Coventry United 1 Shepshed Dynamo 0

Shepshed Dynamo opened their 2018/2019 Total Motion Midland Football League account with a 1-0 defeat away at Coventry United.

Shepshed knew a trip to The Butts Park Arena was going to be a tough encounter as Dynamo have only registered one point on their previous five games against Coventry United and a goal just after half time was the difference between the two sides.

Under new manager Damien Quailley Shepshed fielded only two of last years squad and with players unavailable and late pre season injuries Quailley was forced into making four further new signings on the eve of the season.

Coventry started well as early as the third minute Shaquille MacDonald was put through by Kyle Carey forcing a save out of Brandon Ganley.

United came forward again Club Captain Jake Betts blocking from Curvin Ellis on six minutes and Mcdonald going close again a minute later.

Shepshed first threatened on fourteen minutes with three consecutive corners and two minutes later Ryan Robbins effort was blocked to safety.

Ganley then saved from Ellis on seventeen minutes.

The game then went through a quiet spell but Coventry had their best effort on twenty eight minutes but Ganley was able to watch the ball into the side netting.

United thought they had taken the lead on thirty two minutes when Ellis rounded Ganley to slot into an empty net but the assistant referees flag was up for offside.

Ellis and Mcdonald were Coventrys main threat and the latter was off target on thirty three minutes and a minute later he also fired straight at Ganley.

Betts then cleared off the line and as Coventry ramped up the pressure Jordan Wakeling was on hand with a timely interception on thirty six minutes.

As the half drew to a close Mcdonald had an effort blocked on forty four minutes and then forced a good save out of Ganley on forty five minutes.

Coventry had one further chance on injury time but Carey effort went over the cross bar as the teams went in level at half time.

Coventry took the lead within a minute of the restart. Bradley Casswells kick was flicked into the path of Ellis who cut inside from the left his shot went under the body of Ganley who wasn't able to retrieve the ball before it crossed the goal line.

For the first time in the game Dynamo managed to put a period of pressure on the United goal.

Casswell saving from Robbins on fifty one minutes and Courtney Meade firing over a minute later.

Casswell saved from Robbins again on fifty six minutes before Meades chance was blocked on sixty three minutes and Casswell saving from Karl Whymark a minute later.

The game once again lulled until eighty five minutes where substitute Ryan Foster fired over and a minute later Robbins shot was blocked.

Coventry looked to kill the game off with a shot over the bar on ninety minutes and Robert Prinzels effort straight at Ganley a minute later.

Shepshed had two further chances before the end but couldn't find an equaliser. Robbins effort was deflected to safety and Casswell saved Pearson Mwanyangos late free kick.

Although Coventry created more of the chances Dynamo could have easily have come away with a point.

Shepshed continue their tough start to the season with the visit of Ilkeston Town in the league Tuesday evening and then travel to Worksop Town of the Northern Counties East on the FA Cup Saturday.

FT Coventry United 1 Shepshed Dynamo 0 att170

Team Ganley, Day (Potter 90), Betts, Wakeling, Whymark,Hill ( Foster 83), Mwanyango, Morris, Robbins, Meade (Acott 71) Davies