Hereford v MERTHYR

Team: Garner, Davies, Barrow, Jones, Baggridge, Tancock, Watkins, Brown, McLaggon, Reffell, Traylor.

Subs: Clarke, Bowen, Bloom, Patten, Prosser, Williams, Parry.

Who was it who said on here of Kyle Patten that following his injury he 'can't really be considered as being with the club any more'?

Ryan Green not in the Hereford lineup. I believe he's not featured in in their pre-season games so far due to having had a minor operation this summer.

Merthyr 1-0 up - Traylor

nice line up but garner !!

1 up Traylor 19mins.

2 up Reffel 22mins

Hereford get one back 1-2 on 34mins

HT 1-2
Hereford goal as a result of an error at the back by gethin.

Attendance given as 1,371 including 95 from Merthyr.

Subs around the hour mark: Prosser and Bowen for Jones and Watkins.

Patten and Bloom on for McLaggon and Barrow.

Gavin on for Brown 85mins!

Gavin on for Brown 85mins!

Final score 2-1 to Merthyr.

Rhys Baggridge was sent off after about 85 minutes - the incident along with several other brief clips from the game (although not our goals) is on Hereford's Twitter:

https://twitter.com/BullsNewsBlog?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Ft 1-2! Get in!!

superb result shows gav got the team playing good attacking footballl with flair at times something we lacked last season under steve .
i can see a good season ahead .!!!!

Dangerous tackle from behind from Cus led to stupid raised arm retaliation from the Bag and red card, ah well.

Presume that counts as a true red in terms of suspension?

Usually in pre-season the Refs use a bit of common sense - I've heard the better ones using it as a warm-up for themselves as well. "Do that in season and its a yellow/red" is the sort of thing I've heard the better ones comment, along with "right - get him off now before I have to card him".

Of course, you do get the occasional officious official who can't apply common sense...

I'm not certain, but I've an idea that a suspension for a player sent off in a friendly match only applies to future friendly matches played.

But I suppose the next question is whether a Herefordshire FA Senior Invitation Cup match counts as a friendly match or a competitive fixture.

Imp I see Barrow was in the team.

rustic wrote:Imp I see Barrow was in the team.

Yes - let's hope he stays there!

Merthyr Town won the Hereford FA Senior Cup against lower league opposition Hereford at Edgar Street despite a spirited 2nd half display by the home side.

Hereford were without Ryan Green but Merthyr didn’t have the services of Curtis McDonald, Jarrad Wright, Ashley Evans, Corey Jenkins and Elliott Scotcher and started with a 3-5-2 formation with Garner in goal, Jones, Tancock and Baggridge at the back, Davies and Barrow wide with Watkins, Brown and Traylor in midfield interchanging with Reffell who started upfront with McLaggon.

Merthyr got off to a flying start when after exerting early pressure, Baggridge was fouled on the halfway line. The kick was taken short to Jones and after a bit of interplay the ball went left to Barrow who sent it down the line towards McLaggon. He held it up under pressure from Edge but McLaggon did well to come inside towards the 18 yard area and sent in a stinging shot which was too good for Horsell and he could only palm it out and Traylor was on hand to tap it home from 2 yards and Merthyr were 1 goal to the good.

Hereford hit back and had and a after a long ball down their left Brown tried to usher it out but he was robbed on the byline and Phillips sent the ball back to Robbins but his shot from about 20 yards went wide of Garner’s right hand post. Reffell and Traylor were causing the Bulls defence problems and despite Hereford pushing forward, Merthyr were well organised and looked to more likely to score. Reffell did really well, halfway inside the Hereford half when he robbed Edge and got past him but Reffell’s 25 yarder went high over the Hereford bar.

Hereford’s Jones did well to get a cross in which was headed behind for the first corner of the game by Barrow. It was taken short and Merthyr cleared easily. McLaggon had a shot on goal which Horsell did well to save and then at the other end Davies did well to block a shot from Mills and the Merthyr defence cleared easily.

