DYNAMO 1 AFC WULFRUNIANS 3

Well-oiled Wulfs put Shepshed to sword

By Lucas Monk

Shepshed Dynamo succumbed to a first home defeat in four matches at the hands of a clinical AFC Wulfrunians on Saturday afternoon.

Arnold Chaponda, Jumaane Meggoe and Charles Wilson all struck for the Wulfs, who claimed a hard-fought victory.

The defeat leaves Dynamo in fifth place in the Midland Football League table with three games to go until the end of the campaign.

Shepshed made a fairly sprightly start. They fashioned a good chance with just a few minutes played. Matt Melbourne sent Jordan Wilson in on goal with an excellent through ball, but the latter scuffed his shot wide.

It was a real let-off for the visitors; one they made Dynamo rue just moments later.

Slipshod defending allowed Chris Sterling to deliver a cross into the area from the right, and Chaponda bundled the ball home from close range on eight minutes to hand his side the advantage.

The opening goal elicited no response of any kind from Shepshed, and they heedlessly allowed the away side to double their money just five minutes later. Chaponda turned provider and outran and outmuscled Jordan Wakeling, and Meggoe was there to head home his cross from the left channel.

Dynamo had rather stumbled out of the blocks, and the verve and vivacity and speed with which Wulfrunians attacked contrasted starkly with their slovenly and ponderous play.

The Wulfs continued to create the better chances, with the pace of Sterling, Meggoe and Chaponda proving too much for the home side to handle. They threatened a third goal on 22 minutes; Sterling seized upon a loose pass and sprayed the ball wide to Chaponda. Chaponda then crossed for Sterling, who glanced a header just wide of the mark.

And still the rampant visitors pressed and probed for a third goal. On 25 minutes, Sterling flicked on a long ball for Meggoe, who drew an attentive parry from Brandon Ganley in the home goal.

Shepshed were veritably second-best, but after Niall Prenderville shot off target and Wakeling had a header comfortably saved by away 'keeper Jake James, they halved the deficit on the stroke of half-time.

Wakeling had appeared to handle the ball just outside the Dynamo penalty area. Referee Jamie Howe judged Chaponda to have pushed him, and awarded a free kick to the hosts. Within seconds, Celson Patrocinio burst through on goal and coolly slotted the ball past James. The goal, without question, came against the run of play.

The second half was to be a more even affair. In its early stages, Prenderville fired toward goal from Josh Thomas's corner, but his effort met a determined block. Shortly thereafter, Wakeling, from another Thomas corner, fired high and wide at the back post.

The next clear sight of goal came on 72 minutes. Josh Thomas drove his free kick into the wall before the ball fell kindly for Wilson only a few yards from goal. Unfortunately, the in-form striker could only rattle the aluminium with his shot.

Damion Beckford-Quailey's side did not get another chance to equalise. As they poured players forward in search of parity, Wulfrunians defended stoutly, and put the match beyond them in added time.

Shepshed carelessly relinquished possession from a free kick, and the visitors were awarded one of their own merely seconds later. From it, the excellent and effervescent Meggoe sprang the offside trap and squared the ball for substitute Charles Wilson, who slammed a shot into the net from close range.

This was an exasperating afternoon for those of a Dynamo disposition. The team appeared to lack vigour and creativity and they lost possession all too frequently and all too carelessly.

They played straight into the hands of a well-organised Wulfrunians side who were devastating on the counter attack. Chaponda, Meggoe and Sterling were in fine fettle and Shepshed's failure to contain them was a pivotal factor in deciding the match.

Wulfrunians deserved their win and Dynamo their defeat. They will have to show more metal when they travel to Highgate United in two weeks.