Merthyr Town 2-1 Sholing

Scorers : Kieran Evans 64, Byron Mason OG 67 / Dan Mason 56

Date: Saturday 26 August 2023, 3pm – Southern League Premier South

Venue: Penydarren Park   Attendance: 844

Merthyr Town : Jaimie Cogman, Thomas Handley, Callum Ryan-Phillips, Jack Evans, Frazer Thomas (Thomas Stokes 83), Alex John, Oliver Mehew (Aneurin Livermore 80), Ricardo Rees, Joseph Keeping (Keiran Evans 59), Noah Smerdon, Matt Harris ©  Unused subs : Joseph Woodiwiss, Will Fuller

Bookings :  Callum Ryan-Phillips, Jack Evans

Sholing : Ryan Gosney, Jake Flannigan, Jake Adams, Rob Flooks, Tyler Edmondson (Charlie Fox 46), Charlie Wagstaffe, Wayne Robinson, Byron Mason ©, Dan Mason, Jake Hesketh (Owen Roundell 62), Jake Cope. Unused subs : Ryan Harfield, Mark Gamble, Theo Widger

Bookings : Charlie Wagstaffe, Jake Adams, Rob Flooks
Red Card : Rob Flooks (2nd yellow)

Sholing Man of the Match : Ryan Gosney

An incredible display of Goalkeeping by Ryan Gosney, sadly wasn't enough as the injury hit Boatmen slipped to defeat at top of the table Merthyr.  Dan Mason put us in front in the 2nd half, but the home side scored twice in quick succession to turn it around.

Team News : Brad Targett joined the growing injury list that contains Dan Miller, TJ Cuthbertson, Pete Castle, Alex Sawyer & Marv McLean.  Diapes remarked before hand he'd never experienced a start of the season with so many injuries and considering this was his 1,200th game in charge, that's saying something.  However, you have to roll up your sleeves and get on with it and we were boosted by the return of the skipper, Byron Mason.

A friendly welcome greeted us at Merthyr after the 160 mile journey.  The ground is a cracking old school stadium with a big covered terrace along one side that has seen some historic games in the past when the previous incarnation of the club had some glory nights in European Competition. 

Boatmen almost took the lead inside 30 seconds when the ball broke to D-Dan on the edge of the box and his low shot was tipped round the post at full stretch by Cogman.  It was end to end early on, with Merthyr's Ricardo rounding Gosney, but Rob Flooks was back on the line to clear for a corner.

Charlie Wagstaffe won possession 25 yards out and spotted the keeper off his line, but his lifted effort just cleared the bar.   A nice one-two between Robinson & Dan Mason saw Wayne in on the right, but off balance, he blazed over.

The home side started to take control for the final 15 mins of the half and we had to be thankful to Ryan Gosney to go into the break still level.  Remarkably, in the space of 2 minutes, Gos pulled off two double saves.  The first one at his near post, beating away two strong point blank efforts and then saving two more goalbound shots straight after.   We rode that storm and went close ourselves just before half time when Jake Hesketh skipped away from a challenge to run infield and curl a 22 yard shot inches over.   HT 0-0

Diapes made a change for the 2nd half, Edmondson going off, Charlie Fox coming on with Byron slotting back into central defence.  

Sholing, who had a height advantage over Merthyr at set pieces, finally put it to good use to take the lead on 56 minutes.  A freekick out by the left corner of the box was curled in by Jake Hesketh and met with a well timed header by DAN MASON for his 274th goal for the Boatmen.

Both sides made changes and it was the Merthyr sub who would come on and equalise 5 minutes after entering the pitch.  We lost possession in midfield and the home side quickly broke down the right, the first effort on goal was beaten out, but Kieran Evans was there to smash the ball in off the underside of the crossbar.

Roared on by the large boisterious crowd behind Gosney's goal, Merthyr continued their neat and fast approach play on the 3G surface and would take the lead.  Once again, a great save by Gosney, but when the ball was recycled a fired in cross unfortunately was turned in by Byron Mason for an own goal.

It got worse for the Boatmen on 71 mins as the referee saw something that no one else did and deemed it worthy of a second yellow card for Rob Flooks.  A baffling decision.

Was hard enough to keep a rampant Merthyr at bay with a full compliment of players, so the 10 men worked so hard to keep ourselves in the game, again helped by some superb goalkeeping by Gos.  He tipped a freekick that looked destined for the bottom corner, round his post and then made another instinctive reaction block.

For all that pressure by the home side, we did have chances to nick a point near the end.  Jake Adams' cross from the left was flicked on by Jake Cope to the unmarked Dan Mason, but his header cleared the bar.   In added time, Wayne was fouled right on the edge of the box, but Adam's freekick clipped the wall and went for a corner.  Gosney came up and almost made it a fairytale ending as the ball dropped to him in the Merthyr area, but he couldn't get the shot off and the ref blew the final whistle.    FT 2-1

Special mention to those supporters who made the long trip today. It's much appreciated.

Dave Diaper : "Not going to lie, I thought we deserved a point yesterday against a very good side and the current league leaders.  It was always going to be difficult when we went down to 10 men, but we did have chances to equalise late in the game.   Couldn't ask any more of this group of players as they once again, worked hard against the odds.  However, the quicker we get players back fit, the better.  On the positive side, it's another long away trip out the way and now we move onto another tough game on Monday at home to Gosport. Come support the Boys!"

Next Game : Sholing v Gosport Borough - Bank Holiday Monday 3pm - Southern Premier