Merthyr Town v Hartley Wintney, Pitching In Southern League Premier Division South. Saturday 14th January 2023
Report by David Graham

Merthyr Town made a storming start to the match and eventually ran out comfortable winners over struggling Hartley Wintney.

The Martyrs wasted no time in taking a grip of the match and took the lead on 5 minutes. A fast break down the right saw Kieran Evans play in FRAZER THOMAS, who shot home from a tight angle. (1-0)

On 9 minutes Merthyr doubled their lead. A high ball from the right saw the Row struggle to clear. KIERAN EVANS gained possession and his powerful strike from the edge of the penalty area took a deflection and found the net. (2-0)

Hartley rallied and created a chance on 11 minutes. A long throw from the left by Reese Jones found its way to Shamar Moore, who saw his partly blocked shot saved by Martyrs keeper, Jaimie Cogman.

On 19 minutes there was a repeat situation. Jones took another long throw, which resulted in a scramble in front of the Merthyr goal before the ball was cleared.

The Martyrs came close on 26 minutes. A free-kick some 30 yards out was well struck by Liam Angel and the ball skimmed the crossbar.

Two minutes later the home side worked the ball through midfield and this culminated in a fierce shot from Evans which Lewis Hoy in the Hartley goal managed to parry away.

On 34 minutes Curtis Jermmett-Hutson showed good trickery coming in from the left, and his powerful shot from a tight angle brought out a good save from Hoy at the near post.

Two minutes before half-time, Merthyr added a third. The home side got the benefit of an offside call down the right and play moved towards the Row goal. The Martyrs worked the ball across the edge of the penalty area and THOMAS HANDLEY slammed the ball home at the back post. (3-0)
HALF TIME: MERTHYR TOWN 3 HARTLEY WINTNEY 0

As in the first period, Merthyr started very quickly and increased their lead via the penalty spot. Thomas showed good control as he moved through the Row defence, before he went down under a challenge from a Hartley defender. RICARDO REES converted the resulting penalty. (4-0)

Things were to get worse for the Row a few minutes later as defender Toby Nevile received a second yellow card and was sent off.

On 54 minutes, a corner on the left for the Martyrs from Alex John found Nicholas Rose, who saw his header saved by a well positioned Hoy.

Despite the man disadvantage, the Row had a decent spell and scored on 59 minutes. A corner on the left from Anis Nuur found MATT DRAGE and his header found the net from 10 yards. (4-1)

On 65 minutes, with Hartley under considerable pressure, Hoy was called into action twice in a minute. First, a Martyrs move ended when a fierce shot from Jemmett-Hutson was pushed around the post by Hoy. Then, from the corner, the Martyrs had another chance and Hoy brought out a good save from the effort by Thomas.

On 73 minutes, Jemmett-Hutson saw an effort pull out yet another smart save from Hoy. Eight minutes later, a left-wing corner from John saw a header from Jack Evans, and again Hoy saved well.

Towards the end, with the Hartley defence tiring and looking threadbare, they were thankful to Hoy and central defender Germaine Dua, who had an impressive debut with many timely interventions and tackles. [D Graham]

FULL TIME: MERTHYR TOWN 4 HARTLEY WINTNEY 1

MERTHYR TOWN: Jaimie Cogman, Adam Davies, Thomas Handley, Liam Angel, Jack Evans, Frazer Thomas, Ricardo Rees, Kieran Evans, Curtis Jermaine-Hutson, Nicholas Rhodas.
Subs: Lewis Powell (on), Noah Smerdon (on), William Fuller (g/k), Alexander Bonthron (on), Matthew Harris

HARTLEY WINTNEY: Lewis Hoy, Archy Taylor, Tom Leggett, Toby Nevile, Matt Drage (c), Germaine Dua, Anis Nuur, George Winser, Shamar Moore, Alexander McAllister, Reese Jones
Subs: Lene Burden (on), Zidan Akers (on), Ellias Bagdonavicius (on), Paul Hodges, Dashun Cooper (g/k)

Hartley Man of the Match: ANIS NUUR
Attendance: 603
Entertainment value: 3 out of 5