After last weekend’s loss at Boldmere St Michaels, Shepshed Dynamo returned home to the Dovecote with a view to getting back to winning ways. Standing in their way were Mickleover, who got the better of Shepshed back in October, emerging 1–0 winners on Halloween night.

Looking to avoid any further scares, Dynamo boss Gary Drake declared one change to his teamsheet that started against Boldmere, with Aaron Korpal restored to the first eleven in place of Jack Rogers. A welcome return to the bench after a few games out saw Jack Samples back in the matchday squad.

Bright sunshine replaced the wet, windy conditions of late as the game got underway. Keen to make a fast start, Dynamo pushed forward, forcing early corner kicks. A 13th-minute corner, delivered from the right by the left foot of Jude Collins, found Declan Peart at the far post. As Peart stretched to meet the ball, the Dynamo defender’s header clipped the top of the crossbar before going behind.

Mickleover started to grow into the game and looked to create havoc in the penalty area from a long throw. Danny Gordon delivered the ball into the 18-yard box from the left and found the head of Paddy Webb. The former Quorn striker got a good connection on the ball but saw his 22nd-minute effort fly wide of the far post.

Shepshed were looking to corner kicks as the most likely route to goal, and in the 34th minute this strategy would pay off. Collins again delivered a deep ball to the far post as Jesse Friend leapt highest to meet it. Friend’s header back across goal fell perfectly for Aaron Korpal, a little over a yard out. Korpal’s header landed inside the far post, giving Dynamo the advantage.

Emerging for the second half after a positive first period, Shepshed went on the attack in search of a second. Fin Ryder, on as a substitute, turned his man on the edge of the penalty area and aimed a low 46th-minute shot towards the near post. Ryder didn’t quite generate the power needed and goalkeeper Jack McDowell gathered easily.

The visitors were very nearly presented with an equaliser after 55 minutes. A Dynamo interception ran loose behind the defence, with goalkeeper Dan Wallis going to ground to meet the ball. Wallis somehow fumbled it, with Mickleover’s Paddy Webb picking up the pieces. Webb’s effort from 18 yards sailed high over the crossbar, to Wallis’ relief.

Two minutes later, Mickleover looked to fire on Wallis’ goal once again as captain Andy Dales cut inside from the left flank. Dales took advantage of time and space 25 yards out and tried his luck. Fortunately for Dynamo, the powerful strike whistled wide of the far post.

Controversy then clouded the game in the 81st minute as Wallis was adjudged by the referee to have picked up a backpass from defender Jowan Partridge. A free kick was awarded 10 yards from goal with Archie White standing over the ball for the visitors. White struck low, but Dynamo threw bodies towards the shot and the danger was quickly cleared.

A solid team performance ground out a much-needed three points for Shepshed as Gary Drake’s side avenged the 1–0 defeat in Derbyshire earlier in the season. Dynamo will continue the hunt for points as they head into Northamptonshire on Wednesday evening to face Corby Town. Mickleover have it all to do as they head to runaway league leaders Carlton Town on Tuesday night.

Dynamo: Wallis, Bayliss (Richards 88’), Peart, Partridge, Friend, Burkey, Korpal (Rogers 79’), Dixon (Ryder 42’), Prenderville, Timson, Collins (Samples 84’)

Mickleover: McDowell, Ashman, Gordon (Wilkinson 46’), Atkinson, Benson (Bonser 63’), Gascoigne, Smith, Keane (Norkett 60’), Beavon (Dyer 85’), Dales, Webb (White 69’)

Attendance: 338