Shepshed Dynamo endured a difficult afternoon at the Dovecote Stadium, falling to a 4-0 defeat against Sutton Coldfield Town in challenging conditions as torrential rain and strong winds made life difficult for both sides.

The fixture had been billed as a meeting between second and third place, but Dynamo were left frustrated after a series of costly defensive errors allowed the visitors to take control of the contest.

Shepshed threatened early on, with Jack Butterfill firing a speculative volley wide in the third minute before Reece Massey picked out the forward on the right. Butterfill delivered towards James Tague, whose first-time effort was brilliantly tipped over by Sutton Coldfield goalkeeper James Wren. Jiah Medrano then found Josh Halliday with a delivery into the box, but his header drifted wide.

Despite Dynamo’s promising start, the visitors took the lead in the 13th minute through a moment of misfortune. A long ball caused confusion between Ben Britton and the advancing Liam Coyne, with Britton’s attempted clearance striking Kory Burke and looping over the stranded goalkeeper into the net.

Dynamo looked for an immediate response, and Tague raced down the left before delivering towards Butterfill at the back post. However, a combination of Remie Birch and Wren prevented the forward from converting.

At the other end, Sutton Coldfield threatened again when Wren’s long clearance released James McGrady, whose attempt to bend the ball into the far corner was kept out by Coyne with a good low save.

Shepshed continued to push before the interval. Declan Peart headed Massey’s corner back across goal, allowing Chad Timson to attempt an overhead kick, although his effort went straight at Wren. Burniston then flicked Medrano’s long throw towards the back post, where Peart volleyed wide.

The hosts had one final opportunity before the break when Tague played a superb pass through to Butterfill. The forward struck first time, but Wren produced an excellent save to preserve Sutton Coldfield’s advantage.

Dynamo’s hopes of getting back into the game suffered another blow four minutes into the second half. An inswinging corner from the right found Reece Gibson, who powered a header beyond Coyne to double the visitors’ lead.

The afternoon became even more difficult for Shepshed in the 55th minute following another costly defensive mix-up. A ball over the top prompted Coyne to leave his goal, but McGrady reached it first, took the ball around the goalkeeper and calmly finished into the empty net from distance.

Dynamo continued to search for a way back, Reuben Wyatt’s corner found Burniston at the near post in the 74th minute, but his touch sent the ball into the side netting.

Sutton Coldfield added a fourth six minutes from time. Substitute Luca Taylor delivered a cross from the left which evaded two attempts by the Dynamo defence to clear, allowing Gibson to arrive at the back post and tap home his second goal of the afternoon.

Shepshed attempted to find a consolation late on when Butterfill crossed from the right for Taylor Wyse, but his first-time effort went wide.

Ultimately, Dynamo were punished for a series of defensive errors against a Sutton side who took their chances when they arrived. Despite some promising attacking moments in the first half, the hosts were unable to recover from the visitors’ two quick second-half goals, as a difficult afternoon in the wind and rain ended in a heavy defeat.