Evesham v MERTHYR

Full Time. Didcot 1 - 2 Stratford.

Well done SJ and the lads, tremendous result.

Full time - Didcot 1 Stratford 2

An excellent 3 points for us. Hopefully Patten's suspension won't matter too much for us when it occurs.

Big game on the 14th, Taunton (h)

our away form is nothing but spectacular great result today

stevie g wrote:our away form is nothing but spectacular great result today

Our home form's not bad either!

4mad.anubis wrote:

stevie g wrote:our away form is nothing but spectacular great result today

Our home form's not bad either!

i cannot disagree with that

Before kick-off I would have taken a nil-nil draw and although the conditions were difficult this was an impressive team performance.

We defended exceptionally well restricting Evesham to very few opportunities, although Dan Bradley earned his wages with two great saves and faultless handling. Ryan Green led by example and was probably our man of the match but he was only just in front of Adam Davies, Dan Summerfield and Jamie Rewbury in the plaudit stakes.

We defended from the front with Corey and Traylor pressing whenever Evesham were in possession. Kayne was also a nuisance when we didn't have the ball.

Everything was hurried in midfield and we didn't have our normal dominance because Evesham hassled us whenever we tried to build any momentum.

When Corey gave us the lead mid-way through the first half and we were playing against the wind, it was a question of retaining the advantage until the interval and then starting again.

Evesham had a brief period of pressure in the closing stages of the game without really causing us any major problems. The closest that we came to adding to our advantage was when their 'keeper was forced to tip a curling Kerry Morgan effort over the crossbar at full stretch.

Kyle Patten was harshly booked for his second offence after he had already committed to clearing the ball at the same time as the referee blew his whistle for another offence.

In the end it was three hard earned points against strong opposition that was a clear indication of our desire to become champions.

Noticed the two last games that Pross hasn't been on the bench. Does anyone know why?

Pulled muscles in his abdomen out for a few weeks.

Sadly I think he did it just after he came on in the game at Clevedon, as he was holding his side as he left the pitch.

Cheers,thanks for your replies!

An important win today that was again ground out against a good team on a cold & windy afternoon at Evesham on a pretty good surface.  Bauza was serving the last game of his suspension and Prosser who is suffering from a stomach muscle injury which could keep him out for another 2 weeks were the only absentees today although Williams (G) was injured in the warm up so Wright moved into midfield and Rewbury stepped up to play in the back 4 and Williams dropped to the bench.  Our team was –
 
Bradley
Summerfield, Green, Rewbury & Davies
Patten, Wright & Leek
Traylor, McLaggon & Jenkins
 
Subs – Williams (G), Collins, Harris, Evans & Morgan
 
Evesham kicked off with the strong breeze at their backs but we got hold of the ball and Traylor broke into the Evesham half and gave it left to Davies who sent it further left to Jenkins.  He got down to the byline and crossed the ball high into the area but it went all the way through and Washbourne brought it clear.  Merthyr then gained a free kick just inside the Evesham half which was taken by Rewbury towards McLaggon but Wellon got in the way and the ball bounced off Summerfield and out of play for an Evesham throw.  The throw was taken but only as far as McLaggon and he ran across the Evesham 18 yard area and pushed it out wide left to Jenkins but he was robbed Jackson who got it inside to Dovey who cleared it up over the halfway line where it was headed back towards goal by Rewbury and behind for the first corner of the game to Evesham.  The corner came in high and went over to the far left and was put out for a throw by Leek off an Evesham attacker.  Almost immediately Merthyr gained their first corner of the game when Wright chased after a long ball out of the Merthyr half and Jackson put it behind.  Jenkins got the ball into the area but it was intercepted by Stanley who got it up to the halfway line where he found Mann but Jenkins got in a tackle which led to an Evesham throw which came to nothing.  Shortly afterwards Rewbury brought down Slack close to our area but the resulting free kick curled over the Merthyr bar. 
 
