Dynamo into next round of FA Cup after shootout

IN their first competitive game for nearly six months, Shepshed Dynamo progressed to the Preliminary Round of the Emirates FA Cup after being pushed all the way by opponents Radford. With the tie level at full time they won 4-3 on penalties.

Shepshed took the lead on 16 minutes through Reece Morris and being the higher level side it should have been the catalyst to a comfortable passage to the next round.

But Radford had other ideas, the hosts equalising 10 minutes later through Bupa Ceesay.

Radford looked the stronger side for the remainder of the half and parts of the second. Dynamo imposed their experience later in the game, but squandered numerous chances to settle the tie in normal time.

Under the FA’s new regulations for the competition the tie went straight to a penalty shootout after 90 minutes. Although Joseph Searson-Smith saved Shay Brennan’s penalty, Matty White was equal with two saves of his own and Karabo Motshweni sent Dynamo into a Preliminary Round away tie to Ilkeston Town on Saturday (September 12).

With neither side playing a competitive game for months, it was a tentative start to the game. The first real chance fell to Dynamo, Matt Melbourne’s shot deflected for a corner and captain Jake Betts firing wide from the resultant corner on six minutes.

Despite Radford being a league below Shepshed they were never overawed. Nathan Kelly found Smith on 13 minutes, but his effort was blocked.

Dynamo went straight up the other end but King’s effort was blocked on 14 minutes.

Chances were coming thick and fast, King blocked on 15 minutes and Ashley Smith for Radford firing over the bar in the same minute.

Shepshed took the lead on 16 minutes

LOUGHBOROUGH’S Holly Smith became the second female rider to add her name to the roll of honour in the Science Supplements All England Grand Prix.

The Grand Prix attracted a huge field of 76 starters, but the challenging course and tight time caught out many combinations, with the water in particular proving particularly influential.

Only seven riders went clear in the first round, with most of these coming in towards the latter half of the class. A thrilling jump-off ensued, with all but one going double clear.

Ireland’s David Simpson and Foudre F looked to have set a difficult time to beat, crossing the line in 48.67sec, but he was quickly followed by Britain’s number one lady rider, Holly Smith, with her All England 1.40m Open Champion Fruselli – and they were scorchingly quick to shave more than 3.5sec off David’s time, finishing on 45.11sec.

Shane Breen and Can Ya Makan – the winners of this week’s other 1.40m Open qualifier – set off on a mission to catch Holly, with the aim of adding a second Hickstead Grand Prix to their tally. But Shane had to settle for second with a time of 45.78sec, ahead of compatriot David Simpson in third.

Holly became the second woman rider to win the feature class of the show, after Harriet Nuttall’s win 12 months ago.

“I saw David Simpson go and I thought my horse could go a bit quicker than that, but as Melbourne fed Reece Morris down the left side of the box and he slid his shot under Searson-Smith.

But Radford seemed to kick into an extra gear. Ceesay went close on 23 minutes and Rob Manners fired wide.

Melbourne had a chance for Shepshed a minute later, but his effort was deflected wide.

A minute later Radford were level. They had been a constant threat down the right. Callum Law and Smith combined well and the ball across the box evaded both Jake Betts and Jordan Wakeling for Ceesay to drive the ball back across the goal into the bottom corner.

Radford began to control the game with Ceesay heading straight at White on 28 minutes.

White was called into action again on 34 minutes, saving from Joe Meakin.

Both teams had further chances before the break, Reiff Armstrong firing wide on 39 minutes.

Holly Smith in action over the jumps

with Shane Breen behind me I knew I had to go for it,” said Holly.

“I’ve had a really good week here, and it’s a pleasure to be back at Hickstead.”

Fruselli is a 10-year-old chestnut stallion owned by Sue and Gordon Hall, who also owned Holly’s top horse Hearts Destiny, who sadly died last month.

“They couldn’t make it down today unfortunately, but they’d have been watching on the livestream and cheering him on, and this win will have put a smile back on all of our faces,” Holly added.

Lucy Townley crowned a brilliant week for

A minute later Radford had an appeal for a penalty turned down, Kelly’s shot was blocked and Manners was off target from the rebound. The final chance of the half fell to Dynamo with Motshweni’s shot blocked.

The second half started quietly with the first real effort not occurring until the hour mark. Morris’s effort was wide.

Radford replied with Ceesay firing over on 65 minutes and their best chance came four minutes later. Meakin’s free kick was met by the head of Matthew Cragg but he could only guide it over the crossbar.

Radford were beginning to tire and Shepshed began to exert their higherlevel authority.

Mundell shot wide on 69 minutes and two minutes later Cragg’s misplaced back pass went just wide of Searson-Smith’s goal.

Dynamo continued to search for the winner. Motshweni fired over on 74 minutes and shortly after Melbourne the Billy Stud when she took both the first and last classes of the day in the Longines International Arena.

Her first win came courtesy of Billy Vitaini in the Stoner Jewellers All England Novice Championship, and she brought the show to a conclusion with victory in the LeMieux All England 1.30m Open Championship with the eight-year-old Bentley X.

Sammie-Jo Coffin collected her second Longines International Arena win of the week when claiming the Voltaire Design All England 1.20m Open Championship with Habraxis. fired wide. Melbourne went close again on 81 minutes, likewise John King three minutes later.

Kelly had a great chance to cause an upset on 87 minutes, but his effort sailed over White’s bar.

Dynamo thought they had clinched the tie on 89 minutes as Melbourne squared to Morris to slot home, but the assistant referee had his flag up for offside.

Both Melbourne and Shay Brennan had chances blocked in injury time.

So, as mentioned, under the new FA rules the tie would now go straight to penalties.

With Shepshed’s track record on penalties an upset was still on the cards for Radford.

Although Searson-Smith saved Brennan’s penalty, Matty White was equal to save two of Radford’s penalties and it was left to Karob Motshweni to slot home his penalty to send Shepshed Dynamo into the next round.

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