Long Eaton 2 Shepshed Dynamo 2

Wilson at the double as Dynamo salvage late point

By Lucas Monk

Jordan Wilson netted an impressive brace for Shepshed Dynamo as they drew 2-2 in a controversial clash with Long Eaton United at Grange Park.

The hosts appeared to be on their way to victory after Tom Gamblen and Reuben Wiggins-Thomas struck either side of Wilson’s first goal.

But Wilson bagged his second of the match to salvage a late point for his side, despite the sending off of manager Damion Beckford-Quailey.

The result means that Dynamo remain fourth in the Midland Football League table with seven matches to go until the end of the season.

Shepshed, who were without the influential Karl Whymark, got off to a sluggish start.

Ross Parker had a header blocked as the hosts threatened on.

The visitors then stood firm to defend a succession of Long Eaton corners before Matt Melbourne saw his shot blocked on 11 minutes.

However, they were soon behind.

Sean Doy relinquished possession in the Dynamo half after a poor touch.

And United promptly produced a good move that Tom Gamblen finished off after good work from Niall Towle.

The half was hardly chock-full of goalmouth action, and Shepshed’s only shot on target was a tame effort from Pearson Mwanyongo.

But Dynamo started the second half with a bang.

From Josh Thomas’s low cross, Wilson curled an excellent, near-post shot into the net to restore parity in the 48th minute.

Shepshed then spurned a good chance to turn the match on its head, with Melbourne heading wide after Wilson crossed the ball from the right.

They would soon rue that missed opportunity.

With 55 minutes on the clock, Doy was adjudged to have impeded Gamblen inside the box, and the referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty to Long Eaton.

Reuben Wiggins-Thomas made no mistake from 12 yards, slotting the spot-kick home with aplomb.

Dynamo then had to dig in and endure a concerted spell of pressure. Brandon Ganley did well to parry Kameron Campbell’s curling shot. Beckford-Quailey was then sent off after the referee conferred with his linesman.

Shepshed thereafter grew into the match, with substitute Sam Moore firing over from range, before scoring a late equaliser.

Wilson struck a sumptuous volley into the top corner after Long Eaton failed to clear their lines - his third goal in two matches.

The momentum was now Dynamo’s, and they came agonisingly close to a winner with just two minutes to play.

Melbourne’s shot took a deflection before hitting the inside of the post and spinning away, and his side had to settle for a point.

Shepshed were certainly not at their best, and this was especially the case in the first period with Long Eaton exerting much in the way of attacking pressure.

But they rallied in the second half and, despite the decision to send Beckford-Quailey off, claimed a hard-fought point against the division’s form side.

Wilson, in only his second game for the club, was again the saviour for Dynamo following his heroics last week, and his scoring of two excellent strikes in this match means that his signing is beginning to look a real coup.

Shepshed will now look to next week’s pivotal trip to Ilkeston Town, the league leaders, as they bid to keep their promotion hopes alive.

Dynamo: B. Ganley, Doy (Morris-Clarke 79’), Pheasant, R. Ganley, Wakeling, Mwanyongo (Patrocinio 74’), Hurst, Prenderville, Thomas (Moore 66’), Wilson, Melbourne.

Unused substitutes: Conteh, Betts.

Long Eaton: Taylor, Rowley, Brittain, Parker, Scanlon, Graham, Gamblen, Campbell, Towle, Wiggins-Thomas, Bestwick.

Unused substitutes: Fairclough, Head, Banton, Keane.