Then on the 21st minute, Merthyr doubled their lead when McLaggon did well to win the ball in the air and Reffell beat Edge and from about 8 yards he smashed a right footed shot high into the net which whistled past Horsell’s right hand.

Hereford tried to get forward but it was a mistake in the Merthyr defence just after the half hour that allowed them back in the game. The ball came into the Merthyr half and Davies headed the ball down to Jones for him to clear but he slipped and Mills nipped in and got the ball forward to Haysham who hit it wide of Garner’s right hand, giving him no chance making the score 2-1 to Merthyr.

The rest of the half past with the ball largely in midfield and Mr Smith blew the half time whistle.

Merthyr started the 2nd half with Prosser and Bowen replacing Jones and Watkins to consolidate the change from a back 3 to a flat back 4. Hereford’s players, no doubt with the pearls of wisdom from Messrs Beadle and Jenkins ringing in their years started the 2nd half brightly and Garner did really well to make a good save by diving at the feet of Robbins as he tried to latch onto a long ball over the Merthyr defence.

Bowen looked bright in the middle and Prosser looked dangerous, no more so when he picked the ball up near the right hand edge of the area and sent in a shot across the keeper which Horsell did well to flick behind for a corner which was sent towards the far post and in a challenge between Prosser and Horsell led to a free kick to Hereford.

Hereford made a few changes including the introduction of former Martyr Mike Symons as the home side resorted to a route one tactic. Symons did get in one weak header which went safely into the arms of Garner but his bulk was starting to cause problems for the Merthyr defence as the home side tried to up a gear. However Garner was bossing his area making some good catches and punches from crosses to keep the Hereford forwards at bay and the Merthyr attacks were getting more sporadic although Traylor was still causing problems and from one of his crosses Horsell did well to catch the ball under pressure from Prosser. Merthyr made a few more substitutions with Bloom replacing Barrow and Lazarus in the form of Kyle Patten replacing McLaggon as Merthyr tried to boost their midfield, Bloom almost made an instant impact at the other end of the pitch when Bowen broke into the Hereford half and after interplay between him and Prosser the ball found Bloom who sent in a left footed shot which went high and wide of the Hereford goal. Merthyr then had a good shout for a penalty turned down by Mr Smith. Bowen sent a ball towards the area a Reffell, near the byline nipped the ball past a Hereford defender who seemed to catch Reffell as he tried to get past him but the referee waved play on. Shortly afterwards Williams came on for Brown.

Hereford were on the attack but the Merthyr defence were holding up well and from a long ball Symons did well to hold it up and he slipped it to Jones on the left hand edge of the area who was well tackled by Davies who got the ball clear leaving Jones on the ground. Baggridge also did well as he ushered the ball out of play for a Merthyr goal kick with Cuss chipping at his ankles and Baggridge seemed to lash out with his arm catching Cuss who was left prone on the ground. Baggridge made his way quickly away from the incident but the referee called him over and issued a seemingly deserved red card and Merthyr were left to face the last 10 minutes or so with only 10 men and Hereford had their tails up.

Traylor moved to right back with Davies coming across to the left with Bloom joining Tancock in the centre of the Merthyr back 4. Although under pressure Merthyr did gain a free kick deep in the Hereford half which Williams sent over the bar but more precious time elapsed. Williams also did well at the back clearing 2 corners and then found the time to get forward to chase a long ball down the Merthyr right which made Horsell clear away into touch. Merthyr defended deeply but in truth Hereford created little and after 4 minutes of stoppage time Merthyr deservedly won their first trophy of the season.

Class told in the end and although Hereford huffed and puffed and put Merthyr under pressure they could not break down a resolute Merthyr defence with their only goal coming from a defensive lapse and even when the Martyrs went down to 10 after a needless retaliation, Williams nursed the team through to the end. Garner had to make a couple of good catches/punches from hopeful crosses but was rarely troubled as the whole team followed Wales Euro 2016 example by working for each other and also playing some good football going forward.

Onwards and upwards for the 2016-17 season!

Old Sod wrote:
 Lazarus in the form of Kyle Patten replacing McLaggon      

He rose from the bench?

nice to see pattern back !!!