Merthyr Town 1, Chesham United 0
Jarrad Wright fired Merthyr Town’s winning goal with his first touch at Penydarren Park.
In a fiercely contested Southern League clash Chesham United had failed to take a golden opportunity to score when Martyrs goalkeeper Oliver Davies saved a penalty.
Wright was sent on as a second half substitute and score the only goal of the match after 75 minutes.
Merthyr had just made a double substitution with Wright and Kyle Patten taking over from Kyle Copp and Ryan Prosser. Copp was making his first appearance in a home match for more than 15 months.
The substitution paid off immediately when Merthyr mounted an attack down the right and Wright ran into the area and slotted past the keeper.
Chesham were dealt another blow two minutes later when they had a player sent off for a second bookable offence.
Merthyr’s win extended their unbeaten run to 11 matches and their next test is at fifth-placed Slough Town on Saturday (3pm).
The Martyrs are still in second place, just behind leaders Chippenham Town.
They have now played 16 League fixtures at home this season, winning 11 and drawing five to earn 38 points from a possible 48.
There is only one automatic promotion place available with the next four teams qualifying for the play-offs and all five of the leading clubs won.
With Eliot Richards missing due to injury Kyle Copp came into the starting lineup for the first time, with player-manager Gavin Williams along the substitutes.
An early opening for the Martyrs came when Ashley Evans was fouled on the right of midfield in the Chesham half. Scott Barrow swung in the free-kick and Kayne McLaggon had a free header which was kept out by goalkeeper Ashlee Jones.
There was an almost identical situation five minutes later when Barrow’s kick being met by McLaggon with a diving header, but the ball flew across goal and wide of the far post.
After 15 minutes Chesham were awarded a penalty which came after a throw goalkeeper Davies to Curtis McDonald on the left. But McDonald mis-controlled and was robbed by a Chesham player who ran into the area and was brought down by Ashley Evans.
For the second time in three home games Oliver Davies was the hero, going down full length to his left to push away the spot kick.
The game was ebbing and flowing with centre-forward Ryan Prosser winning nearly everything in the air.
Keyon Reffell squared the ball for Prosser to fire in a shot from close to the penalty spot, but that was headed away by a defender.
Wright’s goal gave Merthyr the edge and with McLaggon playing a lone role up front, supported from midfield by substitute Corey Jenkins and Reffell, they saw the game out safely against 10 men.
Merthyr Town: O Davies, C McDonald, A Evans, S Tancock, A Davies, K Copp (J Wright 74), K Reffell, K McLaggon, R Prosser (K Patten 74), I Traylor (C Jenkins 75).
EvoStik Southern League
Premier Division – top 10 only
All teams play 46 matches
Pl GD Pts
1 Chippenham Town 34 +33 72
2 Merthyr Town 34 +38 68
3 Hitchin Town 32 +28 67
4 Leamington 32 +32 65
5 Slough Town 32 +25 64
6 Banbury United 34 +21 57
7 Frome Town 33 +13 55
8 Chesham United 30 +20 52
