MARTYR YEARLY LATE DRAMA

Rugby were denied victory in South Wales after once more conceding a late goal against the Martyrs.

By Craig Webb.

It was really a game Town should have won, after they created many chances throughout.

Manager Lee Colkin made two changes from the side beaten by Nuneaton, with the return of striker Greg Smith and a full league debut for youth team defender Sam Birtwhistle in place of the unavailable Andy Commander and Michael Love.

Valley made the brightest start, and Ross Oulton tried his luck with a speculative shot, but unfortunately this failed to test the Merthyr keeper Andrew Delve.

This early pressure from the visitors sparked Merthyr into life, putting pressure on the Rugby defence, but Chris Tullin and Delroy Gordon held firm keeping them at bay.

Midway through the half, good interlinking play between Matt Gearing and Sam Youngs produced a shot wide of the Merthyr post, and with the game drifting into a midfield battle neither side was able to fashion a clear cut chance of note.

Rugby finally made the breakthrough in the 43rd minute with a first goal for the club for Oulton. It came after good pressure within the penalty area resulted in Gearing sliding a ball through to him and the young midfielder showed good control before unleashing a shot past Delve to send Town into a deserved lead at half-time.

Rugby started the second half in the same manner as they had finished the first, with Youngs having a cracking shot saved by the fingertips of the home keeper.

Town were obviously playing with confidence, but also had to concentrate in defence as the home side started to get back into game.

Valley had Karl Fellows to thank when he twice cleared the ball off the line – first from Scott Armitage and then later from Tariq Khalil.

Town were denied a penalty when one of the Merthyr defenders seemed to handle the ball, but the referee was having none of it. From this, the hosts went on the counter attack which produced a great save by the irrepressible Andy Stevens from Armitage’s speculative effort.

The home side were clearly going for the equaliser and Kris Leek produced a scissor kick from 18 yards, which Stevens turned onto the woodwork.

At the other end, Youngs – who was having another good game - went on a mazy run into the penalty area, but his tame shot was smothered by the goalkeeper.

As the clock ticked on, and the travelling fans hoping for a second away win of the season, the last minute goal hoodoo struck again, when Leek scored at the far post from a Marcus Griffiths’ cross, to leave the away supporters stunned and the home fans delirious.

Buoyed by their equaliser, Merthyr went for the win, and in injury time man of the match Stevens produced a fantastic save from Andrew Thomas to save a point for Town.

Gearing also went for glory in the last seconds, putting in a shot that drifted agonisingly wide.

Valley Line-up: Stevens; Nicell, Tullin, Birtwhistle, Gordon; Gearing, Brown (Richards), Oulton, Youngs, Fellows; Smith (Stringfellow). Subs not used: Bell. Booked: None. Sent off: None.

Merthyr line-up: Delve, Williams, Keddle, Driscoll, Thomas, Leek, Khalil, Morgan, Griffiths, Armitage, Hartshorn.