Three league matches into the season and Shepshed Dynamo are still searching for that elusive first three points. Today’s game at the Dovecote against Racing Club Warwick presented an opportunity for Dynamo to put that right.

Following a 3-0 defeat on Tuesday at Long Eaton United, manager Gary Drake rang the changes that included Jowan Partridge receiving a long-awaited start in central defence. New signings this week Ethan Morgan and Sam Warburton both began on the bench.

A humid August afternoon produced a red-hot start from the home side as Dynamo pushed for an early goal. Only two minutes had elapsed when Jude Collins took aim at Sam Lomax’ goal. Collins’ shot from the edge of the 18-yard box deflected off a Warwick head before narrowly clearing the crossbar.

The lively start from the hosts paid dividends as the ball dropped to Jack Rogers just outside the penalty area. Rogers, taking the ball on the half volley, produced a downward strike that beat the diving Lomax at his near post to give Dynamo the lead after 15 minutes.

Racing Club Warwick threatened to make honours even on 21 minutes. A cross from the right courtesy of Jack Edwards found the head of the onrushing Hancocks who saw his header flash wide of Dan Wallis’ far post.

Shepshed responded on 36 minutes with the lively Jude Collins testing goalkeeper Lomax once again. A snapshot following a clearance from a Dynamo corner resulted in Collins’ effort being deflected by Chad Timson. The ball flew towards the near post but Lomax got across smartly to deny Shepshed a second.

Despite Lomax’ best efforts, Shepshed doubled their advantage after 40 minutes. Collins, rather predictably, was involved in the set up as his cross from the left aimed for Jesse Friend in the centre. The ball evaded Friend but found Jack Rogers at the far post who drilled the ball low back across Lomax to double his and Dynamo’s lead going into half time.

The second half was barely two minutes old when Dynamo found the net for a third time. Rogers, running down the right, turned provider with an inch-perfect cross finding Jesse Friend at the far post. Friend applied a finish with a striking similarity to that of Rogers second goal, sending the ball into the far corner.

With the lead now comfortably secured, Gary Drake introduced new signing Ethan Morgan from the bench. The Welsh attacker wasted no time trying to get in on the action with a long-range effort from 35 yards that dragged wide on 85 minutes.

Dynamo made sure that Lomax and his defence couldn’t relax and continued to probe for more goals. Morgan’s through ball caught the Warwick backline high and allowed substitute Dylan Reason to run clear with only the ‘keeper to beat. Reason’s first effort was kept out by Lomax but ran underneath him allowing the Dynamo forward to tap in at the second attempt on 87 minutes.

Shepshed then compounded a miserable day for the visitors by rounding off the game with a fifth goal in stoppage time, A route one clearance from Wallis was superbly taken down by substitute Josh Allen. The Shepshed forward advanced on goal, slotting a low finish into the back of the net, his first for the club.

The final whistle brought the curtain down on an electric five-star performance from Shepshed Dynamo. Gary Drake’s men, recently, have shown flashes of what they can do as a team and today was the day it all came together. A ruthlessness in front of goal that many have been crying out for finally arrived and the fans loved every minute. Dynamo will look to replicate today’s performance on Monday away at Rugby Town while Warwick look to pick themselves back up again at home to Rugby Borough.

Dynamo: Wallis, Bayliss (Barber 67’), Partridge, Peart, Timson, Collins (Reason 85’), Friend (Morgan 80’), Prenderville, Rogers (Allen 90’), Dixon, Burkey (Warburton 88’)

Racing Club Warwick: Lomax, Moore, Hancocks, Edwards, Willis, Barnett, Coyle, Barkers, Martin, Opoku, Miles

Attendance: 178