Swindon supermarine v MERTHYR

Team: Cutlan Williams Traylor Thomas Colborne Rewbury Davies Leek Prosser Harris Griffiths A.
Subs Leahy Griffiths Jones Welsh Newall

afternoon all

would love a good 3 points to start the season off

any half time score?

H/t 0-0. Held our own against a physical side. No real clear-cut chances.

51st min sub. Harris off and Luke Jones on

55th min sub. Traylor off and Newall on

1 up - Luke Jones within minutes of coming on. Close-range tap-in after keeper dropped the ball following good cross 69mins.

1 0 scouser

up 2 0

2 up Thomas great diving header 69mins.

2 1 now

2-1 pen 70mins

80th min sub. Alun Griffiths off and Welsh on.

2-2 now

2-2 88mins

F/t 2-2 after 7mins of injury time.

2-2 final score well done lads.

An away point. Not a bad result. Well done lads!

The first half today was quite a cagey affair with few chances created although we played all the football and the Swindon keeper was the busier of the 2. He dealt competently with a few corners and made a good save from an Alun Griffiths shot. Swindon were quite a physical side and their #3 & #6 were particularly adept at leaving their foot in at every opportunity and we had little or no protection from the ref. #6 finally got booked after a foul by Leekie when he retaliated but naturally Leekie got booked as well.

The second half again started quietly but we livened up after Luke Jones replaced Matthew who had a knock late in the first half when he collided with their keeper. He showed a great deal of energy linking up with Pross upfront and we started to press. Rewbs missed a good chance when Tubbsy headed on a free kick but he slammed it well over from the corner of the 6 yard box showing why he plays centre half. It was no surprise when we scored. Willo, I think, sent in a good cross and the ball fell loose to Luke and he hooked it in. We really started to play then and Swindon didn't know what hit them. We played some great football and after good play on the right Luke sent in a superb cross which was met superbly by Tubbsy as he glided in and into the net. An excellent goal. Swindon did press after that and according to Gordon the Gopher they had a stonewall penalty turned down for hands by Colborne in our area. Badger came on for Traylor who had a knock in the 1st half. They did get a penalty after another period of pressure by us when one of their forwards went down like a sack of you know what when he was tackled in our area and the spot kick was dispatched well past Cutlan. We continued to press and again after a good break Leekie sent in a great cross but no-one could reach it for what would have been a tap in. Swindon were having more of the game now and after a couple of ricochets in our box a Swindon forward was left free on the penalty spot and he shot it well into the net. Welshy came on for Alun and he linked well with Prosser and we hung on for a good draw but in reality we deserved the win. #3 finally did get booked when he rammed Willo into the side fence but again Willo got booked as well for having the nerve to protest. The lino on that side was no help at all and he failed to spot - or at least chose not to see fouls on Merthyr players right under his nose and had they been given the result would have been different.

I'd have taken a draw at the start against a side relegated from the Premier division last season but to be honest it felt like a defeat in the end. Matthew & Traylor limped across the pitch at the end and must be doubts for Tuesday. It was a hard earned point and we did play well and everyone contributed. Even though Luke was only on for just under half the game he added the spark and was involved in both goals and it's between him and Leekie for my MOTM. It's nice to be back in the Southern League and the Swindon people were excellent although they did seem to have put the price of the beer up for the day. That didn't concern me overly as I was driving but the chips weren't much kop which did!

Excellent report there Phil, in todays NLP, star man (MOTM) it's Steve Williams, I wouldn't argue with that TBH.

Merthyr let two-goal lead slip but kick season off with a point
Wales On Sunday

MERTHYR had to settle for a point in their first game back in the Southern League in sweltering Wiltshire sunshine. Despite going two goals up inside 66 minutes, the Martyrs failed to get their campaign off to a winning start.

Having played their last Southern League fixture at Swindon in May 2010, when they gained a draw, this time around Merthyr bossed the game for long periods and will feel that this was two points dropped, rather than one gained.

An Alyn Griffiths shot which was saved on 26 minutes by Swindon goalkeeper Kent Kauppinen was the closest to a break in the deadlock before the interval. But the introduction of former Cardiff City youngster Luke Jones on 51 minutes proved to be the catalyst for Merthyr to step up a gear.

