Shepshed Dynamo 1 AFC Wulfrunians 0

After an inconsistent run of form Shepshed came up against a daunting task in taking on unbeaten AFC Wulfrunans at The Dovecote Stadium.

Chris White made changes to the starting line up and formation from last Saturday, a system that certainly brought the best out of the squad.

The first half was a balanced affair and although Shepshed had a majority of the possession the visitors always posed a threat going forward.

Both sides exchanged chances the first from Wolves David Howells three minutes in straight at Ryan Thacker, two minutes later Luke Edwards reciprecated firing into Daniel Tipton. JakeWebb's effort then went wide for the visitors and Rob Mulonga and Keiron Davies supplied Edwards only to fire over the top.

Shepshed began to press the game and seventeen minutes Captain Chris Gray's cross as punched clear by Tipton from the advancing Davies, Davies then pressured the Wulfrunian defence but there was no one on the end of the ball three minutes later. Shepshed looked the more likely to open the score line and produced further balls in the danger area to no avail. Further chances from Davies deflected wide and Smedley from the resulting corner.

Just after the half hour mark defender Lee Attenborough who has been on the score sheet regular fired over the top and five minutes later a combination of Chaplin then Edwards onto Attwood's effort went straight into Tipton. Davies with a pinpoint cross saw Chaplin's header go wide a minute later. The visitors although on the back foot weren't without chances exactly 30 minutes into the game Thacker was forced into a save and with six minutes of the half remaining Webb fired over the top. The final chance also fell to Wulfrunians with Howells also shooting over the bar. It led to an intriguing second half.

The second half opened with a change in attitude Shepshed were in search of getting back to winning ways but AFC Wulfrunians seemed to be contempt with retaining their unbeaten run a possibly in hindsight it was their final downfall.

Shepshed opened the second half strongly Gray down the right onto Edwards then Chaplins flick on and Mulonga just short of beating Tipton. Wulfrunians responded and Thacker seven minutes into the half produced a good save from Howells.

For the next 20 minutes the game belonged to Shepshed and it was always at the back of the mind if the breakthrough doesn't happen then the inevitable will occur with the visitors dealing a killer blow. After Thacker's save Mulonga and Gray combined well only for Edwards shot to be deflected wide. Two Minutes later in the 54th minute Chaplin held the ball up but Davies shot went wide. The match winner came on Sixty Seven minutes the ball was moved menacingly from the back and Rob Mulonga pulled the ball back to Keiron Davies to slot past the forlorn Tipton in the visitors goal.

Shepshed then went through a nervy period as Wulfrunians after looking like settling for a blank score line weren't giving up their undefeated run without a fight two consecutive chances in the 74th minute from David Asbury and Craig Gregg went into Thacker comfortably.

A minute later Zak Ginvert a product from the reserves who from his introduction looked lively hesitantly fired wide.

Seventy eight minutes into the game and the match official missed an atrocious elbow on Shepshed Captain Chris Gray by Wulfrunians number four Bradley Lawley an average game from the match official summed this up as Shepshed were handed a few yellow cards yet Lawley and Jackson who was let off by the referee all afternoon, on another day and in defeat it was something that could have been highlighted a lot more.

Ginvert again caused a threat and combined well with Edwards and Chaplin. Wulfrunians pushed for the equaliser towards the end Asbury effort was cleared and then with three minutes to go Jackson fired over the top from the edge of the box. Shepshed thwarted any final efforts from Wulfrunians in the dying seconds and were unlucky not to extend their lead with Ginvert and Chaplin combining well.

Three points deserved on the day against a side in AFC Wulfrunians who will not drop many points against others in The Midland Football Alliance.

F-T Shepshed Dynamo 1 AFC Wulfrunians 0 att 124

Team; Thacker, Davies, Hopewell, Attwood, Attenborough, Smedley, Tuck, Mulonga(Ginvert 71), Chaplin, Edwards, Gray