Narrow for Harrow!

Merthyr Town hosted Harrow Borough this afternoon at Penydarren Park. On the eve of my birthday, my local side made the trip to my welsh club. How fitting. Ahead of this game the visitors had been on poor form. Since losing away to Portsmouth in the FA Cup the Middlesex side have been winless in four, seeing them exist both the Middlesex cup and the FA trophy. A win was needed to boost moral desperately. The host have had a worse time this season, hardly winning all year. Back-to-back losses on the road to Gosport and Salisbury was their build up to this fixture.

When the game kicked off Merthyr Town looked significantly better. Something no one in the ground expected, including their own supporters. Matching Harrow man for man in the opening exchanges. However, the Welsh outfit were forced to make a sub very early on. Connor Davies came on Cameron Keetch. Seventeen minutes in Corey Shephard had his effort go just wide of the post, after he made space for himself outside the box. Giving Martyrs fans a reason to cheer. Another good attempt from Merthyr came moments later. Curtis Hutson forcing Josh to an inch perfect save, which he has been pulling off since joining the club. Finding a good passage of play Harrow Borough got the first goal of the game. Created by George Moore the ball landed in the path of James Ewington, before he put it into the net via the keepers’ legs. Twenty-four minutes in. One the young shot stopper would want to forget. Firing ahead in Wales lifted the Harrow squad, players playing with an extra spring in their step. Eager to get a second on the scoreboard soon. No one getting closer than Kunle Otudeko.

At the break Harrow Borough were narrowly in front. Holding off a rejuvenated Merthyr team, which are desperate to get some points on the league table. Much better than their previous outings. Play got back underway as Kerry Morgan entered the pitch. His appearance bringing the game alive in the fifty-nineth minute, helping the host build up better passing. But it was not meant to be for Merthyr Town. On the sixty-nineth minute Kunlee Otudeko doubled the guest lead, finishing fantastically after creating space. Heads dropping once again as the Martyrs squad came back to reality. Good times now seem so good. It wasn’t all doom and gloom for them, Alex John handing them a ray of hope with a shot that went wide of the post. Very late on Dylan Jones pulled one back for the home team. Shooting into the bottom corner after making a turn. It was too little too late.

In conclusion it was amazing to be back in the valleys. Could not have asked for a better game. Both sides offered a lot going forward, and stayed strong at the back. Making this a great encounter. Perfect game for the neutral. James Ewington once again showing why he is a football league player, and Dylan Jones opening up his Merthyr Town account.