| Leamington FC 1 – 2 Merthyr Town |
| Glennon 74′ | Twamley (p) 17′ |
| Ryan-Phillips 19′ |
Merthyr Town hung on to secure another win on the road as they beat bottom club Leamington, which ended with a clash between both sides and two red cards.
A change in starting line up from Saturday’s defeat at Alfreton, with Kiban Rai and Alex John replacing Kieran Evans and Lee Lucas (neither in the squad due to injury) and Jordan Garrick dropping to the bench after picking up a knock. Congratulations to both Calum Ryan-Phillips and Cawley Cox, who were making their 150th and 50th appearances respectively.
It was a cagey start for the Martyrs as the Brakes looked to press from the off, winning possession back a number of times in the first 10 minutes. Walker was the first to test Dennis after dispossessing Alex John and was free on goal, but his tame shot was easily saved before Brogan was able to pick a loose ball up and fire wide.
The first real chance of the game came after 14 minutes following good link up play between Maddox, Twamley and Handley. The ball was recycled to Jack Evans who was able to lay the ball off to Handley who whipped in a shot from the right of the box, forcing Brearey into a great save to his top right.
The cut up pitch was causing issues for Merthyr and their usual brand of slick passing was being banished at times as they had to resort to balls over the top. It was one of these balls that broke the deadlock on 17 minutes, as Rai won the ball back before lofting a ball over the head of Glennon which Cox was on like a flash. Brearey rushed out from his line but Cox was able to reach the ball first, knocking it past him on the left before being taken out on the edge of the box. A clear penalty and a yellow for Brearey’s troubles.
Up stepped Twamley to slot home his 12th of the season, firing past Brearey’s left to the delight of the travelling fans behind the goal. Leamington 0 – 1 Merthyr.
It took all of 2 minutes for Merthyr to double their lead. Twamley swung in a corner from the left which Leamington were unable to deal with. The ball fell to Ryan-Phillips, who, with his back to goal took a touch to his left, turned and then drilled his shot low past the keeper. A great finish and it felt like it could be a Bedford score again. Leamington 0 – 2 Merthyr.
“That was the smelliest, ugliest, most tense, horrible watch of a win I’ve probably had……however, the boys threw their bodies on the line and I couldn’t ask for anymore effort“
Paul Michael (Manager). Courtesy of Cymru Sport
Despite going 2 – 0 down, the home side continued to press and came close to scoring through Farmer who pounced on a mistake at the back, before both Berridge and Walker fired shots wide of the post. It certainly felt that the Brakes would open their account, it was just a matter of when.
Rai had Brearey scrambling across his line before good work from Cox to win the ball back had his shot saved. Leamington continued to test the away side and were certainly using the pitch to their advantage as the aerial balls started to become more frequent but at the break the Martyrs went in with a two goal advantage.
Half Time: Leamington 0 – 2 Merthyr
Any thoughts that the home side would give up in the second half were quickly forgotten as they put the Martyrs under pressure straight away, particularly with aerial balls. Walker and Williams linked up well but Jay Williams was on hand to cut out a through ball with a last ditch challenge. The resulting corner fell to Glennon at the back post who was unable to get his shot on target – a real let off. Brogan continued to be the focal point of the Brakes attack and had a number of chances from the edge of the area – one of these freekicks deflecting off a Merthyr body and wide of the post (just!).
Rai put a header over the bar after a great cross from Handley which started a solid five minute spell of possession, much to the ole’s from the away support. Dennis was again called into action, denying Farmer with a solid save to his left before Leamington finally got their goal on 74 minutes. A corner from the left was whipped in which Merthyr were unable to clear – the ball fell to Meredith whose shot was redirected by Glennon from a few yards into the Merthyr goal. Game on. Leamington 1 – 2 Merthyr.
It was now backs against the wall as the home side launched attack after attack. Bodies were continually put on the line and blocking shots from all angles – Walker almost driving a low shot into the bottom corner before Jay Williams cleared the ball off the line on 81 minutes to deny an equaliser after a corner bounced around the area.
Merthyr to their credit continued to slog it out as the fourth official put up 5 minutes of injury time. Glennon’s freekick on the left of the area was straight at Dennis before the main flashpoint. The ball was thrown quickly from Brearey out to Quaynor, who mistimed his slide and went in high on Livermore – a dangerous challenge that left him on the floor in pain.
With Livermore down, Walker decided to go toward him with some choice words which sparked a melee with all players (and even members of the benches) involved, which ended with Garrick receiving a straight red card for an alleged head butt along with Craig Reddy. Unbelievably, Quaynor who went in late and high initially escaped without a card – work that one out. There was a huge sigh of relief as the referee finally blew the final whistle to end a chaotic second half.
Full Time: Leamington 1 – 2 Merthyr
A very hard fought three points, which is not to be underestimated in back to back soggy, cut up pitches in three days with a number of injuries. Leamington on that performance shouldn’t be bottom of the table and will hope to take that forward as they battle relegation. That second half was a tough watch but the boys dug deep, with the personal highlight being the away support – particularly the solid 4 minute rendition of “Livermore (uh-huh uh-huh), I like it (uh-huh uh-huh)”.
Another 3 points on the board. That’s all that matters.
UP THE TOWN
Gavin Burns
