22nd November 2025
National League North - Matchday 18
Attendance 1,084

Merthyr Town 6 Vs Alfreton Town 2

Merthyr scored six unanswered goals (including another(!) Ricardo Rees hattrick) to record their sixth league win on the bounce, as they came back from a 2 - 0 deficit against Alfreton Town.

It was the away side that took a surprising 2 - 0 lead against a lacklustre Martyrs team, before the home side took control of the game and ran away with the match.

The Martyrs made one change to the side that started the fantastic win against South Shields, with Livermore missing through suspension and being replaced by Lee Lucas. It was a welcome return to Kieran Evans, who was on the bench following a spell on the sidelines through injury.

It was Alfreton who started the strongest, pressing the Martyrs at every opportunity which resulted in a number of sloppy passes and loss of possession. It only took six minutes for the first goal to be scored, with a ball put over the top of the defence to the advancing Salmon who was clumsily brought down by the retreating Ryan-Phillips in the area. A clear penalty with Beck slotting the spotkick down the middle past Cogman.

A few moments later it was 2 - 0 to the visitors, with Salmon again involved as he crossed the ball to Ligendza in the middle of the box, who looked to mishit his shot with it rolling past Cogman. The Merthyr supporters were stunned inside silence as their league winning streak was on the verge of disappearing.

Alfreton continued to press forward, with Beck using his height to cause numerous issues for both Harris and Ryan-Phillips as they looked to score a third. Salmon then decided to give Tom Daly a run for his money with a superb dive as they continued to put pressure on the home side. Merthyr were lacking any kind of urgency and didn’t even test Burgoyne until the 33rd minute when they hit the post after a deflected shot.

It was a minute later when Merthyr got their first, with the ball recycled back to Twamley on the left who put in a dangerous cross that wasn’t cleared by the scrambling defence. Jarvis struck the ball first time which hit the diving Burgoyne, but squirmed under him to get the Martyrs back into the game.

It was now a different game with Alfreton surprisingly putting 10 men behind the ball and Merthyr looking to equalise before the break. Rees and Jarvis went close but it was Rees who got the home side back on level terms. Jarvis put in a cross from the right that beat both of the CBs and landed at Rees at the back post. He let it bounce before lobbing Burgoyne with a left footed shot to erase Alfreton’s two goal lead.

It was almost three with Handley unleashing a solid shot after picking up the ball outside of the box but Burgoyne produced a great save to keep the game level. Alfreton were no doubt disappointed to let a two goal lead slip, but Merthyr would definitely be the happier following a dismal first 20 minutes.

After the break there was only one team in the match, with Merthyr playing with much needed urgency and stretching a tired Alfreton all over the park. Rees went close from distance early on, before Jarvis stepped up to give the Martyrs a deserved lead. Great play through Twamley and Lucas allowed the ball to be pinged into Jarvis, who took a touch on the edge of the area and smashed his shot past Burgoyne. Scenes.

Smerdon was starting to be given a lot of space on the left, which allowed him to slot Rees though on goal but his shot was again saved. The home side's domination was starting to tell as chance after chance was falling to the Martyrs and Twamley was continually driving from the middle of the pitch and causing the visitors defence numerous issues.

Despite being a goal up, it felt like a fourth was needed and Rees was happy to oblige on 82 minutes. Handley was set free on the right before crossing to Rees, who was given room to control and slot to Burgoyne’s top right. The floodgates then opened as everytime the Martyrs went forward it felt like they would score.

Twamley scored his first after ghosting into the area and was again found by Handley, before coolly slotting past Burgoyne. Rees was then able to complete his hattrick, after Twamley scooped the ball over Hunt for Smalley to flick the header onto Rees, who took it on the outside of his right foot past the sprawling Burgoyne. Goal number 21 for the National League North's top goalscorer.

A real Jekyll and Hyde performance from the Martyrs, with a first half to forget but a second half that shows what they can do when they are on it. That’s six league wins on the bounce and all eyes turn to Tuesday when bottom club Leamington visit Penydarren Park. Can we make it seven!?!?

UP THE TOWN

Gavin Burns