The final home fixture before Christmas saw Shepshed Dynamo attempt to get back to winning ways against AFC Rushden & Diamonds. The visitors from Northamptonshire also arrived in Leicestershire seeking victory following a 3-1 home defeat to table-toppers Carlton Town last weekend.

Dynamo boss Gary Drake opted for steel in the middle of the park by moving Jowan Partridge from defence to centre midfield. Elwalid Elhaghany made his way into the vacant centre-back position with the rest of the side unchanged from Saturday’s late 1-0 defeat to Coleshill Town.

Elliot Sandy made two changes to his Diamonds side with goalkeeper Lewis Elsom replacing Dan Jezeph between the sticks and Jeremy Kyezu coming in for Curtis Hartley. Former Shepshed midfielder Joel Nketia also started in the centre of midfield for the visitors who were seeking to record their first victory over Dynamo at the Dovecote.

The cold winter snap produced a frosty opening with little to divide the two sides. Callum Burkey attempted to test replacement ‘keeper Elsom with a strike from the edge of the 18-yard box. Burkey’s half volley, following Declan Peart’s knockdown, soared high over the bar after five minutes.

Diamonds then began to shine as a free kick from goalkeeper Lewis Elsom met a flick-on by Aiden Webster. The ball divided the Dynamo defence allowing Tyler Winters to control the ball before striking low inside the near post beyond the dive of Dan Wallis in the Shepshed goal. It had taken 18 minutes but the visitors had the advantage.

Shepshed were struggling to get out of first gear and the away side continued to cause headaches for the Dynamo backline. In the 29th minute, full back David Adegbola sprinted onto a loose clearance to fire a low shot in on goal from 16 yards. A combination of Wallis and a last-ditch clearance from the goal line kept the score at 1-0.

Hearts were in Dynamo mouths once again on the 33 minute mark. Rushden’s Bruno Andrade took advantage of time and space out on the left before curling an effort destined for the top corner. The crossbar came to Shepshed’s rescue with Wallis well beaten in what was to be the final action of the half.

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Keen to double their advantage, Rushden won a corner out on the right that was delivered in the 50th minute by Andrade. Aidan Webster got across his man at the near post to connect with a volley that had all the power but too much height, flying safely over the crossbar.

A minute later, Rushden’s Joel Nketia battled through the Shepshed midfield to release goalscorer Tyler Winters with just Dan Wallis to beat. Winters took the ball around the Dynamo ‘keeper but couldn’t defeat the angle as his low shot hit the side netting with the goal gaping.

Shepshed manager Gary Drake then shuffled his pack and introduced defender Chad Timson and winger Aaron Korpal to the game. The tactical move soon paid off with 65 minutes on the clock. Korpal’s pass backwards from the right byline found Timson who produced a first time cross. Arriving at the far cross, across his man, was Jude Collins. A deft touch took the ball past Elsom to bring Dynamo level.

Korpal’s involvement continued to bring opportunities on goal for Dynamo as the winger tried a low effort from the right edge of the 18-yard box that whistled past Elsom’s far post. Just a minute had passed since Collins’ goal and the game had changed dramatically.

Unfortunately for Dynamo, the visitors weathered their storm of pressure to regain the lead after 83 minutes. A cross from Bruno Andrade slipped through the hands of Wallis presenting Tyler Winters with an early gift at the far post. A two yard tap-in put the visitors back into the lead once again.

Late drama would unfold as a long ball down the middle caught the Rushden defence high up the park. Jesse Friend got between two defenders and the onrushing Elsom before the ball fell to Aaron Korpal 25 yards out. An open net greeted the Dynamo winger but his effort trickled agonisingly wide.

Despite a late scare, AFC Rushden & Diamonds held on to take the three points back to Northamptonshire. A nightmare before Christmas for manager Gary Drake with Shepshed having lost consecutive home matches by the odd goal and recording one win in their last five. Dynamo will however look to change that with a local derby against Loughborough Students on Boxing Day.

Dynamo: Wallis, Samples (Timson 56’), Peart, Partridge, Friend, Rogers (Korpal 46’), Dixon, Elhaghany, Prenderville, Bayliss (Dixon 72’), Collins, Burkey (Hayes 78’)

AFC Rushden & Diamonds: Elsom, Adegbola, Kyezu, Nketia, Thomas, Dallas, Davies (Russell 65’), Daldy, Winters. Andrade (Poku 94’), Webster (Walker 83’)

Attendance: 308