Dynamo 0 - 2 Stourport Swifts

Shepshed slump to sorry defeat

By Lucas Monk

Shepshed Dynamo slumped to a sorry defeat at home to mid-table Stourport Swifts.

Drew Canavan netted an early opener before Nick MacPherson made the points safe for the Swifts late in the second half.

The defeat was Dynamo's first at The Dovecote since September. They remain fifth in the Midland Football League table, but have missed the chance to overtake fourth-placed Sporting Khalsa.

Damion Beckford-Quailey made one change to the lineup that drew to Lye Town last time out. Zach Hill replaced the unavailable Joe Pheasant.

Shepshed sorely missed Pheasant's defensive prowess. This became apparent early on.

Brandon Ganley had to make an attentive save to parry MacPherson's low shot in the 10th minute. The Dynamo shot-stopper then denied Canavan after Stourport played a clever short corner.

That would prove a warning shot, and one that the hosts did not heed. The Swifts took the lead two minutes later.

Shepshed failed to clear their lines after R'mar Murray sent a low cross into the box from the left. Canavan stole in, reaching the loose ball ahead of Ganley, to score a tap-in.

The rest of the first half was rather listless, and devoid of notable events. A flurry of fouls did little to improve the quality of the game as the break approached.

On a cold, blustery Saturday afternoon, there was nothing about Dynamo's performance to warm the hearts of the home crowd. Their sole attempt at goal in the first period saw Karl Whymark strike a free kick well wide of the post.

Matters scarcely improved after the restart. Fouls punctuated the early swathe of the second half.

In a rare bout of action, Shepshed did manage what would be their only shot on target shortly after the hour mark. Liam Hurst struck a volley from around 25 yards out, but Dominic Richards made a comfortable save.

Beckford-Quailey threw on substitutes Sam Moore and Celson Patrocinio in a bid to turn the match in his side's favour. It proved a fruitless endeavour.

More slipshod defending put the result beyond doubt on 79 minutes. MacPherson evaded a guileless tackle, burst through on goal, and tucked a cool finish into the bottom corner.

And that was that. Dynamo produced perhaps their worst performance of the season. They were disorganised, lethargic, impotent. Stourport were disciplined, industrious, clinical.

Shepshed can have no complaints about this result. They will now hope to atone for it with victory over Long Eaton United in the League Cup on Tuesday evening.

Dynamo: Ganley, Hill (Moore 58’), Wakeling, Betts, Acott, Mwanyongo, Hurst, Whymark (Morris-Clarke 67’), Prenderville (Patrocinio 74’), Thomas, Melbourne.

Unused substitutes: Day, Doy.

Stourport: Richards, Hanson, Clarke, Platt, Hanson, Fulloway, Billingham, Slevin, MacPherson, Canavan (Walker 78’), Murray.

Unused substitutes: Vine, Howard, Danks, Townsend.