FOOTBALL

CARDIFF ACADEMICALS ............. 1 MERTHYR VETERANS . 1

MERTHYR travelled to the Cardiff Athletic Stadium for an over-50s game in the Wales Veterans League.

Martin Duffy substituted in goal for the absent Terry Collins and new signing Paul Otway made his debut.

The Academicals, with the wind at their backs, made the early running and a powerful goalbound shot was bravely blocked by Richard Jeremiah. Long balls down the middle caused problems and Thoms was forced to head off the line.

Duffy then had to make a fine save following a corner from a cross from the right.

Merthyr responded and Williams crossed from the left with Hatch meeting the ball but his firm header went just over the crossbar.

Merthyr’s passing was not at its best and from a loose ball in central midfield, the ball was played down across the right for Graham Miles to round Duffy and score from a tight angle with the Merthyr defenders appealing for offside.

The goal brought Merthyr into life and they were denied a clear penalty when Beynon raced into the penalty area only to be brought down from behind. Merthyr were denied another penalty appeal when Thoms played a long pass to Otway who sent Hatch through one on one with the keeper but he was clipped from behind as he was about to put the ball into the net.

The first half ended with Beynon heading over the crossbar from Williams.

The Academicals started the second half in a positive manner and they almost scored when a shot from just outside the penalty area went wide.

In a goalmouth melee Duffy did well to save at the feet of Miles. A move involving Hatch, Veale and Williams ended with Wakeley shooting wide. Merthyr were dominating and when Otway was barged to the ground a Veale free kick found Thoms who was unmarked on the six-yard line for a comfortable finish.

Within miniutes there was almost a second Merthyr goal when a corner from Wakeley was met with a fine header from Otway but the ball flashed inches wide. The Academicals were now taking a pounding and defending desperately. In a rare breakawy the Academicals were prevented from scoring through superb covering by Paul Jones. Luck was not with Merthyr as a Williams cross from the left rebounded off the bar and then a Thoms centre was firmly headed against the underside of the bar by the same player.

The game ended with Beynon’s volleyed effort flashing just past the post.

Merthyr were disappointed with the result after dominating for long periods. But with the wind behind their backs in the second half, they should have had more shots at goal instead of being overelaborate with their passing.