WELSH FOOTBALL ROUNDUP
WESTON SUPER MARE 2 MERTHYR TOWN 1 MERTHYR’S FA Cup journey is over for another season despite a spirited second half comeback in Somerset.
Having arrived late due to traffic Merthyr made a positive start with Ian Traylor and Jamie Veale combining down the right but the latter was unable to find Eliot Richards at the far post before Traylor forced a strong save from Niahl Maher.
Weston came back strongly and on 22 minutes got the breakthrough.
Joel Randall fed George Dowling from a corner and when he stood up a hanging cross Scott Laird headed past Alex Harris.
Ryan Prosser and Ashley Evans had opportunities to bring Merthyr level but just before half time they were caught on the break.
Randell was tackled by Adam Davies but the loose ball fell to Sam Hendy who slid the ball home.
Needing to come out fighting Merthyr did just that at the restart with Richards dragging his 25 yard shot wide of the target.
But, on 63 minutes Merthyr did reduce the arrears.
Veale won the ball in midfield, played in Prosser and the tall striker rifled home.
With the Martyrs going all out to force a replay Prosser fired just over shortly after and on 69 minutes Kyle Patten had a header cleared off the goal line by Weston’s Laird.
Harris used away Greg Tindle’s shot as Weston again threatened on the break before Traylor received a pass from Prosser only to volley wide. Owain Jones looked to have secured a replay three minutes from time as he turned Laird in the box but his shot came back off the woodwork and with it went Merthyr’s cup hopes. JD CYMRU SOUTH HAVERFORDWEST County went top of JD Cymru South on goal difference after they won 2-1 at Cambrian & Clydach – while Llanelli Town were thrashed 6-2 at STM Sports.
A late Sean Pemberton header secured all three points for the Bluebirds after Kurtis Rees’ first half opener had been cancelled out by the home side’s Liam Edwards from the penalty spot.
For Cambrian, who had opened the season with five wins on the bounce, it was a second straight defeat having lost 5-0 at Llanelli last weekend.
Meanwhile for Llanelli, goals from Ryan Hurlow and Kyle Copp could not prevent them from their first defeat of the campaign at promoted STM.
Calum Bateman was at the double for STM with Tom Frick, Ben Ahmun, Lamin Conteh and Josh Graham also on the scoresheet.
Swansea University are the third side now on 16 points from seven matches as they recorded a 4-2 home win against Undy Athletic.
Levi Houapeu bagged himself a brace while Ian Wilson and Nick Hyden grabbed the other goals.
STM and Cambrian are both a point behind the top three.
Elsewhere in the division, a late winner from Lee Trundle snatched a 2-1 victory for Ammanford over Caerau Ely.
James Dixon’s goal on 50 minutes looked to have set the visitors on their way to a first league win, only for Trundle to level with 10 minutes remaining – before then popping up again at the death.
Taffs Well enjoyed a 5-2 win over Pontypridd at Rhiw Dda’r.
Elsewhere first half goals from Kyran Gardner, Harry Davies and Robert Jones fired Llantwit Major to a 3-1 win at Cwmamman United.