Match Report: Shepshed Dynamo vs. Stamford, 28th Sep 2011
Stamford progressed to the next round of the Doodson Sport Cup with ease at Shepshed with the home side not having a shot on target during the entire game and the Daniels could have had 6.
Simon Clark gave Seth Burkett, Harry Deane and David Staff their first starts of the season and Adam Hewitt stood in for the suspended Miles Chamberlain in the centre of defence.
Stamford started of the game with the first goal after only a couple of minutes with some good wing play from Harry Deane on the right his shot was parried by the goalkeeper straight back to Deane who then played a cross over which was flicked on by Sam Mullarkey to an unmarked Gary King.
Minutes later Mullarkey and King were at it again this time King the provider with a one two but Mullarkey’s shot was saved by James Elliott in the Shepshed goal. The lead should have been doubled on thirteen minutes when Staffy played Mullarkey through only for the striker to see his shot go over the bar from ten yards.
Gary King was then next to miss a great chance from the spot. Sam Mullarkey looked to have been fouled on the edge of the penalty area but the referee waved play to continue as the ball broke into the area Jake Gibson was upended by Iain Screaton for a penalty. King stepped up but his shot was well saved down low in the bottom corner by the goalkeeper.
Just before the half hour mark a long clearance from Matt Cook fooled the home defence and let Mullarkey race clear and his quick shot from 25 yards out was only inches over the crossbar.
The lead was eventually doubled on 37 minutes the Shepshed defence cleared the ball after a Stamford attack out to the edge of the penalty area where Staff was lurking and his superb cross found King in space and the Daniels striker didn’t need a second to think about slamming the ball into the roof of the net to make it 2-0.
The second half was much the same with Stamford in complete control of the game and the midfield partnership of Steadman and Staff is sure to give Clark a headache as the due were on fine form for the whole game.
Just two minutes into the second half a foul on the right saw Staff line up a trademark free kick so familiar to Daniels fans they simply expected a goal but it wasn’t to be as the shot shaved the cross bar on its way over.
Next it was Lee Beeson’s turn to try his luck with a free kick this one even further out than Staff’s but again like Staff Beeson’s shot was agonisingly close but just skimmed the bar with the keeper watching the ball helpless.
The third goal did eventually arrive though with seven minutes left Stamford were knocking the ball around with complete nonchalance ease and must have put around about 20 to 25 passes together in a move that saw Seth Burkett play a nice little through ball on to King into the area and his cross was turned into his own net by Iain Screaton with Mullarkey behind him he had no choice to try and get a touch.
In the last few minutes Stamford had a good shout for a penalty turned down, Elliott in goal decided to have a mad moment when the ball was played back to him he tried to dribble it when he should have cleared it, he made a complete mess of it and was robbed by Mullarkey and the ball rolled nicely out to King who looked to be pulled down by the defender and then by the hapless keeper as well only for the referee to blow for a foul on Elliott who was holding his face, more in embarrassment than anything else.
A very easy game in the end and there was a good turnout of Stamford fans with over half of fans in attendance being Daniels fans going home happy.
Att 107
MOM Steadman.
STAMFORD:- Alex Archer, Matthew Cook (Danny Barrett 52), Seth Burkett, Danny Steadman©, Michael Jacklin (Brooks 84), Adam Hewitt, Harry Deane, David Staff, Gary King, Sam Mullarkey, Jake Gibson (Lee Beeson 67).