Football: Coach steps up for Martyrs

Nov 22 2007 by David Williams, Rhymney Valley Express

Merthyr Tydfil 3Yate Town 5

MERTHYR’S season of ups and downs continued in dramatic style at Penydarren Park.

The Martyrs came back from the dead at 3-0 down, only to see visitors Yate deal the killer blow.

The first setback for Merthyr came before the game started, when goalkeeper Ashley Morris was ruled out of the match with a suspected fractured ankle.

Coach Gary Haman had to pull the gloves on, and without regular squad members Tareq Khalil, Kristian Dimond, Marcus Griffiths and Tarrant Watkins, manager Garry Shephard must have known his team were in for a hard night.

The Martyrs started poorly and fell behind on four minutes when Dale Griffiths lost the ball on halfway and Craig Davidge crossed for the unmarked Aaron Blackmore to head in from close range.

Worse was to follow three minutes later when Davidge hammered home.

On 23 minutes, the visitors went 3-0 up when another defensive mix-up, this time between Haman and Jamie Rewbury, allowed Josh Klein-Davis to nip in and score with ease.

The Martyrs needed a response and, with time running out in the first half a Gareth Wharton flick-on was headed home by the unmarked Andrew Thomas to start the Merthyr fightback.

Ten minutes after the break, Rewbury thundered a free kick through a crowd of players into the back of the net from 15 yards.

Despite Darren Davies seeing red for two bookable offences, moments later the comeback was complete when Craig Steins fired in a volley from eight yards.

But on 75 minutes the visitors regained the lead when a corner was only partially cleared by the Martyrs defence for Adam Sims to drive in.

The Martyrs went on the offensive looking for an equaliser, but on 88 minutes a neat Blackmore finish condemned Merthyr to only their second defeat at Penydarren Park this season.