Merthyr Town 3 Darlington 1

Goals: Harris 34 mins, 1-0,Cox 36 mins, 2-0, Maskell 68 mins 2-1, Smerdon 80 mins 3-1

Quakers went down 3-1 at Merthyr after playing all but 16 minutes of the game with ten men after Tye Barton was sent off.

The full back was dismissed for a foul, and the home side took advantage by scoring twice before half time.

But Quakers rallied really well in the second half and created several good chances before Jack Maskell scored his seventh of the season, and just when it looked as if they would get an equaliser, Merthyr scored a third.

The match started in heavy rain with Quakers kicking against the breeze.

Quakers had the first half chance. A long clearance by Darryl Ombang wasn’t cleared by the Merthyr defence, and the ball dropped for Aidan Rutledge, who beat a defender and his attempted chip went a yard over the top.

Ben Hedley and Tom Allan then combined well down the left, and the full back’s cross was gathered by keeper Jamie Cogman.

Merthyr had their first chance on 8 minutes, a shot on the turn from the edge of the box by Cawley Cox that Darryl Ombang saved at the foot of his left hand post.

Quakers gained a free kick for a foul on Max Howells just outside the box on 14 minutes, but Tye Barton’s effort from Tom Allan’s free kick was blocked.

Quakers were reduced to ten men on 16 minutes when Tye Barton was shown red for a foul challenge midway inside the Merthyr half,  so Max Howells went to right back.

Despite the disadvantage, Quakers nearly took the lead on 28 minutes. Rutledge helped a long clearance on from Ombang for Allan to have a shot blocked for a corner, which saw Quakers penalised for a foul in the six yard box.

Merthyr had a half chance when Jarvis picked the ball up about 25 yards out and hit a left foot shot that Ombang parried away. 

But Merthyr took the lead on 34 minutes, a corner came over from the left and Matthew Harris headed home.

Two minutes later, it was 2-0, when Cox hit a right foot shot that flew past Ombang into the net.

Quakers response was to replace Aiden Rutledge with Tom Platt

Half time: Merthyr 2 Darlington 0

Now playin with three at the back, Quakers had a chance at the start of the second half when McGowan and Platt combined on the right for Platt to cross into the middle, and Maskell headed just wide.

They had another chance on 54 minutes when they kept the ball I on the right, and Paddy McLaughlin had a left foot shot well saved by Cogman.

And from the corner that followed, Hedley headed the ball back at the far post for Lees to have a header cleared off the line.

Merthyr’s first chance of the second half was a curling shot by Ricardo Rees that went just wide of the right hand post.

Quakers made a sub on 67 minutes, Charlie Lennon coming on for Allan, and there was instant response, when Lennon crossed for Jack Maskell to head home.

Ellis Stanton then came on for McLaughlin.

Quakers thought that Merthyr should have had a man sent off for a foul on Tom Platt which looked similar to the Barton red card, but the referee only showed yellow.

And they nearly levelled on 72 minutes when Lennon caused chaos again in the area, the keeper could only parry the ball and Howells following up, fired just wide.

Merthyr though went 3-1 up when they scored from another setpiece, Noah Smerdon heading in from a right wing corner

Quakers made another sub on 80 minutes, Matty Cornish coming on for Toby Lees, but they couldn't break through.

Final score: Merthyr 3 Darlington 1

Team: Ombang, Barton, Lees (Cornish 81), Barrow, Hedley, McGowan, McLaughlin (sub Stanton 69), Howells, Allan (sub Lennon 67), Rutledge (sub Platt 40), Maskell.

Subs:   

Red card: Barton 17 mins

Merthyr

Cogman, Ryan-Phillips, Livermore, Jarvis, Rees, Twamley, Spiers, Evans, Smerdon, Harris, Cox

Subs: Harris, Handley, Smalley, Williams, Lewis, Sambu, Lucas