Williams fumes at ref’s mistake

THIS IS likely to be known for the goal that never was after both sides shared four goals on the final day of the season.

Referee Simon Wales and assistants Josh Brookland and Josh Marchant were the main topic of conversation at half-time, having somehow not given a goal for Merthyr after just five minutes when Kerry Morgan saw visiting goalkeeper Ethan Ross off his line.

Chipping him from 35 yards Morgan’s effort struck the crossbar before bouncing back up and ruffling the Redditch net.

But, as Ross scooped the ball out the match officials seemed to be some of the very few people in the ground to not see the net bulge.

To rub salt into Merthyr wounds, Redditch soaked up much of the pressure Merthyr mounted and having always maintained a threat on the break went a goal up on 21 minutes when Adam Page drilled the ball home from 20 yards.

It was tough on the home side who seemed to struggle to deal with not having been given the goal that never was.

Merthyr manager Gavin Williams was sent to the stands at half-time but the home side turned the game around completely with two goals in two minutes just after the restart.

Ryan Prosser rose at the far post to head in Owain Jones’ cross from six yards before Kerry Morgan was tripped ojust inside the box by Jordan Mills.

Prosser smashed home the spot-kick and that’s how it stayed until the 90th minute when former Martyr Stuart Fleetwood raced on to a quick break and skipped past Merthyr goalkeeper Ed Hewitson to find an empty net and earn Redditch a point.

It was harsh on the home side who deserved so much more from the game.