MERTHYR v Slough

Team:
Garner
Tancock McDonald Wright Barrow
Evans Scotcher Yorwerth
McLaggon Reffell Traylor

Subs:
Watkins Williams Baggridge Jenkins Prosser

Slough 0-1 21mins. A free kick from 20+ yards curled into the top corner.

1-1! Yorwerth with a header at the back post from a free kick 33mins!

1-1 half time

68th min sub: Jenkins on and Scotcher off

79th min sub: McClaggon off and Prosser on

1-1 full time. A very close game.

Today’s team:

Garner;
Tancock,Wright,McDonald,Barrow;
Yorwerth;
Traylor,Evans,Scotcher,Reffell;
McLaggon;

Substitutes:
Jenkins for Scotcher after about 67 minutes
Prosser for McLaggon after about 77 minutes
Watkins
Williams
Baggridge

It was an unchanged starting eleven from Tuesday night, but with Corey Jenkins and Ryan Prosser fit again to return to the bench in place of Jon Brown and Cameron Clarke.

About 5 minutes into the game Slough put us under some pressure with a long throw-in leading to a series of corners, which ended with a header well over the bar from the last of them.

With about 10 minutes gone we had a good break down the right, with Josh Yorwerth sending a good ball to Ian Traylor. He put a low ball across which was put behind for a corner.

Slough were looking dangerous from set pieces, and their goal came from one after about 20 minutes. Elliot Scotcher gave away a free kick a good 25 yards out just to the right of the area. Slough’s James Dobson took it left-footed and it went in the near top corner of the goal with Glyn Garner just unable to keep it out.

Scotcher was at fault again about 6 minutes after the goal when he was dispossessed on the edge of our area leaving a player free for a shot on goal, but Garner got down well to make the save.

After about 30 minutes Elliot Scotcher rather went from villain to hero after Josh Yorwerth was fouled down the left wing near the touchline. Scotcher sent the free kick to the far post for Yorwerth to head the equaliser.

Glyn Garner was in action again after about 34 minutes when he had to tip a long ball into the goalmouth over the bar.

After the break Slough were not causing us much trouble in defence but showing plenty of confidence in midfield. Glyn Garner then had to get down well to block a shot with about 59 minutes gone.

About 3 minutes after that we had our best chance of the game when we broke forward following one of Slough’s long throws. Keyon Reffell sped down the field and slipped the ball through to Ian Traylor who would have had only the goalkeeper to beat, but his touch was just too heavy and the keeper was able to claim the ball.

With about 67 minutes gone Corey Jenkins replaced Elliot Scotcher who had not been as effective as recently, being given little time to dwell on the ball by Slough. Keyon Reffell dropped into midfield with Jenkins on the left.

About 10 minutes later Ryan Prosser came on for Kayne McLaggon, and although we had one or two openings (as did Slough) we didn’t make the most of them, and it was Prosser with the clearest of them about 5 minutes from the end when he headed a long free kick from Scott Barrow wide of the far post.

So both our 100% home record and Slough’s 9-game winning run came to end. It was a fair result as although we could have won so could Slough, and I think Glyn Garner was the busier of the two keepers in terms of shots on target. There’s not a great deal of action to describe as much of it was a tight midfield battle, with both defences largely on top, and as said, Slough’s main threat often coming from corners, throw-ins and free kicks.

Man of the match for me was Curtis McDonald who always seemed to be where the ball was in defence, and who was well supported on the left by some quality play from Scott Barrow. I thought Josh Yorwerth had a better game than midweek and didn’t look out of place in midfield.

We move up a place to 7th, and for me the encouraging thing was we matched and could have beaten a good side who certainly look a good bet for promotion.

It was also very good to see another 600+ crowd, so maybe those extra supporters in midweek who ‘paid what they wanted’ were attracted back to see another game at the full price.

Just uploaded some photos from yesterday's game onto club website.

Some great shots in there Peter, especially the goal celebration with Ashley by the newbie.

But the best one has to be the way you captured the Charity shot of Baggy, Corey and the Prossiah.

How you got that swarm of bees to stay still too was pure genius.

Boz

I'm no genius just get it right sometimes.