Jamie Rewbury almost scored after creeping in at the far post on 54 minutes and five minutes later Jones got the vital touch to force the ball home after a long throw had been headed on by Prosser.

They continued to control the game and the second goal arrived on 66 minutes as Jones’ cross from the right was headed into the roof of the net from 12-yards by Andrew Thomas.

However, just 60 seconds later Swindon were given a lifeline when Nathan Davies was judged to have fouled Danny Wilder in the box and Ashley Edenborough smashed home the penalty. Merthyr almost restored their two-goal cushion on 69 minutes when Kris Leek broke down the right and fed Davies whose goalbound shot was blocked on the goal-line.

Jon Newell also cleared off the line from Edenborough with nine minutes remaining as he acrobatically tried to hook home a corner.

But Edenborough was on target four minutes from the full-time whistle to earn a draw after Josh Parsons had broken through the middle.

Happy with the point but disappointed we couldn't hold on to the lead. Luke made a really good impact and at around this point I thought we could have really put on the pressure, maybe even nabbing a third goal. Can't fault the effort, just a shame the boys couldn't get an away win under their belts.

A nice day out, decent local ale, plenty of sun, and a fair few Martyrs present. We're back!

Old Sod wrote:Swindon were quite a physical side and their #3 & #6 were particularly adept at leaving their foot in at every opportunity and we had little or no protection from the ref. #6 finally got booked after a foul by Leekie when he retaliated but naturally Leekie got booked as well.

Willo, I think, sent in a good cross and the ball fell loose to Luke and he hooked it in.

#3 finally did get booked when he rammed Willo into the side fence but again Willo got booked as well for having the nerve to protest. The lino on that side was no help at all and he failed to spot - or at least chose not to see fouls on Merthyr players right under his nose and had they been given the result would have been different.

After controlling three-quarters of the game the extremely warm temperatures finally took their toll in the last ten minutes as we tried to absorb the final spell of pressure from Supermarine. Most of the pre-season games were played in Autumnal conditions and it must have been a shock to the system to play in an intense game in temperatures 30 degrees plus.

As Phil said their #3 and #6 thought that they could behave like childish schoolyard bullies and weren't best pleased when we stood up to their strong arm tactics. The referee appeared to be on first name terms with their bench and players and seemed reluctant to show either a red card. Why on earth do players protest their innocence when it is obvious that they have committed a foul - if they just accept the decision and get on with it then the officials won't be abused continually from the touchline. The assistant referee, who looked young enough to be making his debut at this level, seemed to be out of his depth and failed to help the referee when asked for advice regarding the Willo incident which happened only a few yards away from him.

Ryan Prosser, our lone striker in the first half lacked any support to be effective but when Luke Jones came on early in the second half we looked a much better side. Both goals came from right wing crosses with the #3 nowhere to be seen. (Yes, it was indeed Willo who delivered the cross for the first goal).

At 2-0 with twenty minutes left you would expect the game to be closed out but the penalty gave them a glimmer of hope and to be fair they did finish the stronger of the two sides. So a point gained or two dropped? Three points on Tuesday will be enough for yesterday to be a point gained.

Apart from the penalty I thought that Nathan Davies was outstanding, hardly wasting a ball and providing the required protection for the defence.

This was a similar type of performance and the same result as the friendly against Newport County at Rodney Parade and look where they are in the Blue Square Conference league table!!

Wandering wrote:
This was a similar type of performance and the same result as the friendly against Newport County at Rodney Parade and look where they are in the Blue Square Conference league table!!

Don't rub it in.

Great start to the season and a very good performance from the Town.

Prior to the game I would have taken a point, I was a little bit dissapointed that we didnt get all 3 in the end but even though Marine didnt offer much, they are a decent side and the guy that bagged a brace against us has scored well at Southern League Premier league level for them so no shame there.

Thought Luke Jones changed the game when he came on, I thought we were a little negative until that point with plenty of possesion but little end product, but apart from that my mom was Nathan Davies who is going to be a quality signing for us, hardly wasted a pass, good in the tackle, and even though he was adjudged to have conceeded the penalty it was a bit soft from the referee who couldnt wait to give it, his alround play and composure on the ball was superb and kept us ticking.

3points Tuesday and that will cement this away performance, so get up the Park, and support the lads....

