Page 4 - Yate Town v Merthyr Town 300821

Good afternoon and a very warm welcome to everyone, including the players,
management, directors, and supporters of Merthyr Town, who make the journey
east from Mid Glamorgan today. We hope you enjoy your visit here and wish you a
safe journey home. Martyrs fans will no doubt be hoping for a repeat of last time
the sides met at Penydarren Park when they ran out 2-1 winners on Boxing Day
back in 2019. The reverse fixture never happened due to COVID ending the season
early.On that day Corey Jenkins netted early on 3 minutes with Ian Traylor, who is
in the visiting squad today, adding to the score on 15 minutes. Yate had to settle
for a consolation goal from City loanee Sam Bell.
Three games into the new league season and Yate Town’s short unbeaten run at
the start of the season came to an end as a second half resurgence saw Hayes &
Yeading United battle back from 1-0 down to win 3-1 and maintain their 100%
record so far, which they are the only team in the league to hold.
The home side's enterprising start was rewarded after 21 minutes and it was a case
of third time lucky for striker David Sims-Burgess.

First he smacked the post with a strong header, then shot just over the crossbar
from the edge of the box before powering in Joe Raynes' cross to open the scoring.

A second goal at this stage would have been vital but it was not to be. Ricardo Rees
couldn't direct his header goalwards after Matt Bower had flicked on a free kick and
Rees was then denied by another sprawling save from Jack Smith.

Andy Hannah had a busy end to the first half. He made saves from Omar Rowe and
Moses Emmanuel before blocking an effort from Hassan Jalloh that almost crept in
at the near post.

United's purposeful start to the second half enabled them to level the scores after
fifty-four minutes. Jordan Norville-Williams was given too much room on the left
and his perfect cross was netted with a diving header by Amartey.

The one-way traffic continued as United pushed the ball around comfortably and
further goals inevitably followed.

Jalloh tricked his way into the penalty area before side-footing in the visitors'
second goal just past the hour and later Amos Nasha hammered in the third with
the Yate defence waiting for a stoppage in play with an injured player on the floor.
Our opponents today arrive without a win in their first three league games, with
the most recent result at the time of writing a 3-1 defeat away at Chesham United.
Dave Clarke’s side’s sole point this season was picked up at home to Hartley
Wintney on the opening day with a 2-2 draw, and they followed that up with a 3-1
loss in a tricky away tie at Weston-Super-Mare.