Shepshed Dynamo hosted their first home fixture in over a month as league-leaders Carlton Town made their way to the Dovecote. The journey from Nottinghamshire was sadly not a smooth one for the visitors as a vehicle fire on the M1 motorway delayed the team, match officials and a selection of the home side too.

The referee did manage to arrive 15 minutes prior to kick off but with Carlton still waiting on squad members to make it through the delays, the decision was taken to declare a new start time of 8.45pm.

When all members of the matchday squads and officials were eventually present, the team news could finally be revealed. Shepshed Dynamo manager Gary Drake made one change from the side that secured victory away at St Neots a week previous by including Ben Bayliss at left back in place of Jack Samples.

The opening exchanges produced little until the 25th minute as Dynamo attacker Jesse Friend flicked a long ball onwards into the path of striker Fin Ryder. The Dynamo forward looked to add to his winner at St Neot’s yet sadly placed too much elevation on his effort, clearing the crossbar from just inside the 18-yard box.

A minute later, Shepshed continued their attacking momentum as Jude Collins produced a pinpoint cross from the left that met the head of Niall Prenderville in the centre of goal. Prenderville’s header looked destined for the bottom corner but for the incredible reflexes of goalkeeper Felix Annan. The Carlton stopper got down low at the far post to deny Prenderville what looked like a certain goal.

To round off a crazy three-minute spell, Dynamo once again threatened Annan’s goal. The resulting corner from Prenderville’s saved header met the leap of Jesse Friend at the near post. The attacker’s header hit the underside of the bar and continued along the line to ricochet off the far post. Prenderville’s follow up effort then struck the bar with the Carlton goal leading a charmed life.

As half time approached. Carlton looked to finish the half strongly. A long ball was lifted over the top of the Dynamo defence,as the home side pushed up the pitch, finding the run of striker Ashley Chambers. The Carlton frontman wasted no time in producing a powerful drive inside Dan Wallis’ near post from the right of the 18-yard box. A sucker punch for the home side.

The league leaders’ confidence began to show early in the second period as Chambers looked to go from scorer to provider, as the attacker played in Oliver Clark for a one-on-one opportunity with Wallis. Clark couldn’t provide the finish as his 49th minute effort was aimed straight at Wallis for an easy gather.

Frustration was seeping into the Dynamo ranks as Carlton tightened their defensive grip and looked to neutralise the home side's attacks. The hosts did catch sight of goal after 59 minutes as Jude Collins looked to find space 30 yards out. The Shepshed winger spotted a gap and belted a fierce drive towards Annan’s near post with the ball whistling just wide of the target.

The final opportunity of the game arrived after 80 minutes as Chambers once again was involved in the build up. Chambers’ low cross from the left found Lamin Manneh on the edge of the 18-yard box. Carlton winger Lammeh aimed for the top corner at the far post but got his effort all wrong with the ball sailing harmlessly wide.

Another game ends with Shepshed Dynamo wondering what might have been. The pre-match delays did nothing to halt Carlton’s charge towards the league title with Chambers’ strike enough to take the points back to Nottinghamshire. Dynamo will look to continue their chase towards the play-offs with a trip to Boldmere St Michaels on Saturday while Carlton face another trip to Leicestershire at second-placed Anstey Nomads.

Dynamo: Wallis, Bayliss, Peart, Partridge, Friend (Burkey 78’), Korpal (Rogers 70’), Richards (Foxe 85’), Prenderville (Dixon 75’), Timson, Collins, Ryder

Carlton Town: Annan, Thompson-Harris, Davie, Freeman, Robson, Howes, Manneh, Watson, Chambers, Clark, Hylton

Attendance: 200