Former Derby County and Rotherham United goalkeeper Steven Cann has joined Merthyr Town – and he played a key role in their 4-1 Emirates FA Cup win at Melksham Town.
Cann, aged 30, was born in South Africa, but is a Welsh footballer who played for his country at under-17, under-19 and semi-professional levels.
He has also played for Welsh clubs Aberystwyth Town, Carmarthen Town and Port Talbot Town.
Cann made his debut for the Martyrs against Melksham away in the FA Cup first qualifying round and played a full part in their convincing win.
Merthyr led 3-0 before Melksham hit back from a John Davies free-kick, fired low into the corner from 25 yards.
The home team, playing win black and yellow, fought hard, but Melksham were rocked when they had Warren Maidment sent off during the second half.
Merthyr earn £6,000 prize money from this victory and a place in the second qualifying round with those ties to be played on Saturday, September 22.
Kerry Morgan fired Merthyr ahead after 49 minutes when he was perfectly placed at the far post to tap a low cross from the right wing into the net from close range.
Kieron Lewis provided the cross for Tom Meechan to make it 2-0. It was a decent cross from the left and Meechan made the most of it with an acrobatic, airborne finish from 15 yards.
Substitute Owain Jones, back with the Martyrs from Nuneaton on loan, made it 3-0 when he missed a flowing passing move. Melksham’s defence was ripped apart when Merthyr broke fast and Jones was in place to score when a low pass was played into him from the right.
Davies replied for Melksham, but that proved no more than a consolation with Matthew Harris firing the fourth goal for manager Gavin Williams and his Merthyr team.
Merthyr Town, starting line-up: Steve Cann, Adam Davis, Joe Hunt, Ashley Evans, Jarrad Wright, Kyle Patten, Matthew Harris, Kieron Lewis, Tom Meechan, Kerry Morgan, Ian Traylor.
Melksham Town: Kent Kauppinen, Luke Ballinger, Lee Davidson, Mark Wall, Warren Maidment, Billy Fletcher, Simon Gilbert, Rob Hobbs, Neikell Plummer, Jon Davies, Jamie Lyons. Subs: Karim Rendall, Leigh Rodgers, Billy Gleed, Sayeed Ibrahim, Dan Watts, Nick Evans.
Attendance: 304.
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
Saturday 29 Hartley Wintney (away)
