Shepshed Dynamo welcomed the familiar sight of Bourne Town to the Dovecote on Saturday afternoon for the fourth meeting this season between the two sides. The home side headed into the game rich in confidence having won their previous two matches without conceding while Bourne continued their fight for survival having suffered back-to-back defeats.

A new face through the door this week for Dynamo boss Gary Drake saw striker Finley Ryder join from Mickleover. Ryder would begin the afternoon’s action on the bench. Captain and goalkeeper Dan Wallis made his return between the sticks for Shepshed following injury, replacing Mitchell Leivers.

The rain and recent snow had left behind a heavy pitch for the two sides to endure yet the opening exchanges produced some good passing football. The visitors almost gave their travelling support something to shout about after 15 minutes through Robbie Ellis’ 25-yard effort. Ellis let fly with a low drive from the right of the 18-yard box that clipped the side netting at Dan Wallis’ near post.

Ellis’ early strike woke the home side and Dynamo began probing for any weakness in the Bourne rearguard. Jesse Friend leaped highest 8 yards out to head Declan Peart’s 19th minute cross towards goal. Bourne ‘keeper Will Lakin got down sharply to keep out Friend’s effort. Bourne, however, failed to clear their lines and seconds later Friend attempted a 25-yard strike that cleared the crossbar from the left corner of the area.

Shepshed continued to send crosses into the visitor’s penalty area until one finally led to the opening goal on 38 minutes. Winger Aaron Korpal produced a low cross into the near post from the right that met the perfectly timed run of Callum Burkey. The Dynamo midfielder made no mistake tapping in from inside 6 yards past Lakin.

With half time approaching, Jesse Friend once again tried to beat Lakin from the best part of 25 yards. The Dynamo striker’s 40th minute effort this time found the target but also the hands of Lakin who produced a comfortable save to keep the score down to just one going into the break.

A scrappy start to the second half produced little until the 68th minute when Jesse Friend tried for a third time to get his name on the scoresheet. A headed knockdown inside the area from Niall Prenderville fell invitingly for Friend who struck a low 15-yard shot that was blocked superbly with Lakin’s services not required on this occasion.

Dynamo had a glorious opportunity to make the points safe when substitute Jack Rogers intercepted a loose ball played across goal with only Lakin to beat. The Bourne stopper produced a superb save from Rogers’ effort with the loose ball then met by debutant Finley Ryder. The Shepshed forward could only hit his effort straight at Lakin and, with 82 minutes played, the game was still hanging in the balance.

Two minutes later, that missed opportunity almost came back to haunt Shepshed as Zac Allen broke free of the home defence down the left with only Wallis to beat. The Bourne attacker rounded Wallis and shot low towards the near post. Only the outstretched leg of the recovering Elwalid Elhaghany prevented Bourne equalising as the Dynamo defender’s clearance off the line came at the expense of a corner.

Elhaghany’s heroics and Burkey’s first half strike were enough to give Shepshed Dynamo their third consecutive victory and clean sheet. A difficult surface for both sides produced a battling performance which will no doubt please Shepshed manager Gary Drake. Dynamo will look to extend their recent good form at struggling Bedworth United on Saturday.

Dynamo: Wallis, Samples, Peart, Partridge, Friend (Ryder 76’), Korpal (Rogers 68’), Elhaghany, Prenderville, Bayliss (Timson 88’), Collins (Dixon 86’), Burkey

Bourne Town: Lakin, Milne (Lievens 77’), Blythe (Blankley 87’), Ellis, Marshall, Jones, Furey (Bird 78’), Bayly, Siddons, Eyett, Allen

Attendance: 218