It was fairly end to end stuff with few chances being created as both teams were sussing each other out as well as trying to combat the elements.  Bradley made a good catch from a Washbourne cross and shortly afterwards Evesham gained a corner which was headed away by Summerfield for another one.  This came into the area and Bradley punched it out but only as far as an Evesham attacker and his shot was well saved by Bradley down to his right and away for a corner which again came high into our area but the wind carried it over the bar for a goal kick and the pressure was relieved.  Both defences were largely on top although at this stage Evesham were having the better of it and Davies had to nip in sharply to get the behind for another corner and Bradley made an excellent catch on his 6 yard line.  Merthyr moved forward and McLaggon picked the ball up on the halfway line and he looked left towards Davies who sent it further left to Jenkins who came inside and got the ball high into the area but Thompson came out and made a good catch.  As he tried to clear the ball he seemed to step outside his 18 yard area and the referee awarded a free kick to Merthyr in a central position just outside the area.  McLaggon took it but he sent the ball straight into the Evesham wall and was cleared out of play for a Merthyr throw which came to nothing. 
 
Merthyr then gained a throw on the Merthyr right halfway inside the Evesham half on the right.  Summerfield took it and found Traylor who tapped it back to Summerfield who gave it to Leek.  Leek ran towards the area and cut inside an Evesham defender and the ball fell to Jenkins who from about 16 yards sent in a low shot past the keeper and off his right hand post and into the back of the net and Merthyr were leading 1-0 after about 25 minutes.
 
Evesham tried to hit back but couldn’t find their way past our defence and we were also going forward but we couldn’t add to our lead with Evesham also defending well. 
 
Then McLaggon picked the ball up on the halfway line and tried to find Jenkins on the left in front of our dugout.  The ball went out of play and as Williams, who was standing in the technical area, went to give the ball to an Evesham player for the throw to be taken and Dovey ran straight at him and pushed him over against the dugout and a fracas ensued.  Strangely the referee spoke to Jackson as well as Williams but the assailant, Dovey, got off scot free.  It was a stop start game now as both sides were guilty of committing offences which were punished by the referee but neither side could take advantage.  Summerfield was the victim of a poor tackle by Stanley for which the referee showed the Evesham player a yellow card.  Just before the break Patten received a yellow card, presumably for kicking the ball away after Evesham had been awarded a throw.  Bradley had one good save to make when Jackson cut inside and shot but the Merthyr keeper got down well to push it aside for a corner almost on half time.  Merthyr defended the corner well and got the ball forward towards Jenkins near the halfway line.  He passed it to Traylor on the left and he ran down the line, got it inside to McLaggon who was fouled by Dovey close to the byline for a Merthyr free kick.  It was taken by Patten who found Rewbury but from about 8 yards, Rewbury’s header went a foot wide of Thompson’s far post for a goal kick and as the kick approached the halfway line Mr Wilding blew the whistle for half time with Merthyr leading 1-0. 
 
Merthyr kicked off at the start of the second half playing with the breeze.  The match continued in a similar vein to the first half with both defences well on top.  Play was continually being broken up by niggling fouls which were being correctly awarded by the referee.  The ball broke to the Merthyr right and found Summerfield who tried to get past Wood only to be brought down long after the ball had gone and Wood received a deserved yellow card.  The resulting free kick was well cleared by Evesham.  Leek made a good run through the middle but his shot cannoned off Sysum and away for a corner.  Patten’s corner went high into the area but it was cleared by Wood but only as far as Leek and there followed a few minutes of pressure which led to McLaggon slipping a ball through to Traylor on the edge of the area but his left footed shot cleared the bar for an Evesham goal kick.  Thompson’s kick only found McLaggon who again found Traylor and this time he brought a good save out of Thompson and the ball rebounded to Leek who stumbled and the Evesham defence managed to get it clear.  Davies and Jenkins were linking well on the left and Jenkins got towards the byline and he pushed it back towards Traylor and an Evesham defender got in a tackle but rebounded back towards the Evesham goal and McLaggon turned and sent in a good shot past Thompson but McLaggon & the Merthyr supporters joy was short lived as the lino had flagged Mclaggon for offside. 
 
