Won 1-0 not a great first half livened up in second when subs Phillips and Taylor came on and Taylor desevedly scored his first goal for the Bluebirds.

Leamington drew 0-0 at home to Weymouth.

Hungerford 3 3 St Neots ko 3.50 due to St Neots arriving late. Doubt if they'll get fined as they seem to have the FA in their pocket.

Agree with Inside & CB. It wasn't a classic, we seemed disjointed and the football did not flow atall in the first half.
Merthyr came with a defencesive game plan and tried to keep the game narrow & tight. The second half playing down the slope we took the game to Merthyr getting the ball out wide, opening up the pitch, bringing Guthrie, Smith & Bally into the game allowing them to take on there defenders. It did look beter when Phillo & Taylor came on, the goal looked like it was coming with Fergie blazing over a fantastic flowing move from close range. It was good to see Oli Taylor getting the winner, he looks young & raw but gives us something different. He is a big lad and im sure he will score goals for us. With the start we have made teams are definitely setting up differently against us and showing us more respect. We are now a team that is very difficult to beat. A big week for us with Weymouth away on Tuesday, and the F A cup game at Bradford on Saturday. It would be great to see a large travelling support at Bradford, and 2 good results.   

Last edited by Jono (20/9/2015 11:23 AM)

Charlie Bird wrote:

The Merthyr forum has some 'interesting' comments about our ground and players. Hope the one about Kent isn't true. I have no idea how to hyperlink so apologies.

http://mtfcforum.team-talk.net/t3153-goodbite-mr-chips

Thoughts on the game after a while away from good old Hardenhuish Park. We definitely look better under Collier than we have looked under previous managers in the past few years. I think a fitting tribute to how loudly I shouted for his appointment prior to Nathan Rudge's time in charge. Kent Kauppinen could well be the best distributor of the ball from goal I have ever seen at CTFC and he didnt look bad between the sticks either (I'm reffering to the Merthyr player in on goal at 0-0 and stopped well with his legs). Bally looked stronger in defense than I would have given him credit for before the game as I have only seen him as a striker and a replacement Ross Stearn at Right Wing for a season. Sadly I do think the wingers left a lot to be desired in terms of service to the box. Ballinger looked afraid to run at players which is something I enjoyed watching him do in previous spells and James Guthrie seems to have re discovered his knack for getting pushed off the ball too easily and having no final product. Ashan Holgate was poor before he was replaced and rightly so I think. He had several chances to make an impact with a goal sadly looked very uncomfortable in front of goal and Chippenhams downfall was a real lack of what I would call a Striker, someone who isnt afraid to shoot on sight and take a few chances instead of walk the ball through. Defence held brilliantly throughout the match and thought just behind Kent, Greg Tindle could well have been M-o-M for me. Oli Taylor looked sharp when he came on and will win a lot in the air. If he can hold the ball up well and chip in with a few assists and a few goals then Chippenham will definitely have acquired an asset in him. Also the ability to play as a target man will bring Ballinger and Guthrie into the game more as Taylor looks for the lay off and run to the box which is clearly the way a man of his height will operate. Good signing I think from MC but time will tell, he may well get his chance until Sandell returns because it is very clear that without Sandell and lacking many other options we look very shot shy and will struggle for goals against better teams. All in all very happy with the overall performance of the team special mention to Alex Ferguson because aside from the sitter he missed in the second half that should have put us 1-0 up I thought he looked like the spark that could turn the game. Roll on Saturday and roll on Bradford in the F.A Cup. Cannot take them lightly considering the job they have already done on a strong Hungerford side, but MC is no fool and I am certain this would already have been a topic of discussion in the dressing room. Big game, Big Money involved for non-league teams lets go out and grab it!!