MERTHYR TOWN FC V WINCHESTER CITY

Merthyr Town moved to the top of the table as they sealed an impressive 3-1 home win against Winchester City despite going down to 10-men.

Kane Simpson opened the scoring for The Martyrs with his fifth goal of the season stretching to get on the end of a pinpoint cross from Lewys Twamley in the 35th minute. Ricardo Rees made it two five minutes later rifling home his eighth goal of the campaign after the ball fell kindly to him following a corner.

Simpson got his second of the game in the 42nd minute controlling a cross from Callum Ryan-Phillips before firing beyond a helpless Luke Cairney in goal.

The hosts headed into the break with a commanding lead with goalkeeper Jaimie Cogman having little to do on what was his 100th appearance for the club.

The away side were given a lift with 15 minutes to play as defender Noah Smerdon was shown a straight red card for Merthyr for denying a goalscoring opportunity. He was caught on the ball just outside his own area before dragging down substitute Simbarashe Mlambo.

Ik Hill narrowed the deficit in the 89th minute tapping home from close range following a deflected cross.

It wasn’t enough as Merthyr held on for all three points extending their unbeaten run in the league to four games.

Star man: Kane Simpson

Match rating: 2/5

Merthyr Town: Jaimie Cogman (GK), Callum Ryan-Phillips, Noah Smerdon, Jay Williams, Matthew Harris © (Tom Handley 56’), Jack Evans, Alex John, Frazer Thomas (Cole Jarvis 74’), Lewys Twamley, Kane Simpson, Ricardo Rees (Kobi Preston-Watkins 89’).
Goals: Kane Simpson 35’ 42’ Ricardo Rees 40’
Red card: Noah Smerdon 75’

Winchester City: Luke Cairney (GK), Joshua McCormick, Daniel King, Oliver Griggs, Callum Buckley, Alex Wilkie, Daniel Jones (Harry Nevins 68’), Luka Chalwell (Simbarashe Mlambo 46’), Thomas Wright, Trevor Caborn, Ik Hill.
Goal: Ik Hill 89’
Yellow card: Luke Cairney 10’

Author: Ben Thomas