Summerfield was again taken out by an Evesham attacker leaving both players on the ground and the referee awarded an Evesham throw.  Evesham moved forward and Green made a couple of good tackles to keep them at bay and from one of those Jenkins picked the ball up and pushed it out wide right to Traylor and he came back inside and slipped it to Summerfield who seemed to be caught in two minds and sent in a cross/shot which went just wide of the Evesham goal.  Another Merthyr clearance found McLaggon on the halfway line and he put the ball past Sysum but Sysum did not allow McLaggon to follow it and he was rightly booked.  Rewbury’s free kick found Summerfield who got it towards Traylor who committed a foul on an Evesham defender, giving away yet another free kick.  From this Evesham broke forward and Edenborough got around Green and got away a shot which went wide of Bradley’s right hand post.  Shortly afterwards Edenborough got in another shot which Green deflected wide for a corner which found its way across our area towards Knowles and Bradley made a good save with his feet and away for another corner which was easily defended by Rewbury.
 
After about 75 minutes Traylor was replaced by Morgan who was quickly in the action when after a good run by Jenkins the ball went away for a corner which Morgan sent it high into the Evesham area.  Wright and Sysum challenged for the ball and it came off Sysum and back out to Morgan who sent in a good shot high towards goal but Thompson also got up high and managed to palm it away with his left hand for a corner.  Wright headed the corner forward towards McLaggon but it ran away from him and over the line for a goal kick.  McLaggon then earned himself a yellow card for a foul on Sysum in a nothing area. 
 
Patten then sent a good ball through to Morgan who gave it inside to Leek.  Leek was robbed by Brown and Leek was adjudged to have fouled Brown as the ball ran loose towards Patten who sent the ball upfield as the referee blew his whistle for the foul and Mr Wilding awarded Patten his second yellow card of the game and he trudged slowly off the field and Merthyr were down to 10 men with about 5 minutes of the game left.
 
Evesham tried to search for the equaliser but the Merthyr defence held firm with Bradley making one good save at the feet of Edenborough after which he required treatment from Chubbsy but was soon fit enough to continue.  Even though Evesham had most of the pressure towards the end we saw the game out comfortably and came away with a 1-0 win.
 
Well, we stopped Evesham completing the double over us and deserved our win.  It was not the greatest of games but once more we got stuck in and got the W.  Both defences were largely on top throughout and as Rob says our front three contributed well to our defensive display.  Maybe the late change in personnel prior to the game was a good thing as Wright did well in midfield with Rewbury & Green rarely allowing Evesham any sight of goal.  My MOTM is Green who looks calmness personified on the pitch and has the knack of nipping in and snuffing out opposition attacks.
 
Onwards and upwards!

According to the club website Steve Williams was on the subs bench and not Matthew Harris.

Could someone say which is correct?

Merthyr Imp wrote:According to the club website Steve Williams was on the subs bench and not Matthew Harris.

Could someone say which is correct?

I didn't see Willo there yesterday and it was definitely Matthew Harris warming up on the touchline be me in the second half.

Old Sod wrote:

Merthyr Imp wrote:According to the club website Steve Williams was on the subs bench and not Matthew Harris.

Could someone say which is correct?

I didn't see Willo there yesterday and it was definitely Matthew Harris warming up on the touchline be me in the second half.

Thanks. Just for the records.

Anyone any idea what injury Gav picked up in the warm up & will he be fit for the Taunton Game?

Also, no report in Wales on Sunday last week & just a small report this week, surely we deserve more/better coverage than this!!!

I think it was a bit too cold for him!  Seriously I think it was a recurrence of his calf strain.  However for the type of game it was I felt the formation we played suited it.

I agree with the paucity of coverage in the WoS.  As Tim Drummond says there are few reporters around now and volunteers have to provide the coverage.  Terry Phillips does attend some games but most reports seem to be based on other media such as our Forum, the website and Twitter and of course Mr Drummond.  Wales Online normally has something on it but that information is usually supplied by the likes of Anthony Hughes who does a great job in that respect.

Dan Summerfield played a blinder so I heard. I think he's generally impressive overall and always seems neat and tidy at the back. Always looks comfortable pushing forward aswell

Lots of photos of the game here:

http://www.stuartpurfield.co.uk/eveshamunited_v_merthyrtown