Cardiff Met FC 0, Merthyr Town 1
Ian Traylor fired his 179th goal for Merthyr Town and earned a stunning away win against Welsh Premier League Cardiff Met.
‘Traylz’ struck after four minutes, guiding a header into the far corner, from a superb cross by Lee Lucas at Cyncoed Campus.
The Met students, who played in the Europa League this season, will feel they should have done better to stop one of the smallest players on the pitch heading a goal. But the cross from Lucas was spot on and Traylor is deadly when he finds space near goal.
Former Hereford goalkeeper Alex Harris played the first 67 minutes for the Martyrs Cameron Clarke took over.
“That was our toughest pre-season match yet,” said Harris. “Cardiff Met are sharper and fitter than teams we have played before because they were back in training early for European football.
“We had the better of the game and it was a good outing for the lads. They are in great shape and listening to what Cam (Clarke) and I are telling them.
“Our next match is a local derby against Penydarren and we’ll certainly be up for that.”
Gethyn Hill and Owain Jones both went close to extending Merthyr’s lead at Cardiff Met, while the home teams best chance came when Mael Davies shot wide from the edge of the penalty area.
The Martyrs were due to play Newport County at home on Tuesday, but that fixture has been called off due to player unavailability for the Exiles.
Merthyr take on Penydarren BGC at the MetCoiaches Stadium on Thursday (7.30pm) and then head to Market Harborough in Leicestershire where they play United Counties Premier club Harborough Town at their Bowdon Park stadium.
Merthyr Town: Alex Harris (Cameron Clarke 67), Adam Davies (capt), Craig McDonnell, Jarrad Wright, Lewis Binns (Owen Evans 57), Owain Jones (Jamie Bird 49), Lee Lucas, Kieran Lewis (Ashley Evans 46), Ian Traylor (Cameron Duncan 57), Gethyn Hill (Tom Meecham 57), Ben Swallow. Subs not used: Morgan, Williams.
Merthyr Town pre-season fixtures:
July
Saturday 6 Merthyr Town 2, Swansea City Under-23s 0
Saturday 13 v Abercwmboi (Home, 3pm). Alzheimer’s charity match
Tuesday 16 Merthyr Town 4, Cwmbran Celtic 3
Saturday 20 Cardiff Met 0, Merthyr Town 1
Tuesday 23 Cancelled v Newport County (Home, 7.30pm)
Thursday 25 v Penydarren BGC (Home, 7.30pm)
Saturday, 27 v Harborough Town (Away, 3pm)
Wednesday 31 v Aberfan (Away, kick-off TBC)
August
Friday 2 v Penybont FC (Home, 7.30pm
Merthyr Town FC’s full 2019/20 BetVictor Southern League Premier South fixture list:
AUGUST
Sat 10 – Harrow Borough (A)
Tue 13 – Weston-Super-Mare (H)
Sat 17 – Gosport Borough (H)
Sat 24 – Farnborough (A)
Mon 26 – Swindon Supermarine (H)
Sat 31 – Metropolitan Police (A)
SEPTEMBER
Wed 4 – Southern Football League Cup preliminary round
Sat 7 – Emirates FA Cup Qualifying Round 1
Sat 14 – Chesham United (H)
Wed 18 – Tiverton Town (A)
Sat 21- Emirates FA Cup Qualifying round two
Sat 28 – Walton Casuals (A)
OCTOBER
Wed 2 – Southern Football League Cup round one
Sat 5 – Wimborne Town (H)
Sat 12 – Blackfield & Langley (H)
Tue 15 – Dorchester Town A
Sat 19 – Beaconsfield Town (A)
Tue 22 – Salisbury (H)
Sat 26 – Buildbase FA Trophy Qualifying round one
NOVEMBER
Sat 2 – Truro City (A)
Wed 6 – Southern Football League Cup round two
Sat 9 – Taunton Town (H)
Sat 16 – Poole Town (A)
Sat 23 – Hayes & Yeading United (H)
Sat 30 – Hartley Wintney (H)
DECEMBER
Wed 4 – Southern Football League Cup Round 3
Sat 7 – Hendon A
Sat 14 – Walton Casuals (H)
Sat 21 – Wimborne Town (A)
Thu 26 – Yate Town (H)
JANUARY
Wed 1 – Swindon Supermarine (A)
Sat 4 – Harrow Borough (H)
Wed 8 – Southern Football League Cup Round 4
Sat 11 – Weston-Super-Mare A
Sat 18 – Farnborough (H)
Sat 25 – Gosport Borough (A)
FEBRUARY
Sat 1 – Metropolitan Police (H)
Sat 8 – Chesham United (A)
Sat 15 – Dorchester Town (H)
Wed 19 – League Cup Semi-Finals
Sat 22 – Blackfield & Langley (A)
Sat 29 – Beaconsfield Town (H)
MARCH
Wed 4 – Emirates FA Cup 5
Sat 7 – Salisbury (A)
Sat 14 – Taunton Town (A)
Sat 21 – Truro City (H)
Wed 25 League Cup Final 1st Leg
Sat 28 Hayes & Yeading United A
APRIL
Wed 1 – League Cup Final 2nd Leg
Sat 4 – Poole Town (H)
Sat 11 – Tiverton Town (H)
Mon 13 – Yate Town (A)
Sat 18 – Hartley Wintney (A)
Sat 25 – Hendon (H)
