Welsh F.A. Cup

2nd Qualifying Round

Friday 23rd July 2021

Kick Off 19.00. On Time !

Merthyr Saints 0 Penydarren Boys & Girls Club 3, attendance 443

7’ 0-1 (pen)

32’ 0-2

53’ 0-3

@ I.C.I. Rifle Fields

Bryniau Road

Pant

Merthyr Tydfil

CF48 2SR

£3 Admission

£1 Programme, 28 pages (2 blank). Very poor and a waste of money.

Back on 24th August 2002 I saw Merthyr Saints lose 1-3 to Bridgend Town in a Welsh League Division 2 match. When looking from the clubhouse/changing room building, the pitch used that day was to the right (Still there, the two photos below taken tonight). During the last year or so, the pitch 50 yards to the left has been developed, now being fully railed off and floodlit, as well as having a seated stand on the far side.

Tonight’s match was a local derby, as South Wales Alliance League Premier Division (Tier 4) hosted Ardal League South West (Tier 3). The visitors took the lead with a penalty after seven minutes, but it looked like they would really have to work hard to hold on, after they had a man red carded just 24 minutes in, but they still led 0-1 at the break. Six minutes into the second half they doubled their lead, the home ‘keeper spilling a free kick which was tapped in from close range, then two minutes later it was 0-3, this time the ‘keeper being beaten by a shot at his near post. Saints never looked like ever getting back into it, even with the extra man and they were easily beaten by a team who outfought them in all departments.

As with last Friday, the traffic on the trip down to Wales was horrendous. I left home at 12.30, taking an hour and a half to drive to the meeting point in Slough. It then took just seven minutes short of four hours to cover the 148 miles from there to Merthyr Tydfil.