Shepshed Dynamo 6 Leek Town 1

Shepshed Dynamo booked their place in the FA Emirates Cup 2nd Qualifying Round for the first time in nine years with an emphatic 6-1 win.

The reward for their victory was not just the £3000 in prize money but another lucrative home tie against Nantwich Town of the Evo Stik Northern Premier Division who are two steps above Dynamo on Saturday 16th September.

Leek who play at the same level as local rivals Loughborough Dynamo came into the tie as favourites but Shepshed never allowed them to settle with a healthy lead at half time they ran out comfortable winners.

Like the opening day of the season and at Boldmere on Bank Holiday Shepshed were on the front foot straight from the kick off not allowing the visitors to get into any sort of rhythm or impose their higher league superiority on the game.

It took only three minutes for Dynamo to take the lead after Kark Whymark had two crosses cleared on the left hand side Shepshed were given a free kick down the right when Liam Hurst was fouled after a ball down the line from Adam Hohn. Whymark swapped sides and curled his left foot free kick into the area evading Mark Grocott, Shepsheds captain Jake Betts was in prime position behind him to head downwards and underneath Ben Chapman into the net.

Whymark then had an effort blocked on five minutes and Michael Reeves shot was saved on seven minutes.

Shepsheds lead was doubled on eight minutes Liam Hurst right sided cross was met on the full by the outstretched Shay Brennan whose effort left Chapman rooted to the spot as the ball went into the left hand corner.

Leek were allowing Shepshed to play the ball out from the back and midfield with ease. But Niall Maguire was just wide on thirteen minutes. Leeks first chance of the game.

Brennan made it three on seventeen minutes from an acute angle he lobbed the ball over Leeks tall goalkeeper Chapman who could only stand and watch as the ball hit the roof of the net.

Piotr Jacucha making his debut in the Shepshed goal did well to block on twenty minutes and Brennan nearly turned provider on twenty four minutes but Hurst couldn't quite reach the ball across the box.

This tie was almost as good as over on twenty seven minutes Joe Pheasant finding Brennan who raced clear of the Leek defence to slot passed the advancing Chapman and in off the left post to complete his hat trick and Shepsheds fourth.

Tim Grice should have pulled one back for The Blues on thirty one minutes but his effort was dragged wide of the Dynamo goal.

Leek ended the half strongly with Jacucha saving from Grice on thirty eight minutes and Jordan Johnson should have done better firing over in injury time.

The visitors had the first chance of the second half with Maguire firing wide on forty six minutes.

But any dreams of a miraculous comeback were dashed on fifty five minutes as Reeve weaved his way through in the box to net Dynamos fifth goal.

Five minutes later and it was six Hursts corner found Pheasant who was all alone to head home.

Leek gained a consolation on sixty six minutes with Dan Shelley volleying home from outside the box.

Maguire then fired straight at Jacucha on seventy five minutes. Before Reeve combined well with Niall Prenderville but his effort was wide on seventy seven minutes.

Both sides had further chances in the final ten minutes. Johnson firing over on eighty three minutes for Leek, then Hurst fired over on eighty five minutes.

Reeve once again opened up the leek defence on eighty eight minutes before Leeks substitute Melingui had his effort blocked and Chapman saved from Hurst in injury time.

Shepshed thoroughly deserved their place in the 2nd Qualifying Round of The FA Emirates. In a game they controlled from the word go.

Before the next round of the cup Shepshed now face two away league games with Lye Town on Tuesday and Stourport Swifts on Saturday.

FT Shepshed Dynamo 6 Leek Town 1 att 262

Team: Jacucha, Hohn, Read(Mclean 67), Pheasant, Betts, Prenderville, Mcnaught (Harris 46), Hurst, Brennan (Troke 51), Reeve, Whymark