Set pieces see Shepshed safely into second round

A succession of set pieces saw Shepshed Dynamo progress into the second round of the FA Vase with a comfortable 2-0 defeat of Bewdley Town on a blustery afternoon at The Dovecote.

By Lucas Monk

Defenders Jordan Wakeling and Joe Pheasant were on target for the hosts, who are now unbeaten in their last seven matches in all competitions.

Dynamo fielded an unchanged lineup to that which routed Stourport Swifts last weekend, but an impetuous gust impeded them as they sought to make their mark early on.

The visitors were holding firm at the back, at pains to maintain a cohesive shape, and were limiting Shepshed to improbable efforts from range.

Sam Moore twice fired wide from outside the box as Bewdley frustrated the home side - but it would not be long before their resistance was shattered.

After Pheasant performed a timely intervention to spare Brandon Ganley great embarrassment after the latter rushed out of his goal, a simple set piece that broke the deadlock.

Josh Thomas’s corner was the mother of much panic among the Bewdley rearguard, and Wakeling was on hand to turn inside the box and guide a low finish into the net with 33 minutes elapsed.

And it soon got even better for Shepshed just five minutes before the interval when Pheasant rose highest of all to head home Moore’s laser-guided free kick from the left - his third goal in two matches.

The goals were perhaps a tad harsh on the visitors, who had held their own for half an hour against higher league opposition, but despite a bright start to the second period, Dynamo soon took control and began probing for further goals.

In Bewdley’s best opening, Luke Sidaway sent a fierce strike crashing against the aluminium - but that was as good as it got for the West Midlands Regional League outfit as the hosts started turning the screw.

First, Celson Patrocinio drove Thomas’s low cross back across the face of goal, but Matt Melbourne could not force the loose ball home.

Moments later, he seized upon Karl Whymark’s excellent through ball before stinging the palms of visiting ‘keeper Joe Sidaway, who was attentive in beating away a rasping shot.

Shepshed were exerting heavy attacking pressure and were unrelenting as they sought to put further gloss on the scoreline throughout the remainder of the game.

Two substitutes combined in the late stages as Ollie Roome raced onto Sean Phillips’s virtuoso threaded pass before seeing a low shot saved with the final whistle fast approaching.

And there was one last chance for the hosts to rubber-stamp their credentials in added time.

Joe Sidaway raced out of his net and scuffed his clearance into the path of Thomas, but Steve Clarke averted further Bewdley anguish by blocking the Dynamo winger’s low, goalbound strike.

This was scarcely Shepshed’s best performance of the season, but it was sufficient, and if not for profligate finishing, they might have netted more goals. Ultimately, the contributions of the impressive pairing of Wakeling and Pheasant, both defensively and offensively, mean they are in the hat for Monday’s second round draw.

Dynamo’s next match sees them travel to Leicester Nirvana in the County Cup on Tuesday night, and Damion Beckford-Quailey will doubtless be eager to put one over his former club.

Dynamo: Ganley, Hill, Pheasant, Wakeling, Acott, Moore (Patrocinio 68’), Prenderville, Hurst (Phillips 83’), Whymark, Thomas, Melbourne (Roome 78’).

Unused subs: Betts, Foster.

Bewdley Town: J. Sidaway, Clarke, Stubbins, E. Stubbins, Ashley Stubbins, S. Parmenter, Pawson, L. Sidaway (Smith 75’), Godfrey (O’Brien 63’), Martin, Aaron Stubbins (Lester 75’).

Unused subs: Kerby, T. Parmenter.

Booked: Hill, Wakeling (Shepshed). Martin, Godfrey (Bewdley).

Referee: Darren Laska.

Attendance: 178.