned the match on its head just seven minutes after the break. A low corner found its way to Richardson and his shot took a deflection off Sullivan. And the ball squirmed through a melee of bodies and creeped into the net.
Shepshed went searching for an equaliser - Mwanyongo slipped in Moore with a slide rule pass, but a determined block met the latter’s shot. Moore then lashed a wild effort over the bar after a Hebburn head half cleared a Hurst free kick.
In stark contrast to the first period, Dynamo chances were few and far between as Hebburn limited them to ambitious efforts from improbable angles.
There was a chink of light for the visitors on 73 minutes when Hebburn substitute Dan Smith received a red card for a bad challenge on Niall Prenderville but clear-cut chances continued to elude Shepshed.
The closest they came to an equaliser was when Mwanyongo smashed the ball high and wide in added time. Town defended well and with grit and determination they held out for the victory.