Lee Lucas brings festive cheer as the Martyrs see off Curzon Ashton at Penydarren Park

Lee Lucas brought the festive cheer to Martyrs fans as his 80th minute winner secured all three points against a spirited Curzon Ashton side who would no doubt be ruing a number of missed opportunities.

Paul Michael made two changes to the side that narrowly lost at Fylde with Matty Harris and Kieran Evans slotting back into the starting XI for Jay Williams and Alex John. An impeccable minute’s silence was held prior to the game in remembrance of Macclesfield’s Ethan McLeod, who tragically passed away on his return from Bedford earlier in the week.

It was the visitors who looked the more comfortable from the off in what was an uneventful start of the game, despite both sides probing for an opening. Weston came closest for the visitors early on after latching onto a long ball on the right, only for the out rushing Cogman to be caught outside of his area. Weston was able to get the ball across the goal but Ryan-Phillips was able to luckily clear the danger.

Curzon continued to pin Merthyr into their own half and were winning second balls all over the pitch, with Ezennolim starting to cause problems on the left. The Nash were unlucky not to break the deadlock on 13 minutes after Matty Harris was caught out, with Weston again drilling a ball across the box which deflected off Ryan-Phillips and past the wrong footed Cogman. Luckily the ball trickled past Cogman’s left post but Merthyr were certainly on the backfoot early doors – perhaps as a result of their week off.

Jarvis was starting to have some success on the right hand side and was able to deliver dangerous balls into the box, but Curzon’s defence stood strong. Cogman needed to produce a fantastic tip over the bar from Curran’s volley and at this point it felt like it was only a matter of time before the visitors breached Merthyr’s backline.

As the game started to open up, the Martyrs settled and began to stretch Curzon. Twamley picked up a great ball from Handley and was able to use his pace to get around Sobowale with ease and cut back in the box for Rees, but Stokes was able to clear. Stokes then produced a last ditch tackle to deny Rees from close range and the resulting pressure produced a number of corners for the home side.

Just before the break, Merthyr were awarded a corner which was delayed by the referee due to pushing and shoving in the box. As the ball came in, Jarvis hit the deck and the referee didn’t hesitate in awarding a penalty against Stokes, which prompted a furious reaction from his own team mates towards him.

Twamley breaks free again © Becky Handley

Up stepped Rees who slotted the resulting penalty down the middle past Hawkins to give the Martyrs a 1 – 0 lead going into the break. Curzon would have no doubt been disappointed to not have taken any of their chances, particularly when Merthyr had a slow start to the game. Merthyr 1-0.

It was a cagey start to the second half with both sides cancelling each other out across the park. Handley was the first with a half chance – his shot from the edge of the area claiming shouts of handball from supporters, but waved away by the officials. Despite some inaccurate passing,

It was the home side that looked the most comfortable with Twamley being allowed more and more space to drive towards the Nash’s backline.

Curzon had the ball in the back of the net on 68 minutes after Holmes met Ezennolim’s cross to head past Cogman but was denied by a late flag from the linesman for offside. Ezennolim also went close shortly after heading over the bar from close range. Twamley was continuing to pick up balls from the impressive duo of Lucas and Evans and driving from the halfway line and was unlucky not to score a superb solo effort, with his effort just sliding wide of the post.

On 78 minutes it was the away side who deservedly equalised with Holmes playing a 1-2 on the edge of the box and bent his shot past Cogman into the bottom left hand corner. There could be no complaints, particularly as Holmes had gone close a number of times in the second half. Merthyr 1 – 1 Curzon.

It only took two minutes for the Martyrs to restore their lead. Twamley picked up the ball deep in his own half and glided to the edge of the Curzon box before slotting in Lucas, who opened his body and struck his shot first time past Hawkins. Lucas wheeled off to the CTM to celebrate with the fans and it was another(!) assist for Twamley who continues to have the league on toast. Merthyr 2 – 1 Curzon.

Despite some late pressure from Curzon (including the longest throw I have seen in league football) and Jarvis turning into prime Messi against three midfielders, it was another huge 3 points for the Martyrs as they secured the league double over the visitors.

Who would have thought at Christmas that our first campaign in the NL North would contain;