Merthyr Town travel to Stratford Town for their second Southern League Premier Division mach on Tuesday (7.45pm).
The Martyrs fought out a goalless draw at home against Hitchin Town and now hit the road in search of a first victory.
Jarrad Wright and Kyle Copp with went close to scoring a winner for Merthyr at the Loadlok Community Stadium, but they weren’t able to score the goal needed.
There were plenty of positives for manager Gavin Williams including the encouraging debut of young full-back Cameron Pring, signed on loan from Bristol City, and the clean sheet kept by goalkeeper Oliver Davies.
Williams sent on Ashley Evans, Jaye Bowen and Kerry Morgan in an effort to gain the upper hand, but Hitchin stayed strong and went home happy with a hard-earned away point.
Stratford manager Carl Adams, a former Birmingham City, Northampton and Stevenage player, was delighted with their 2-1 win at Premier Division new boys Royston in their opening fixture.
Ben Stephens and Lee Thomas scored Stratford’s goals and Adams said: “It was a fantastic performance from everyone.
“We scored two great goals and we thoroughly deserved to win against a side who ran away with the Central division last season.
“It was tight in the end and we brought some of that pressure on ourselves when we went down to 10 players, but in those closing minutes Liam Francis was a real man mountain for us as we had to battle right through to the final whistle.”
Stratford goalkeeper Louis Connor made a brilliant early save before Stephens headed a Lee Thomas cross into the far corner.
John Frendo equalised for Royston before Thomas smashed home a first time shot from Will Grocutt’s pass.
The home team led 2-1 at half-time and there were no goals in a second half which both teams had a player sent off.
Royston’s Adam Murray grabbed Loviso Recci after the pair clashed. Murray was sent off, Recci booked.
The game threatened to get out of hand with three players booked in the next 10 minutes, while Recci was booked again on 80 minutes and was dismissed.
Royston pressed hard, but Francis and Andy Gallinan stayed strong and solid at the back.
Stratford now entertain Merthyr Town at their MoodChimp Stadium on Tuesday evening. Their newly-sponsored hime ground has been named after sponsors MoodChimp, a new social media app based in Stratford.
Merthyr Town (v Stratford, from): O Davies, A Davies, C Pring, R Patten, J Wright (capt), S Tancock, C Jenkins, E Richards, S Fleetwood, K Copp, I Traylor, B Watkins, K Morgan, M Harris, A Evans, J Bowen.
