A friend hailing originally from the South Coast invited me to travel up to Merthyr to see his non-league team play the Martyrs in the Evo-Stik Southern Premier League. How could I turn down that opportunity? I'm a sucker for non-league football - the authentic game, as far as I'm concerned.
The game itself was lively. Poole were the better side, but Merthyr scored first, on the break, against the run of play. Then just before half-time a Merthyr defender stopped a goal-bound shot with his hand. Red card. Penalty. 1-1.
Second half a Merthyr player lunged in two-footed leaving a Poole midfielder screaming in agony with a broken leg. One of the more horrible things I've seen at a game. Another red card. Down to 9 men, Merthyr soon conceded another - a very good move finished off with a tap in. And then Poole just wasted chance after chance before Merthyr won a late penalty and then saw out the game with some heroic defending to take an unlikely point.
Anyway, here's some photos to give you an idea of what it was like.
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| The correlation of football and religion... |
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| The flag is out ready for the match |
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| Forget live on Sky - now that's a TV gantry! |
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| A mural commemorates Saint Tydfil, martyred in Merthyr |
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| First half goalmouth action |
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| The Merthyr keeper organises his defence as Poole take a corner |
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| Scramble in the goalmouth |
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| The Poole Army cheer on their side, second half |
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