Great Scott leaves it late to earn Merthyr victory
A PULSATING 90 minutes concluded with Merthyr snatching victory in stoppage time, Scott Barrow’s free kick from the edge of the box deflecting past visiting goalkeeper Jamie Head.
It wasn’t as though Merthyr hadn’t deserved all three points, having ripped apart previously unbeaten Dunstable in the opening 25 minutes.
Kayne Mclaggon was off target on two occasions but did find the net on 13 minutes to tap home a pass from Reffell to give the home side an inevitable lead.
Ian Traylor’s curling 20-yard effort was saved by Head on 29 minutes before Dunstable stunned the home crowd with an equaliser from their first attack two Shane Bush.
But that was nothing compared to Daniel Talbot’s strike on 37 minutes from all of 30 yards that gave the visitors the lead.
A triple substitution from Merthyr boss Gavin Williams on 56 minutes saw Ryan Prosser, Corey Jenkins and Jarrad Wright replace Mclaggon, Jon Brown and Gethin Jones and some minutes later by 13 minutes later Prosser rose in the box to convert a Barrow cross to restore parity.
Dunstable wouldn’t lie down though and inside four minutes Alex Cathline made it 3-2.
But, a flowing move involving Traylor, Prosser and Reffell set up Wright and he drilled in a third for Merthyr on 90 minutes before Barrow’s late, late winner. A TRAUMATIC week ended miserably for Port Talbot playing their first game back in the Nathaniel Car Sales Welsh League after demotion from the Premier League when they failed to secure their appropriate licence from the FAW.
Port Talbot went down 2-0 at promoted Cwmbran Celtic and finished the game with only 10 men. It was a fiery battle with Celtic having two players sent off – Chris Ham for a foul and Richard Creese after a second booking – and Port Talbot one – Robbie Thomas, involved in a scuffle.
Lloyd Kinsella and Adam Maguire were on target for the Gwent team.
Barry Town, who narrowly missed out on promotion to the Welsh Premier League last season, started well in their bid to go up this time around as they beat Undy Athletic 2-0 with goals by Drew Fahiya and Tyrell Webbe.
Goytre United suffered a surprise 1-0 home defeat, Kyle Williams grabbing the only goal of the game while a Sam Jones goal gave Cambrian and Clydach a 1-0 triumph at Afan Lido.
In the second division, Pontypridd helped by four goals in a seven minute spell thrashed newlynamed Newport City 6-1 while in the battle between two relegated teams Briton Ferry Llansawel won 2-1 at Garden Village.
There were mixed fortunes for newcomers to the league – Trethomas Bluebirds won 2-1 at Caerleon and Port Talbot club Trefelin romped home 4-0 against Chepstow, but Ynysygerwn lost 4-0 at home to Ely Rangers.