Three points on the road last weekend at Coventry Sphinx set Shepshed Dynamo up nicely for a home tie with Long Eaton United. The visitors, however, had proved to be something of a bogey side for Gary Drake’s men, with Dynamo yet to taste victory in their last three attempts against United.

A welcome addition arrived this week as last season’s Supporters’ Player of the Season, Luke Cox, signed on dual registration from Quorn. Cox turned out to be one of two signings this week, with highly rated young defender Bodi Thistleton arriving on loan from Burton Albion.

Cox went straight into the centre of defence for Shepshed as the game got underway in nearly every type of weather imaginable during the first half. As with the conditions, neither side could quite settle in the early stages, with very little to separate the two teams. It would take until the 22nd minute for any goalmouth action, which fortunately fell to the hosts.

A corner from the left, swung in by Jude Collins, found Jesse Friend towards the far post. The ball eventually came down for Friend to rifle it low across the box, with an outstretched leg from Luke Cox connecting but, sadly, diverting the ball wide.

Four minutes later, Long Eaton decided to test Dan Wallis in the Dynamo goal. Tristan Thompson-Matthews took the ball across the width of the edge of the 18-yard box before firing a low effort towards Wallis, with the Shepshed goalkeeper getting down to smother the ball and gathering at the second attempt.

The visitors would threaten again after 33 minutes as Owen Betts twisted and turned inside the box, 10 yards from the byline. Betts looked to slide the ball across Wallis and into the far corner but, thankfully for Dynamo, the effort crept wide of the far post.

It was then Shepshed’s turn to attack the Long Eaton defence with 37 minutes on the clock. Jowan Partridge drove forward towards the left byline and flashed a dangerous ball across goal. A deflection from United’s Gianluca Bucci momentarily looked goalbound but, to the relief of the visitors, the ball drifted wide of the far post.

Wallis would be called into action right on half-time as Thompson-Matthews found space 12 yards from goal on the left of the box. The ball dropped kindly out of the sky for the Long Eaton attacker, who then produced a fierce volley inside the near post that Wallis superbly saved low down.

A second half that began as evenly as the first soon came to life as Tristan Thompson-Matthews broke clear of the Dynamo defence after 61 minutes. The attacker latched onto a through ball and proceeded to lift it over Wallis and into the net to put the visitors ahead.

Long Eaton were in the ascendancy following the opening goal and went in search of a second after 72 minutes. A fierce strike from James Taylor from just outside the 18-yard box flew towards Wallis’ near post but, luckily for Dynamo, the ball cleared the crossbar.

After being momentarily under the cosh after conceding, Dynamo showed their resolve and went on the offensive. A smart throw-in routine involving Declan Peart releasing Jack Samples resulted in a cross towards the far post. Callum Burkey met Samples’ delivery to put the ball back across goal for Jesse Friend to fire underneath goalkeeper Allsop from six yards out.

The 75th-minute strike was the result of a well-worked move that levelled the game and, soon after, Dynamo were looking to complete the turnaround. Jude Collins sprayed a slick crossfield ball to substitute Jack Rogers out on the right flank. Rogers’ infield pass was then collected by Fin Ryder, who shot low from the edge of the box, with Allsop diving low to collect with 81 minutes played.

No further opportunities meant that the game ended all square at 1–1. The draw keeps Dynamo unbeaten in their last two games, while Long Eaton remain undefeated in their last three. The race for the play-offs continues to heat up, with Dynamo still in contention. Shepshed will have a potentially golden opportunity to take points from fifth-placed Belper Town at the Dovecote on Tuesday evening.

Dynamo: Wallis, Samples, Peart, Partridge, Friend, Burkey, Korpal (Rogers 57’), Cox (Ryder 67’), Prenderville (Dixon 86’), Timson (Bayliss 46’), Collins

Long Eaton United: Allsop. Betts, Bonser, Cocks, Cotterill, Bucci, Pace, Hanson (Atwal 77’), Garnett, Thompson-Matthews, Taylor

Attendance: 326