A drizzly Saturday afternoon at the Dovecote played host to Shepshed Dynamo as they welcomed newly-promoted Rugby Borough. Transfer dealings have resumed for Dynamo boss Gary Drake as defender Jack Samples arrived through the door on dual registration from Quorn F.C on Friday.

Samples went straight in at left back replacing Ben Bayliss for Shepshed while high-flying Rugby Borough arrived with two new faces on their bench - Amar Sandhu and Lindon Meikle joined on Friday to bolster Dave Stringer’s side.

A cagey first fifteen minutes saw both teams attempt to find an opening but without any great success. That all changed on sixteen minutes as Shepshed put together a flowing move down the left flank. Jack Samples played in Jude Collins, heading towards the byline. Collins drilled in a low cross that was met at the far post by Jack Rogers. A sweet connection and a low drive beat former Dynamo ‘keeper Brandon Ganley to put the hosts ahead.

Rugby had played some neat possession-based football but were meeting frustration time and again as the Dynamo defence continued to snuff out any potential danger. Shepshed almost doubled their lead on the stroke of half time. Jesse Friend's bicycle kick at the near post skewed into Rogers’ path ten yards from goal. Rogers' powerful effort cleared Ganley’s crossbar to the visitors' relief.

The second half began with Shepshed picking up where they had left off in the first. Jack Rogers, again proving a handful down the right, drove at the Borough defence towards the right-edge of the penalty area. Rogers unleashed a 47th minute strike that swerved harmlessly past Ganley’s near post.

Ganley was busy again three minutes later. Jude Collins crossed from the left, towards the near post, and found striker Dylan Reason 12 yards from goal. Reason’s glancing header needed an acrobatic save at the near post from Ganley to turn the ball away for a Dynamo corner.

Rugby continued to look dangerous in possession and duly won a free kick 30 yards from goal to the right of the penalty area. Will Grocott floated a precise delivery to the far post which was met by captain Oran Jackson to power a bullet header past Dan Wallis. Borough were back on level terms with 52 minutes on the clock.

Dynamo received a further scare in the 64th minute as Brian Kohyrelon broke free of the Shepshed defence. The Borough striker tried a right-footed effort from the angle just to the right of the penalty area but his 10-yard effort trickled past the far post.

Shepshed aimed to finish the game the stronger of the two sides. The pressure began to mount on the Borough rearguard as Jude Collins once again lined up a set play. The winger's free kick from the right found defender Declan Peart at the far post. Peart rose above his man but planted his header wide of the target.

Substitute Callum Burkey was presented with the final opportunity of the game as a high ball dropped to the midfielder, inside the box, on the volley. The angle was against Burkey as he kept his effort low but straight into the hands of Ganley as stoppage time came to an end.

Honours even at the Dovecote but an entertaining afternoon’s football from two committed sides. Dynamo had their chances and held strong for the most part at the back while Rugby’s easy on the eye style of play eventually paid dividends. Shepshed will be back under the lights at the Dovecote on Tuesday against Corby Town while Borough host Coleshill Town on Saturday.

Dynamo: Wallis, Samples, Peart, Timson, Collins, Reason (Burkey 70’), Friend (Allen 84’), Prenderville, Rogers, Dixon (York 65’), Partridge

Rugby Borough: Ganley, Myles, Rowe, Freeman, Jackson, Collins (Meikle 69’), Cristofaro (Sandhu 65’), Duffy, Kohyrelon (Wilson 76’), Grocott, Stone

Attendance: 209