Leicestershire County Football League
MDH Teamwear & Trophies League Cup First Round
Saturday 18th October 2025
Shepshed Amatuers 1-2 Harborough Town Spencers
Player of the Match – Hubert Witkowski
Report – Tony Sansome
Photo – Phil Passingham
Harborough Town Spencers advanced to the next round of the League Cup after a hard-fought 2–1 away win against a Shepshed side flying high in the league below.
The tie began in chaotic fashion, with the hosts almost scoring three times inside the first minute. Spencers were forced to clear off the line on multiple occasions, and goalkeeper Avwerosuo Emekeme made a superb point-blank save to keep it level.
After that early scare, Harborough settled into the game and played some excellent football on a difficult, bobbly pitch. The breakthrough came through fine play in midfield from Reece Mutebi, who found Hubert Witkowski out wide. Witkowski took on his marker, beat him for pace, and delivered a perfect cross to the back post for Sam Aldridge to tap home.
Harborough created several half-chances but couldn’t extend the lead, and their rhythm was disrupted around the 25-minute mark when influential centre-back Barrett Akpotor was forced off injured. The setback gave Shepshed renewed belief, and the hosts went close several times, hitting the post and crossbar four times before the break.
The second half was steadier defensively, although Spencers went long too often rather than playing the passing game that had caused problems earlier. They doubled the lead just before the hour when a long kick from Emekeme was met by striker Leo Murton, who muscled past his defender, cut inside, and smashed the ball past the keeper.
Ten minutes later, Shepshed pulled one back — a long throw caused chaos, and their forward flicked the ball over the advancing keeper and into the net. From there, Harborough had to dig deep. The hosts were dangerous from set pieces, launching wave after wave of long throws and crosses into the box, but the defence stood firm.
The final chance of the match fell to substitute Chinonso Emekekwue, whose bullet header was brilliantly saved by the home keeper. Spencers saw the game out to secure their place in the next round — not at their best, but full of fight and determination.
Man of the Match went to Hubert Witkowski, who narrowly edged out Leo Murton and Farid Hamidou.
A word of credit to Shepshed too — and especially their number 10 — for a masterclass in the dark arts of football!