UP THE TOWN

MERTHYR assistant Manager Danny Carter came away from Swindon Supermarine satisfied with a point but knowing that Merthyr had let another two slip through their fingers as The Martyrs returned to Southern League action following a two-year absence.


But Carter was philosophical about the result and chose to focus on the positives from Merthyr’s first game at this level against a team who were two divisions above them only last season.

“We bossed the game for long periods” said Londoner Carter, “but more importantly the players bought into the way we want to play.

“We kept the ball for long periods in sweltering heat and only a slice of good fortune let them back into the game.”

Merthyr did indeed have control of the game for the majority of the 90 minutes.

The first half came and went without many clear-cut chances at either end but Merthyr turned the screw at the restart and, after Jamie Rewbury had gone close, Luke Jones put them ahead on his debut before Andrew Thomas’ diving header met a Jones cross perfectly to double the lead.

Nevertheless it wasn’t to last as the hosts got back into the game almost immediately via the penalty spot.

Nathan Davies caught Dan Wilder just inside the box and Ash Edenborough scored from the spot before firing home an equaliser four minutes from time to tie the scores.

On another day Merthyr’s large band of travelling fans might have dwelt on missed opportunities, but the reality of where Merthyr have come from in such a short time was not lost on anyone at the South Marston Road ground, and for the first time in many years The Martyrs fans can look forward to a season of optimism in the Southern League while also knowing their club is in safe hands.

Merthyr: Cutlan; Williams; Traylor (Newall 58mins); Rewbury; Colbourne; Thomas; Davies; Leek; Prosser; Harris (Jones 51mins); A Griffiths (Welsh 83mins). Subs not used: Leahy; M Griffiths.

SOUTHERN LEAGUE: Marine's revival delights new boss Webb

SWINDON Supermarine manager Dave Webb refuted claims that the introduction of Josh Parsons in the 2-2 draw with Merthyr Town was a “master-stroke” and instead praised his players for their fitness and commitment to salvage a point from a losing cause.

With just over 20 minutes remaining at the Webbs Wood Stadium, Marine found themselves two goals behind to Merthyr - who are strongly tipped to challenge at the top of the Southern League Division One South & West this season.

However, Webb threw Parsons into the mix and quickly the former Swindon Town youngster turned the game in the hosts’ favour, setting up the two goals scored by Ashley Edenborough which dragged Marine level.

Some would call it managerial genius but Webb was a little more reserved in his analysis upon reflection.

“I wouldn’t say it was a master-stroke. In fact, you can look at it the other way and say that I got it wrong at the start and turned it around later,” he told the Advertiser.

“We had a bit of background on them and we knew a bit about their shape. We decided to go like for like in terms of shape but it didn’t quite work for us.

“They were the better team for the first hour and then when they scored their second goal we knew we had to change it and we went to a more regular 4-4-2 formation.

“Josh Parsons has come off the bench and he’s done really well and he was involved in both of the goals and Ash Edenborough has taken both of his goals really well.”

Marine appeared to be looking squarely down the barrel of defeat on their opening outing of the campaign after Luke Jones and Andy Thomas had fired Merthyr into a strong position.

However, Parsons’ impact was almost immediate as he was involved in the move that led to Sam Morris being tripped in the box resulting in a penalty which Edenborough comfortably slotted home.

The tricky winger then teed up Edenborough once more with 16 minutes remaining, and the forward beat two defenders before firing past visiting keeper Giles Cutlan.

“It was our first game and maybe there were a few nerves around with a big crowd and we didn’t play to our potential for that first hour,” said Webb.

“As the game went on we started coming on more and one of the real positives was our fitness levels and that’s good to see after the work we’ve done in pre-season.

“To get two goals and to get a point against a good team, and I think this team are going to be challenging right towards the top of the division, was a good way to start the season.

“Josh has staked his claim for a place after coming off the bench.

“He created the goals and did well when he came on.

“We know it’s not just about the 11 players on the pitch. We’ve got a very talented group of players here and we know we have options to use.

“I think for them when they look back at it they’ll see themselves 2-0 up with 20 minutes to go and 2-2 will be a really disappointing result for them.

“For us it’s a great result. It’s good to get something out of the first day of the season and it sets us up nicely for the games to come this week.”

Taken from the Swindon Advertiser