Town pick up valuable point at Merthyr

STRATFORD Town picked up a valuable point as they held promotion hopefuls Merthyr to a 1-1 draw at Penydarren Park on Saturday, writes Rod Abrahams.

Edwin Ahenkorah's fourth goal of the season gave Town a half-time lead, but Merthyr equalised through Ian Traylor midway through the second half.

Stratford would have even secured a shock victory when Mike Taylor was brought down by Curtis McDonald for what appeared to be a certain penalty, but it was denied by referee Darren Wilding to the disbelief of the Town supporters.

There were two changes from the team that were beaten by Slough in the week.

Dan Summerfield came in at right back against his former club, and Ben Stephens started his first game. Donnell Benjamin was ill, Guy Clark was at a wedding, wile Jamie Sheldon is no longer available due to personal commitments. Dior Angus is the subject of a seven-day approach from Redditch United.

Charlie Faulkner and Charlie Evans, made up the substitutes' bench with Mike Taylor and Trey Brathwaite.

An early chance for Town in the third minute arrived when Ben Stephens chased down a Richard Gregory chip over the Merthyr rear guard, but keeper Garner was alert to clear the danger.

Merthyr started to probe the Town defence and when a cross-field ball picked out the lively Kayne McLaggon on the left, in the ninth minute, he cut inside and fired a curling strike towards the top corner, but Town keeper Niall Cooper acrobatically tipped it over.

Two minutes later, McLaggon played in Eliot Richards who looked as if he would score, but a fantastic last-ditch tackle from Dan Summerfield cleared the danger.

Stratford had a great chance to go in front in the 17 minute when Edwin Ahenkorah latched on to a poor pass from the Merthyr defence, but with only keeper Garner to beat, his weak shot was an easy saver for the keeper.

Town were unlucky not to go in front five minutes later, when a header by Liam Francis from Will Grocott's corner was scrambled off the line and the loose ball went to Grocott, who struck a shot that keeper Garner tipped over at full stretch.

Cooper saved a close range effort from McLaggon, but it was Town who went close again in the 26 minute, when Richard Gregory latched onto Cooper's long punt and from 30 yards and he smashed a volley which went inches wide of the post.

However, five minutes later it was Town who took the lead, when Simeon Tulloch's pass sent Ahenkorah in on goal. The striker made no mistake this time as he fired the ball into the bottom corner past the advancing Garner to put Town 1-0 up.

Merthyr responded with a deflected shot from McLaggon coming down on the roof of the net and Cooper made a good save from a Curtis McDonald header from Ian Traylor's corner.

In the second half, Stratford’s chances were limited as the home side pressed for an equaliser.

Gregory just failed to get on the end of a cross from Stephens ten minutes in and a free-kick by Ahenkorah was hit straight at the keeper.

The home side got back on level terms in the 63 minute, but were somewhat fortunate.

A cross from the left was deflected, which Town failed to clear and the loose ball being stab in by Ian Traylor who looked to be in an offside position, as the deflection had come off a Merthyr player, but again there was no response from the officials and the goal stood.

The last chance for Stratford came 12 minutes from time, when a Grocott free-kick flashed across the face of the Merthyr goal and just wide of the far post, with no player getting the vital touch.

Merthyr pressed for a winning goal as they were awarded several fortuitous free-kicks, sub Gavin Williams fired one at Cooper, while Scott Barrow's kick found McLaggon, but he was closed out by Town's defenders.

Merthyr nearly grabbed a winner with six minutes left when a looping header by Jarrad Wright from a Traylor corner hit the Town bar, but Francis was on hand to clear the danger.

A minute later, danger man McLaggon forced Cooper to save with his legs when he shot from a tight angle following a powerful run into the Town box.

With the clock running down, Town played out the final few minutes keeping Merthyr at bay to claim an excellent and hard-earned point.

Stratford Town: Cooper, Summerfield, Westwood, Fry (c), Francis, Fitzharris, Tulloch, Grocott, Gregory (Taylor 67), Ahenkorah, (Evans 87) Stephens, (Faulkner 67). Sub not used: Brathwaite.

Merthyr Town: Garner, Tancock, Barrow, Wright, McDonald, Baggridge, (Williams 58), Prosser, Richards, McLaggon, Reffell, Traylor, (Jenkins 87). Subs not used: Jones, Davies.