Shepshed Dynamo faced their final outing on the road for the 2025/26 season at Wellingborough Town. Both sides were neck and neck in the table, with half an eye on still making the play-offs should results go their way.

Dynamo boss Gary Drake made two changes from the side that held third-placed Basford United to a 1–1 draw away from home last Saturday. Ben Bayliss started at left-back in place of Bodi Thistleton, while Jack Rogers lined up on the right ahead of Aaron Korpal. The home side began the day having made three changes from their 2–2 away draw at relegated Rugby Town.

Bright sunshine provided perfect end-of-season conditions for the afternoon as the home side looked to turn up the heat on the visitors early on. A 50/50 aerial ball resulted in a clash of heads in the 2nd minute, with Dynamo’s Kyle Dixon ending up on the deck inside the Wellingborough half. The resulting ball, lofted over the Shepshed defence, quickly released striker Joseph Evans, who lifted a measured lob over Dan Wallis from just outside the area to put Wellingborough ahead.

Angry protests from Dynamo fans behind the goal towards the referee were audible, as the visiting contingent felt that the game should have been stopped due to a head injury. Nevertheless, play continued and the hosts had their lead, temporarily leapfrogging Shepshed in the league table.

Jeers soon turned to cheers as Shepshed exerted pressure on the Wellingborough penalty area. Niall Prenderville attempted a strike on Dean Snedker’s goal but had his 15-yard effort blocked in the 18th minute. The resulting loose ball was quickly returned into the box, with Declan Peart beating the offside trap and finding space 10 yards out to slide a cool finish into the far corner past Snedker to level the game.

The home side were soon on the attack again as Wellingborough winger Taylor Franklin danced his way inside the penalty area towards the left byline in the 25th minute. Franklin had the angle against him but managed to fire a low near-post shot that required a strong hand from Wallis to turn the ball around the post.

Five minutes later, with half an hour played, Franklin again looked to try his luck. The tricky winger cut inside from the left and delivered a powerful 25-yard strike with his right foot that sailed narrowly over the crossbar.

As half-time approached, pressure from Town increased. Joe Pursey’s long throw into the 18-yard box from the right touchline was flicked on into the path of Joseph Evans at the near post. The striker, full of confidence after his opener, lashed a high strike into the roof of the Dynamo net to double both his and Wellingborough’s tally for the afternoon after 39 minutes.

Four minutes of stoppage time gave Shepshed a chance to respond before the half-time whistle. Good wing play from Jack Rogers produced a cross aimed at the far post, which was met by Jude Collins. Rising highest, Collins headed the ball down towards the bottom corner, but the base of the post came to Snedker’s rescue after 47 minutes.

Shepshed began the second half looking to get back on level terms. Defender Chad Timson brought the ball forward into the Wellingborough half with no challenge forthcoming and took the invitation to hit a 25-yard strike that cleared the crossbar, with Snedker scrambling across his goal just a minute into the half.

Declan Peart’s 51st-minute long throw from the right touchline met the head of Jesse Friend at the near post. Friend’s flick-on carried through to Niall Prenderville, whose header towards the centre of goal landed safely in the hands of the Wellingborough goalkeeper.

The visitors’ solid start to the second half was soon rewarded as Ben Bayliss produced a cross from deep inside the Wellingborough half on the left. Using his stronger right foot, Bayliss sent an arrowed delivery onto the penalty spot, where Jesse Friend rose to head the ball into the far corner with the aid of a deflection. All square again with 57 minutes played.

As the game entered the 70th minute, Shepshed began to lay siege to the Wellingborough goal, starting with a corner on the right delivered low to the near post by Jude Collins. The Dynamo winger found the run of Jack Rogers, who struck a first-time low effort from 15 yards that crashed against the post.

Amid a flurry of set plays, Jack Rogers delivered a 77th-minute corner from the left that found the head of Niall Prenderville at the near post. The midfielder’s header beat Snedker but not the defender on the far post, as a firm headed clearance off the line kept the scores level.

Substitute Aaron Korpal quickly spun his marker on the right after 79 minutes and carried the ball towards the byline. Korpal then set a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Jesse Friend, 12 yards from goal. Friend’s high first-time strike towards the centre of goal produced a superb flying save from Snedker, who turned the ball over the crossbar.

The resulting corner, delivered by Jude Collins, was headed back across goal by Dynamo defender Declan Peart into the path of Chad Timson six yards out. Timson’s header had the power but not the direction to trouble Snedker, as the ball cleared the crossbar.

For all their pressure, Shepshed were very nearly dealt a sucker punch as Joseph Evans hooked an 80th-minute cross from the left flank towards substitute James Clifton at the far post. Clifton made good contact with a powerful header, but thankfully for Dynamo, the ball whistled wide of the upright.

In the 87th minute, Dynamo’s second-half pressure finally paid off. A long throw from the right touchline by Declan Peart caused a scramble inside the 18-yard box, with Aaron Korpal’s shot blocked by the Wellingborough backline. The loose ball fell to Jesse Friend, who rifled in his second of the game into the top corner from six yards, sending the away fans into raptures.

Shepshed looked to make the game safe in style as Aaron Korpal broke free of the Wellingborough backline to face Snedker one-on-one. His attempt to lift the ball over the goalkeeper was well read by the Wellingborough stopper, who beat it away to safety in the 88th minute.

The final whistle confirmed victory for Dynamo, and results elsewhere revealed there is still a mathematical chance of a play-off place for Shepshed. A dramatic finish to a thrilling tie returned Shepshed Dynamo to 7th place, with Saturday’s final home game of the season coming against Lichfield City. Do not miss what promises to be a pulsating final day.

Dynamo: Wallis, Bayliss, Dixon (Allen 80’), Peart, Partridge, Friend, Burkey (Korpal 66’), Rogers, Prenderville, Timson, Collins (Samples 88’)

Wellingborough Town: Snedker, Green, Pursey, Barnell (Tomlinson 88’), O’Connor, Walker, Slinn, Buckby, Evans, Jones (Clifton 74’), Franklin

Attendance: 341