Merthyr7-1Sholing

Scorers : Traylor 46, 47, Morgan 50, 84, Leek 73, Wright 76, Newman 79 / Watts 27

Date : Saturday 6th September 2014 - 3:00pm kick off - Southern League South & West

Merthyr Town : 1) Tom Bradley 2) Dan Summerfield 3) Adam Davies 4) Matthew Harris (Kris Leek 68 mins) 5) Jarrad Wright 6) Ryan Green 7) Kerry Morgan 8) Gavin Williams 9) Kayne McLaggon (Ryan Prosser 71 mins) 10) Ryan Newman 11) Ian Traylor (Corey Jenkins 71 mins). Unused Subs: 12) Steve Williams 14) Adie Harris

Yellow Card : Kayne McLaggon 15 mins

Sholing : 1) Matt Brown 2) TJ Cuthbertson 3) Kane Crisp 4) Stuart Mott 5) Mike Byrne 6) Kevin Brewster (Jude Nwachukwu 56 mins) 7) Barry Mason (Taurean Manders 60 mins) 8) Byron Mason 9) Dan Mason (Macaully Smith 60 mins) 10) Nick Watts 11) Marvin McLean . Unused Subs: Rory Anderson

Yellow Cards : Stuart Mott 37 mins Nick Watts 66 mins Kane Crisp 70 mins

Attendance : 473

Referee : Kevin Morris (Hereford) Assistant Referees: Thomas Blanch (Cheltenham) & Thomas Jones (Hereford)

This was the one match that Sholing FC were looking forward to getting out of the way early in the season and on a Saturday 166 mile drive taking 3 hours and with 45 minutes gone looked like being a productive one 1-0 up. However 45 crazy minutes later it was a different story conceding seven goals and the prospect of a sombre journey home with too much time to reflect.

Two changes from the FA Cup victory with both Sam Olaofe (playing in a National 6 a side competition) & Dan Miller (moving into student accommodation) away and were replaced by Kane Crisp & Kevin Brewster. There was no change on the injury front with Jack Smith Lewis Fennemore Alex Baldachinno & Alex Sawyer still a week or two away from playing.

Non League Day proved productive with an attendance of 473 only bettered in the Southern League by Weymouth’s 847.

The first few minutes proved how much quicker Merthyr were to the ball on the 3G pitch and a slip by Kane Crisp showed how important the correct footwear was needed. As early as the 2nd minute Kayne McLaggon showed his prowess when his deep cross was half punched away by Matt Brown and the ball fell to Ryan Newman whose goal bound shot was cleared off the line by Mike Byrne. Kayne McLaggon then himself got on the end of a cross but saw his header go wide.

After 5 minutes Sholing were getting to grips with the surface and Dan Mason had his effort charged down by the Merthyr defence. The game was free flowing with action at either end, Byron Mason & Kevin Brewster combined well before Byron Mason had his shot beaten out by keeper Tom Bradley. At the other end Matt Brown was also doing the same when full back Dan Summerfield set up Ian Traylor. With 7 minutes on the clock Sholing had the golden chance to go one up when Marvin McLean put Nick Watts in one on one with keeper Bradley but yet again he saved Merthyr. The game still free flowed for both sides then on 12 minutes Kevin Brewster free kick was cleared and he retrieved the ball and his shot from 25 yards hit the Merthyr crossbar.

At the other end Matt Brown was again called into action saving a Kane McLaggon header, then Morgan & Williams combined again for Matt Brown to put the ball away for a corner. Before the corner could be taken Kane McLaggon crossed referee Morris one too many times and was cautioned for his comments. Kevin Brewster & Nick Watts worked well together to win a corner and Kevin Brewster found the head of Stuart Mott but was easily collected by keeper Bradley. Then on 27 minutes route one football was the undoing of Merthyr Matt Brown’s clearance was touched on by Dan Mason for Nick Watts to put Sholing ahead. Merthyr again were denied by Matt Brown from Ryan Newman’s 18yd free kick after Kane McLaggon was fouled and had his penalty appeals turned away in favour of the free kick.

With 37 minutes gone Stuart Mott found himself into the referee’s book. As the ball was swung into the Merthyr box clearly a raised white arm was struck but it was Mott who was cautioned for handball.

Route one football once again nearly undone Merthyr when Matt Brown found Dan Mason whose shot was put away for a corner. Then as the half concluded Merthyr had two opportunities to go in level first Stuart Mott’s header fell to Matthew Harris who shot wide and seconds later Kerry Morgan put his shot wide. On the half time whistle Barry Mason was left prostrate on the pitch from Merthyr’s defenders challenge.  HT 0-1

Before everyone had taken their seats Ian Traylor received a cross field ball and put Merthyr level inside the first minute. Then unbelievably with only 74 seconds of the 2nd half gone Sholing found themselves 2-1 down with a copycat goal & Ian Traylor notching his second to the delight of the huge crowd. Sholing’s misery was compounded on 49 minutes when Kerry Morgan latched on to a mistake and lobbed Matt Brown to put Merthyr 3-1 up. Matt Brown also denied Ryan Newman’s effort

On 56 mins Jude Nwachukwu replaced Kevin Brewster. With Sholing trying to regroup Matt Brown again was twice forced into saves, on 60 minutes a double substitution with Barry Mason (Inj) & Dan Mason (Tactical) being replaced by Taurean Manders & Macaully Smith.

Marvin McLean & Kane Crisp combined to win a corner but Stuart Mott’s header was cleared. Then on 66 mins Nick Watts chased down a long ball challenged the keeper and received a yellow card for his efforts. Four minutes later a quick break by Merthyr was halted by Kane Crisp’s intervention on the half way line earning him a caution.

Merthyr sub Kris Leek who had been on the field for only six minutes found himself 12 yds out and easily lobbed Matt Brown for goal number four. Merthyr mainly worked on short corners and on 77 minutes came goal number five when centre back Jarrad Wright tapped the ball home from 6 yds. Sixty seconds later came goal number six when Ryan Newman found the back of the Sholing net from 18 yds.

With the game now beyond Sholing Matt Brown kept out Gavin Williams 18 yd free kick. However a minute later somehow Merthyr were gifted their seventh goal when Matt Brown appeared to have collected the ball but it spilled out for Kerry Morgan to tuck away his second goal. Despite the scoreline Sholing still took the game forward but Marvin McLean saw his shot go wide. Both Merthyr subs Jenkins & Prosser had chances to add to Merthyr’s tally but both put their efforts wide.  FT 7-1