Snore draw for Merthyr

Apr 13 2008 by Our Correspondent, Wales On Sunday

IT was typical end of season fare at Swindon Supermarine where both sides rarely looked like threatening to get on the scoresheet throughout the 90 minutes.

Not that Garry Shephard’s Merthyr are able just yet to see out a boring and meaningless end of season fixture comfortably – a return of three points from Swindon would have meant that The Martyrs would have been automatically safe from relegation from the BGB Premier Division.

As it turned out, results elsewhere mean that Merthyr need one victory from their remaining three League games to guarantee Premier Division football next season and the first opportunity comes at home to already relegated Cirencester Town at Penydarren Park on Monday evening (7.45pm).

It was indeed Merthyr who looked the more likely to break the deadlock before the break at Swindon with Gareth Warton having the best chance of the game on 20 minutes,

His far post header from Darren Davies’ free-kick struck the outside of the woodwork and that was as close as either side came.

Shane Dawe struck a 20 yard volley just wide shortly after whilst the home side were left to rue a rather dubious looking offside flag midway through the second half after Mark Draycott had looked set to race clear.

But, that was a rare threat from Swindon who seemed content to end their home campaign with a point whilst Merthyr were also content to take the same reward.