Following two rounds of thrilling FA Cup action, Shepshed Dynamo faced a trip to Bourne Town in the First Round Qualifying stage of the tournament. Unlike Dynamo’s previous opponents in this year's competition. The Lincolnshire side share the same division and would prove a step up in class for the visitors.

Shepshed manager Gary Drake began today's match with an unchanged lineup for the third game running following victories over Racing Club Warwick and Rugby Town. A familiar face began on the left of midfield for Bourne in former-Dynamo winger Connor Furey. Captain Zac Allen shook off an injury sustained against Anstey in the week to start in attack for the hosts.

Windy conditions in an open yet smart stadium at Abbey Lawn greeted the two sides. Shepshed in their all-yellow away strip got the game underway looking to launch early attacks on the Bourne goal.

Six minutes into the contest, Jude Collins found space on the left of midfield and broke towards the edge of the Bourne penalty area. Collins decided to try his luck from 25 yards at a slight angle with his drive eventually whistling past Will Lakin's far post.

Bourne responded a minute later as neat interplay on the edge of Shepshed’s 18-yard box between Robbie Ellis and Connor Furey ended with the latter firing a low effort in on target. Furey’s low shot at the centre of goal was routinely scooped up by Dynamo ‘keeper Dan Wallis for a comfortable early save.

Bank Holiday Monday’s hero Jesse Friend then had an opportunity to add to his week’s tally of goals after 18 minutes. Friend broke free of the Town defence after being released by a long ball over the top. A one-on-one with Lakin ended with the ‘keeper standing tall and making a smart save from Friend’s low effort, Jude Collins reached the resulting loose ball but fired well wide.

Furey once again began to cause headaches for the Dynamo defence. With 23 minutes gone, Furey set the ball to the edge of the penalty area for Josh Burrows to strike. Burrows’ effort looked destined for the bottom left-hand corner only to be denied by a good save from Wallis.

The end-to-end action continued to heat up as Shepshed took their turn to test Lakin once again. A cross from the left courtesy of Jude Collins found the aerial threat of Jesse Friend at the near post after 25 minutes. Friend got a solid connection on the header but Lakin again pulled off a superb reaction save to deny the visitors.

On the half hour mark, Jack Rogers came close to giving Shepshed that all important lead. The lively winger led full-back Burrows a merry dance 25 yards from goal before finding space for a left-foot shot. Rogers’ effort had just too much curl and narrowly shaved the near post to the relief of Lakin.

Just before half time, the home side came within a whisker of breaking the deadlock. A neat passage of play down the left flank opened up space for Zac Allen. The tall attacker found just enough room to squeeze a 12-yard angled effort in on goal with the woodwork at the far post coming to Dynamo’s rescue.

The wind continued to swirl around the ground as the second period kicked off. The half was barely two minutes old when Robbie Ellis found himself free on the right and made a beeline for the Dynamo goal. Ellis swept his right-footed effort across Wallis’ goal from just inside the penalty area. Fortunately, the outswinging-bend combined with the wind took the ball clear of the far post.

A golden opportunity then fell to Bourne defender Brad Marshall. A clipped ball into the penalty area from full-back Eunie Lievins found a surprised Marshall alone in the 6-yard box. The Town defender miscalculated the time he had and snatched at the chance, sending his effort wide of the far post just before the hour mark with his hands firmly on his head.

Despite all of the home side’s efforts to edge ahead, it would be the visitors who would be given the opportunity to draw first blood. A run from Jack Rogers towards the right-hand byline in the penalty area was halted abruptly with Rogers hitting the deck. A 72nd minute penalty was awarded and Jesse Friend stepped up to convert what would be his second spot kick of the week.

Friend decided to go the same way as he had against Rugby Town but Lakin had done his homework. The goalkeeper diving low to his left got his hands to Friend’s spot-kick to keep his team in the match. A glorious chance for Dynamo had gone begging.

Bourne tried to make the most of Lakin's heroics by almost producing a winner in stoppage time. Substitute Tom Siddons chased a long crossfield ball out on the right and decided to try a first-time effort towards the near post. Wallis scrambled across to gather Siddons’ low drive and keep the scores level.

The final whistle confirmed that the two teams would have to do it all over again in midweek after an entertaining contest. Both sides had their moments but Dynamo will rue not taking full advantage having been presented a priceless chance to win it from the spot.

Tuesday night will decide who goes through to the next round at the Dovecote in what is set to be an unmissable tie.

Dynamo: Wallis, Bayliss, Partridge, Peart, Timson, Collins (Barber 85’), Friend, Prenderville, Rogers (York 75’), Dixon (Morgan 64’), Burkey

Bourne Town: Lakin, Lievins, Burrows, Ellis, Marshall, Peters, Furey (Wilson 64’), Eyett, Bird (Siddons 83’), Dunn (Pereira 81’), Allen

Attendance: 403