Shepshed in dramatic FA Vase win
SHEPSHED Dynamo progressed to the third round of the Buildbase FA Vase with a 3-2 victory over Worcester City at The Dovecote Stadium.
Like the previous round Shepshed had to come from two goals down to continue their FA Vase campaign.
In these unusual times and with both teams not having played for over a month the tell tale signs of rustiness showed on both sides. With Shepshed also in a designated Tier 3 area the game was also played behind closed doors.
If there would have been spectators in attendance they’d have been treated to an epic tie which both sides gave their all to win the game.
Worcester had the better of the chances in the first half and certainly didn’t look like a team second bottom of the Midland Football League. But neither side could break the deadlock as the sides went into half time level.
In fact it took until the seventy first minute when Demetri Brown gave the visitors the lead and it was Brown who doubled the score on eighty four minutes to surely put Worcester into the next round.
But Dynamo didn’t give up. John King pulled one back on eighty four minutes and with time running out Shay Brennan equalised. With extra time looming Liam Canavan won the tie with a sublime finish from distance.
Although Shepshed had the first attack of the game the lion share of the early chances fell to Worcester.
Demetri Brown flashing a ball across the box on three minutes with Josh Egginton clearing for Dynamo.
Sam Hall then fired over on fourteen minutes, followed two minutes later Chris Whittington’s cross was met by Aaron Birch with Matty White making the save. Aaron Birch went close again on twenty three minutes his deflected shot saved by White.
Shepsheds first chance came on twenty four minutes but Brennans effort was wide.
Worcester were looking more likely to open the scoring with Aaron Birch being tackled just at the right time on twenty nine minutes with the ball going through to White.
White was called in to action again a minute later tipping a speculative lob from distance from Jamie Smith for a corner.
Shepshed had a ten minute spell in the half. Matt Melbourne firing across the area on thirty two minutes.
Melbourne then had the best opportunity of the game so far. Canavan put him through but Melbourne was unable to keep his effort down as it blazed over Dan Jezephs goal on thirty nine minutes.
Brown fired across the box on forty two minutes, Ben Birch shot straight at White on forty four minutes and the final chance of the half fell to Canavan but his free kick was dealt with comfortably by Jezeph as the tie went into the break goal less.
Shepshed came out with more purpose in the second half with Brennan firing wide within a minute of the restart.
It was then the turn of the ever dangerous Brown to fire wide a minute later.
Jordan Smith then headed over Canavans corner on fifty one minutes.
City then had their best opportunity a minute later Brown was put through but Jordan Wakeling made a goal saving tackle to deny Brown.
Shepshed then had their best spell of the half so far. Melbourne shooting across the box on fifty five minutes. Then Canavans effort was blocked on fifty eight minutes, followed by a further wide effort from Canavan a minute later.
Nat Kelly then headed over for the visitors on sixty two minutes.
On seventy minutes Canavans free kick was scrambled clear with Jake Betts effort blocked and Melbourne’s header saved.
A minute later Worcester were in the lead. Dynamo were caught two on two at the back. Dave Reynolds cross down the left was met by Brown meeting the ball at pace and powerfully firing passed White.
Brown then fired wide on seventy four minutes.
Dynamo came agonisingly close to equalising on seventy five minutes with Canavan’s free kick from thirty five yards or more crashing against the crossbar.
The game had now become an open affair. With Dave Reynolds firing wide for Worcester on seventy six minutes followed by Reece Morris’s cross finding Melbourne but his effort was straight at Jezeph a minute later.
Worcester doubled their lead on eighty two minutes. Shepshed were again caught out at the back. Reynolds ball over the top found Brown who turned inside Egginton and fired passed the advancing White. With limited time left surely this had put Worcester through.
But Dynamo didn’t give up, King cut in from the right hand side on eighty four minutes and curled his left footed shot passed Jezeph to give Shepshed a lifeline.
Ben Birch then had two good chances to seal the tie on eighty six minutes but White was equal to both of them.
With time running out, a Karob Motshwenis cross fell at the feet of Betts who couldn’t control it but Brennan was next to him to slot passed Jezeph to give Shepshed their equaliser.
With the game having to be settled on the day it looked destined for extra time which on reflection both teams deserved.
But as the game went into injury time up stepped Liam Canavan to score a goal worthy of winning any game.
Worcester thought they had cleared the danger but the ball on one bounce fell to Canavan. He met the ball with perfection on the volley.
As soon as it left his foot there was only one place the ball was going and although Jezeph got a hand to it it nestled in the top corner.
Queue wild celebrations from the Shepshed bench and players the only disappointing fact was there was no spectators present as the scenes of joy would have been indescribable.
Worcester will have felt aggrieved not to have progressed themselves although they can leave The Dovecote Stadium with the pride they gave their all. The day after Worcester’s manager Ashley Vincent tendered his resignation.
For the second round on the trot Shepsheds never say die attitude prevailed as they booked their place in round 3.
Their reward for the victory is an away game to either Stourport Swifts or Grimsby Borough who play Saturday 12th December after the original game was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. We will travel to the winners with a date of Saturday 19th December for this tie.
FT Shepshed Dynamo 3 Worcester City 2
Team: White, Wakeling (Harper 83), Egginton, Betts, Smith (Motshweni 83), Prenderville, Clayton (King 58), Canavan, Morris, Melbourne, Brennan