Lifelong Cardiff City fan Gavin Williams will go head-to-head with a former Bluebirds’ player in the Emirates FA Cup second qualifying round.
Craig Davis, who was a Cardiff trainee, is now manager of Southern League club Winchester City, and they have been drawn against Williams’ Merthyr Town team away.
Hampshire club Winchester City play one division below the Martyrs, who won 4-1 at Melksham Town to make progress in the FA Cup.
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Winchester will visit Merthyr at their MetCoaches Stadium on Saturday, September 22 following a reply in their clash with Frome Town.
It was a night of high drama at The Simplyhealth City Ground with Davis and his team going through 2-1 after extra time.
Winchester drew 1-1 at Frome, with Tyrrell Mitford their scorer, and the teams were locked at 1-1 again after 90 minutes in the replay.
Frome’s Kane Simpson and Mitford scored to make it 1-1 in the second game, while both teams missed a penalty.
The deadlock was finally broken 19 minutes into extra time when Connor Cocklin headed home from a corner to put Winchester ahead and Mitford then hit a post.
A floodlight failure left both teams and spectators in the dark, but the stoppage didn’t last long and Winchester held on for victory, while Frome had captain Ricky Scott sent off.
Winchester welcomed Oli Bailey back after a three-match suspension for the clash with Frome and Davis said: “Having Oli back gave us an added threat up front.”
The Citizens are still unbeaten in all competitions this season and are third in Southern League Division One South, level on points with leaders Blackfield and Langley plus Yate Town.
Manager Davis, who lives in Chandler’s Ford, started his career with the Bluebirds and later joined Bashley, AFC Totton, Fleet Town, Salisbury and Gosport, winning Southern League South and West plus the Premier title as a player.
Merthyr are third in the Premier table, level on 13 points with Weymouth and Tiverton Town.
The Martyrs are at home against Metropolitan Police at the MetCoaches Stadium this Saturday (3pm).
Merthyr Town’s early results and fixtures 2018-19 (Southern League Premier unless stated)
August
Saturday 11 v Chesham United (away) Merthyr won 3-0
Tuesday 14 v Swindon Supermarine (home) 2-2
Saturday 18 v Gosport Borough Merthyr won 4-2
Saturday 25 v Farnborough (away) won 1-0
Monday 27 Frome Town (home) lost 1-3
September
Saturday 1 v Walton Casuals (away) won 3-1
Saturday 8 Emirates FA Cup first qualifying round: Melksham Town 1, Merthyr Town 4
Saturday 15 Metropolitan Police (home)
Saturday 22: Emirates FA Cup second qualifying round v Winchester City (home)
Saturday 29 Hartley Wintney (away)
