| Merthyr
Tydfil 2-1 Rugby Town |
| BGB
Premier Division |
Saturday,
19th August 2006
Attendance
| 410
|
Entertainment |
|
Two
goals deep into injury time left Rugby empty handed
from their trip to Wales last Saturday, after
a David Stone strike had given them a first half
lead in their opening league fixture of the 2006-07
season.
The
home side's hammer blows came in the 94th and
the 96th minutes of the game, with both goals
coming from dead ball situations on the outside
of the Town penalty area.
Manager
Billy Jeffrey had given competitive debuts to
new signings Ross Harris and Jason Taylor, as
well as Tom Breward - at the club on loan from
Nuneaton Borough. He also persevered with the
back four formation that had performed competently
in the last couple of pre-season fixtures.
The
visitors had the better of the first half exchanges,
with Stone in particular a threat to the Merthyr
back-line - often shaking off his marker and breaking
through behind the defence, but was then unable
to deliver a telling cross or shot.
The
first real chance of the game fell to Delroy Gordon
from a Danny Hall corner, but the big defender's
effort did not trouble Wales Under 21 squad member
Ashley Morris in the Tydfil goal.
On
44 minutes Valley made the breakthrough when a
long, searching ball from Craig Herbert drew a
mistake from Merthyr debutant Chris Collins, and
David Stone
latched onto his sloppy backpass and fired his
shot past Morris to give his side the half-time
advantage.
The
hosts stepped-up the pressure in the second period,
throwing an extra player into their attack and
they won a string of corners as a result. Despite
this, Rugby still looked in control of the game
and were unlucky not to increase their lead on
a couple of occasions.
Ten
minutes into the half, Willis Francis worked a
brilliant ball down the right for Stone who cut
inside and delivered a low ball across the six-yard
box, but Taylor could only slide the ball wide
of the post - when it seemed easier to score.
Gordon
had another opportunity from a set play when he
headed over from Matt Gearing's free-kick after
Francis had been felled after neat skill on the
left-hand flank.
At
the other end Rugby continued to remain strong
in defence, with Harris & Chris Tullin both
making excellent blocks from close range efforts,
and Hall also making a terrific tackle to deny
Craig Steins.
With
the final few minutes ticking away, Town's resolve
was finally broken however, when Neil Smothers
free-kick struck the upright and cruelly trickled
across the goal-line where substitute Steve Williams
was on-hand to help the ball home.
Instead
of settling for a point, Rugby's young side pushed
forward in search of a winner, and were caught
short at the back by a Merthyr break after a corner
- which led to a desperate tackle by Francis and
the award of another free-kick from shooting range.
This
time the execution of the ball was a more clinical
affair, as Paul Keddle stepped up and powered
the ball into the top right hand corner of the
net to steal the points.
|
