An Owen goal for Martyrs’ Morris!

Jan 20 2008 by Staff Reporter, Wales On Sunday

SUSPENSIONS, injuries and even international call-ups saw the Martyrs travel to high-flying Halesowen without eight first-team regulars.

And defeat was all but assured after a moment of madness that saw keeper Ashley Morris red-carded.

Giving debuts to three of the Martyrs youth set-up, this was always going to be a tough ask.

But after an encouraging half-hour, Morris raced out of his box and handled the ball as Halesowen’s Dean Brennan bore down on goal.

The keeper’s resultant dismissal saw central defender Andrew Thomas take over in goal for the Martyrs and he managed to keep the home side at bay until seconds before the interval.

Shane Paul beat Merthyr’s Ross Porter down the left and his low driven cross was turned in by Zema Abbey from close range.

Merthyr threatened through Darren Griffiths at the restart, his neat turn and shot just flying inches wide.

But, the game ended as a contest on 65 minutes when Brennan met another Paul cross to volley past the helpless Thomas from just six yards.

Merthyr’s young side kept to the task, to their credit, and Griffiths continued to give his all along with Matthew Harris in an attempt to get the Martyrs on the scoresheet.

But, with just 14 minutes remaining, the 10 men conceded a third, Brennan converting a carbon copy of the second goal, only this time substitute Davion Hamilton providing the inch-perfect cross.

Hamilton continued to pose problems for Merthyr, but they managed to hold out and will hope for better things when fellow strugglers Hitchin Town visit Penydarren Park on Tuesday evening.