Last gasp spot kick save earns Shepshed a point
PITCHING IN NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE MIDLANDS CARLTON TOWN 1 SHEPSHED DYNAMO 1
SHEPSHED Dynamo extended their unbeaten run to four games prior to the festive season with a late equaliser at Carlton Town.
Like the opening day of the season Carlton took the lead this time earlier in the game through Alex Howes on 13 minutes. With time running out Leke Shodunke equalised on 87 minutes. But the drama wasn’t over as Brandon Ganley saved a Nat Watson penalty in second half injury time.
Carlton hit the ground running and controlled the first half with Shepshed struggling to gain a foothold in the game.
Niall Davie was a constant threat throughout the first half and on four minutes he out paced Jiah Medrano and Sean Doy forcing a save from Ganley. Nat Watson then fired over from the resultant corner.
James Sneddon then had a free kick cleared on six minutes but The Millers looked more likely to open the score.
Ganley miss kicked his clearance on seven minutes and Howes rounded Ganley and with the goal at his mercy Shepshed managed to scramble the ball clear.
Watson was then put through on eight minutes he also went round Ganley with Sean Doy clearing.
Carlton thought they had taken the lead on ten minutes Tyler Blake’s cross was met by Watson with a tap in but he was deemed offside.
The home side however took a deserved lead on 13 minutes. Dynamo failed to clear the danger and Howes put in a superb volley from the edge of the area to open the scoring.
Shepshed thought they had a shout for an equaliser on 25 minutes. Kieran Preston missed a back pass and managed to recover before the ball crossed the line despite appeals for a goal from Dynamo.
This was probably the only decent spell of the first half as Shepshed struggled to get into the game with Jordan Smith’s header cleared on 28 minutes.
The half came to a close with the hosts holding a deserved lead.
Despite an early chance for Watson, Shepshed grew into the game in the second half.
King was prominent early on in the half with a threatening cross on 51 minutes and two minutes later he forced a save from Preston.
Preston was alert twice advancing to King and Matt Melbourne on 58 and 62 minutes respectively. Four minutes later Ganley had to reciprocate advancing on Niall Towle.
Shepshed sensed the chance they could get something out of this game with Rogers firing wide on 76 minutes and three minutes later Sneddon’s effort was straight into Preston.
Shepshed levelled on 87 minutes, Shodunke from the left side of the box beating Preston and in off the angles of the goal mouth.
Shepshed were tentative with time running out trying to decide whether to stick with the point or push for maximum points and at times were left exposed but also exploded forwarded especially through Reece Morris but neither keeper were tested.
But there was to be one final twist in the game.
Tyler Johal was deemed to have been brought down in the penalty area in injury time and the referee pointed to the spot. Watson stepped up but Ganley pulled off a superb save to deny a late winner.
The result sees Shepshed go four games unbeaten and moving up a place into 11th.
Overall despite Carlton Town having possibly the best of the chances, Shepshed’s never say die and the attitude of never giving up on the game deserved a share of the points.
Next up league leaders Ilkeston Town are the visitors to The Dovecote Stadium on Monday December 27, kick off 3pm with a bumper Christmas crowd expected.