Cardiff City teenagers Connor Davies and Dan Martin are intent on helping Weston-super-Mare send Merthyr Town crashing out of the Emirates FA Cup.
The two young Bluebirds are on loan at Merthyr’s BetVictor Southern Premier rivals Weston, who entertain the Martyrs in a second qualifying round tie at the Optima Stadium in Somerset on Saturday (3pm).
Attacking right-back Davies, aged 18, and 19-year-old left-back Martin are highly rated Cardiff City Academy players and manager Neil Warnock has sent them out on loan.
Davies, from Cwmbach in Rhondda Cynon Taf, is a former Cwmbach Royal Stars and AFC Llwydcoed player, while Martin started his playing days with Maidstone United in Kent before joining Fulham as a schoolboy at under-8 level.
He stayed with the Cottagers for 10 years before switching to Cardiff City during 2018.
Merthyr defeated Plymouth Parkway 1-0 in the last round and are now intent on making further progress.
Weston manager Scott Bartlett says: “Merthyr are a good teamed Gavin Williams is a quality coach.
“They are coming to Weston, will be playing on a lovely surface and enjoying the tie.”
The Seagulls drew 3-3 against Salisbury at home in midweek, while Merthyr lost 1-0 at second-placed Tiverton.
Weston fought back from 3-2 down to earn a draw against Salisbury thanks to goals from Owen Howe, Nick McCootie and Joel Randall but they had central midfield player Sam Hendy sent off.
“The boys never know when they’re beaten,” said Bartlett. “We could have shut up shop and gone 4-4-1, but we kept two up top and it was a good move because the boys are brave and that’s what they want to do.”
Weston have signed midfield player George Dowling on loan from Bristol City.
