Shepshed Dynamo 3 Sporting Khalsa 0

Shepshed Dynamo ended the 2023/24 Pitching in Northern Premier League Midland Division season on a high with a home victory against Sporting Khalsa. The 3-0 victory was at The Dovecote Stadium on Saturday to end which in the main was a disappointing campaign on a positive note.

The first half was a typical end of season game with Shepshed knowing that their current position of fourteenth was the highest they could accomplish and only a victory and other results would see the visitors move any higher in the table.

With that in mind Sporting Khalsa were the more vibrant early on Tesfa Robinson's header downwards across the box was headed goal wards by Marvellous Ohabirekhanlen but this was cleared off the line on three minutes. Khalsa then had a further chance on fifteen minutes James Mcgrady found Chay Tilt with his shot saved by Brandon Ganley and in a quiet first half the visitors were to gain a free kick in twenty eight minutes but Tilt's effort was straight at Ganley.

Shepshed's first chance of the half came on thirty six minutes after Kyle Dixon was fouled, Shaquille Masters free kick was straight at Sam Arnold. Arnold then saved from Shaun Ruzvidzo on forty minutes and a minute Arnold saved again with James Shaw's effort blocked from the rebound as the teams went in level at the break.

The first chance of the second half fell to Sporting Khalsa Tilt's effort saved by Ganley on forty nine minutes.

Shepshed came out with a positive attitude in the second half and it helped when the visitors were reduced to ten men on fifty two minutes Max Martin receiving his second yellow card. James Shaw was looking to add to his season tally of nine and confirm his place as top scorer for the club for the season but he fired over shortly after.

But Shaw was to get into double figures for the campaign on fifty five minutes lobbing Arnold in the Khalsa goal into an empty net to give Shepshed the lead.

The game was more open and both teams were producing entertaining football with Elwalid Elhaghany doing well to block Tilt on sixty two minutes. Three minutes later Dixon was fouled by Liam Armstrong and he took the free kick himself only to find the arms of Arnold and a minute later Mcgrady fired wide for Khalsa.

On seventy one minutes Mcgrady was again in the action forcing a free kick save out of Ganley.

Shepshed doubled their lead on seventy four minutes a defence splitting ball from Dixon found Reece Morris down the right he supplied Shaw to slot home his and Shepshed's second. Three minutes later and Shaw was to get his hat trick rifling passed Arnold to put the result beyond doubt.

As the game came to an end Callum Burkey headed over for Shepshed and the final chance of the game fell to Danilo Reid who headed against the post.

The perfect end to a season which at times seemed long and arduous but the Shepshed fans were sent home with a smile on their faces and a fitting end to Damion Beckford-Quailey's six year tenure ship with a victory on his final game in charge at the club. The players and Management staff were given a deserved lap of honour at the end of the game appreciated by all within The Dovecote Stadium

After the game the club held their annual Awards ceremony with Niall Prenderville winning Manager's and Supporters Player of the Year, Jordan Smith Players Player of the Year, James Shaw Top Goal Scorer and Gary Andrews Clubman of the Year

It's the end of an era at Shepshed Dynamo and a new manager will be announced shortly. Shepshed Dynamo will embrace the new dawn with the 2024/25 campaign also their 30th Anniversary season.

FT Shepshed Dynamo 3 Sporting Khalsa 0 att 226

Shepshed Dynamo: Brandon Ganley, Kevin Masindo, Jack Lynch, Elwalid Elhaghany, Shaquille O'Neill Brooks, Niall Prenderville, Reece Morris (Leo Farruch 81), Kyle Dixon, James Shaw, Shaun Ruzvidzo (Callum Burkey 63), Shaquille Masters (Dylan Reason 75)

Sporting Khalsa: Sam Arnold, Luke Ward (Kane Lewis 45), Sean Williams, Max Martin, Tesfa Robinson, Peter Taylor, Liam ARmstrong, Todd Ferrier, Marvellous Ohabirekhanlen (Gurjit Singh 75), Chay Tilt (Dinalo Reid 76), James Mcgrady