Merthyr Town v Swansea City u21's

Old Sod wrote:A good game tonight as it usually is against the Swansea Development side that was missing Liam Shephard due to his call up to the first team in Exeter this evening.  Congratulations to him and I hope he did well.

We started well as did Swansea and it was very even steven with both sides creating half chances.  Swansea created the first when Gilo made an excellent save, diving to his left to keep out a good shot by a Swansea attacker.  Traylor broke well down the left but his cross intended for Kayne was cut out by the Swansea #5 and then a ball over the top set Kayne free but he overrun the ball slightly and the Swansea keeper saved well at Kayne's feet.  Swansea took the lead which was an unfortunate goal from our point of view.  A speculative shot from the Swansea right got a slight deflection but it was enough to deceive Gilo and it rolled over the line close to his far post.  We hit back and should have had a penalty when yet another cross from our left clearly came off the hand of the Swansea #5 but the ref waved the game on.  We did get a penalty when the ref adjudged that Green had been pushed in the Swansea area.  It seemed a soft award but made up for the one we should have had and Kerry dispatched it neatly into the left hand corner of the net with the Swansea keeper diving to his right.  Both sides were passing the ball around well and we scored our second when Kerry sent an excellent ball into the space between the 2 Swansea centre halves and Traylor sent a delightful shot past the onrushing keeper and we had a deserved lead at half time. 

The second half followed a similar pattern with some good football being played by both sides and Traylor was very unlucky when he ran onto yet another defence splitting through ball but this time his shot across the area came off the far post and away to safety.  Swansea made a few substitutions and quickened the pace and scored their second when a good ball came in from our left and a Swansea forward steered it past Gilo from about 6 yards.  We responded well but the final ball just wasn't happening and Swansea took the lead when yet another ball into our area close to goal was diverted towards goal by a Swansea forward beyond Gilo and into our net.  We made quite a few substitutions and were very unlucky not to equalise when one of the subs, Owain Warlow came in from the left and he picked the ball up and sent in a good shot which came off the post.  Both sides created a few half chances before the end but Swansea hung on to win 3-2.

A draw would probably have been a fair result but it was yet another good run out for the lads and most acquitted themselves well.  Matthew, Newms & Gavin worked well together again in midfield and Kerry & Trayls did well on the flanks and getting up to support Kayne whenever they good although he did look a little isolated at times.  Defensively again we did OK but the ball into the box did cause Gilo a few problems and the Swansea attackers used their pace well in the final third.

Onwards and upwards for Wrexham on Saturday.

Boz1964 wrote:Looking forward to the fuller programme as they give better coverage....Boz

Merthyr Imp wrote:

Boz1964 wrote:Looking forward to the fuller programme as they give better coverage....Boz

Don't miss next Saturday's programme for the Wrexham match - lots in that. 16 pages.

Boz1964 wrote:Very happy with the performance tonight .

Great to see Ryan Green shaking his head after losing narrowly in a FRIENDLY match against young future professionals.

I already like this pairing of Green & Wright at centre half.

With the able bodied Tubbs and the silky skill of Rewbury means we have are well stocked in defence.

Dan Summerfield was excellent tonight as was the midfield of Gavin, Harris & Newman.

With Leeky to fit in too it will be great for the fans to have so much energy in the centre of the park.
     DAN SUMMERFIELD WAS OUTSTANDING LAST NIGHT .. WHAT A SUPER CROSS OVER FOR KAYNE SHOULD HAVE SCORED.. DAN DONE HIS JOB VERY WELL... MAKING EX MAN UTD YOUTH STAR KENJI GORRE ..THE FUTURE IS IN SAFE HANDS .C DAVIES AND BEN ARE DOING VERY WELL ...

Upfront ,With a little more luck Kane could have scored four in the first 30 mins.

Kerry too provided more magic and showed his class even if he does occasionally remind us he studied at the Ron 'Chopper' Harris school of tackling.

Great too to see the two local lads come on at the end to get a taste of what it feels like to play on the hallowed turf.

The only disappointment was the size of the crowd....but hey if they don't want to watch good football....that's their loss.

Boz


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