Greens Suffer FA Cup Heartbreak

The Greens gave as good as they got and more than matched their higher-ranked opposition for much of the contest but always faced an uphill battle after Charlie Ward’s sending off in the 9th minute. The Greens kept the Dynamo at bay for much of the first half despite the man disadvantage but were victims of two quickfire moments of quality in first-half stoppage time. First a brilliantly threaded ball from Kyle Dixon sent through Kieran Cummings in to dink in the opener over Liam Flitton, before Dixon turned goal-scorer, excellently turning Lewis Daff to advance into the box and smash beyond the helpless Flitton to double the advantage. Despite an even second period, of which the Greens had more than their fair share of chances – Shepshed held firm to take a Preliminary Round tie with Spalding United in 10-days’ time.

Player/Manager Tom Ward made four changes from the side that defeated Skegness Town 2-0 in league action a week ago as Kyle Watkins, Ryan Flitton, Lewis Daff and Jacob Fenton all came into the starting eleven. They replaced the absent duo of Issa Gaye and Shaun Harrad while Dominic Kew and Joe Braithwaite dropped to the bench. There was also a return to the bench for Marcus Pancho who was absent against Skegness – he took cup-tied Tom Siddons place amongst the substitutes. The visitors meanwhile were making their competitive bow this season with their Northern Premier League Division One Midlands campaign yet to get underway. They also made four changes from the side that lost their last pre-season encounter 3-1 to Carlton Town. Former Newark & Sherwood United man Kieran Cummings came into the starting eleven alongside Shaun Ruzvidzo, Mason Lee and Corey Bucalossi - they took the places of John King, Massiah McDonald, Shaquille Master and Pearson Mwanyongo.

The visitors started on the front foot in front of 200 spectators at the Longwater Stadium and could have taken an early lead when good work from Kieran Cummings saw him find space before shooting wide of Liam Flitton’s far post. The Greens found a good response though and created the games clearest opportunity just three minutes later when Jacob Fenton’s lofted freekick caused all sorts of problems that eventually saw Charlie Ward’s effort deflected just past the post. The turning point was to arrive just four minutes later though when Charlie Ward received his marching orders for a tackle on Niall Prenderville leaving the Greens facing over 80 minutes with 10-men.

The hosts held firm though for much of the first half, despite the man disadvantage, and continued to create opportunities – most notably when Jacob Fenton set up Dom Kew to volley wide of the mark. The visitors began to find their feet again and Shaun Ruzvidzo was a dangerous outlet on the left, he first cut inside before shooting straight into Flitton’s hands, before he was denied a brilliant solo goal after an incredible last-ditch tackle from Tom Ward.

Cummings was again causing the Greens problems just before the break, cutting inside and smashing an effort straight into Flitton’s grasp, before it was he who did find the opener for the Leicestershire outfit. They were allowed to advance and it was Kyle Dixon who found a killer ball to feed Cummings who beat Flitton to the ball and subsequently dinked the ball over the helpless keeper. Shepshed’s raid was complete when, in the 7th minute of first half stoppage time, Kyle Dixon turned Lewis Daff in stunning fashion before advancing into the box and smashing beyond Flitton at close range.

Dixon had been the undoubted star of the show for the visitors and he went close to adding a second to his tally when he flashed a freekick inches wide of the post just three minutes into the second period, before Cummings did well to skip Ryan Flitton’s challenge before brother Liam was comfortably behind the wingers effort.

The Greens did rally, particularly with the introduction of Marcus Pancho on the hour and he saw his effort from range collected by Brandon Ganley in the Shepshed net. At the other end, the visitors ought to have put the result beyond all doubt when James Shaw could only scuff his close-range effort into the hands of Flitton. At the other end, the Greens most presentable opportunity of the contest saw Fenton lay off Pancho to hit first time, forcing a terrific diving save out of Ganley to push the ball away.

Liam Flitton was then lively once again to gather a powerful James Shaw effort in after he broke free from Ryan Flitton, before another presentable opportunity fell the Greens way as Ryan Rushen was unlucky not to stab home at close range as the game entered stoppage time – but despite some late persistence from the hosts, there was to be no miracle comeback.

A frustrated Tom Ward felt that his side had missed a golden opportunity to make progress in the competition;

“It’s a difficult one to take because I think it is an opportunity missed for us. Despite playing with 10 men for 90+ minutes we were well and truly in the game. We can take a lot of pride from it, but that doesn’t mean it hurts any less right now because for me it is an opportunity missed.”

Ward was understandably frustrated at the circumstances around Charlie Ward’s dismissal in the opening minutes throwing his game plan into chaos;

“The lads around it are saying it wasn’t a red, but if the referee gives a red he gives red we’ve just got to get on with it. I’m sorry to them lads that had to come off, Ryan Lennon in particular – he looked bright for 10 minutes. Dom Kew too, comes on for tactical reasons then has to come back off again because he’s on a yellow card and we just can’t risk another red. Our normal passing patterns were limited when we were a man down, so we’ve played a slightly different style – we’ll learn from it.”

Ward is keen to shake this defeat off quickly and look forward to what will be a tough home fixture against one of the promotion favourites, Loughborough Students at the Longwater Stadium on Saturday;

“Loughborough are always a superb side, they are definitely one I like to go and watch when I can because they play football the right way. We’ll keep doing what we’ve been doing and hopefully get back to moving the ball well, causing problems and scoring goals.”

As mentioned, the Greens will now look to brush that FA Cup disappointment off quickly when Loughborough Students visit the Longwater Stadium for the Greens first Saturday home fixture of the new campaign. Kick-off is at 3PM.

Words: Oliver Atkin
Image: Steve W Davies Photography