Bracknell Town v Merthyr Town
9 March 2024
Kick Off:
15:00
3-2
Result:
Sandhurst Memorial Park, Yorktown Road, Sandhurst, Berkshire GU47 9BJ, UK
Match Report:
Twenty four hours after announcing potential new owners, Bracknell put the icing on the cake by completing a league 'double' over the visiting Martyrs, with an identical score as the reverse fixture at Penydarren Park a few weeks earlier. With Liam Angel and Gethyn Hill both unavailable plus Fraser Thomas and Keiran Evans injured, the starting eleven included Joe Woodiwiss, Lewys Twamley and Aneurin Livermore with the return of Tom Stokes from a loan spell and Callum Chivers on the bench.
The remarkable goal scoring form of Tom Handley continued as he scored his thirteenth goal of the season, getting on the end of a Ricardo Rees cross to make no mistake at the far post providing the visitors with the lead after just eleven minutes. However, this advantage only lasted four minutes as poor defending allowed centre back Ashley Lodge to head home Abisogun's cross at the back stick.
Facing the worst possible start to the second half the Martyrs were soon facing another up hill battle as Great Evans scored his first goal for Bracknell in the 49th minute from inside the box. However, in the face of adversity it was once again leading goal scorer Ricardo Rees who restored parity, scoring his 50th goal for the Club just three minutes later.
With the game finally poised disaster struck for the home side with the dismissal of Joseph Grant in the 75th minute, for a second yellow card. With the Martyrs unable to take advantage of the extra man the scores remained level until the 6th minute of added time, when the referee award a soft looking penalty to Bracknell, which was converted by Ashley Lodge to condemn the visitors to their sixth defeat from the last eight games.