December 26, 2025
Today’s Boxing Day entertainment was an early kick-off at Oxford City with a traditional holiday fixture, err…. against Welsh side Merthyr Town !
The early kick-off was presumably an attempt to avoid a clash with Oxford United hosting Southampton, and hope that some U’s fans might attend both games ?
Oxford City Update
After The Hoops unexpectedly beat Darlington 5-1 without fielding a recognised forward, they then had a week’s break due to having been knocked out of the FA Trophy, but named an unchanged side for the pre-Christmas 500 mile round trip to Spennymoor despite their two centre-forwards returning from injury. By most accounts City were unlucky to come away with a just 1-1 draw and the point took Oxford City out of the relegation zone on goal difference, and up to 20th place.
Highly rated 19 year old midfielder O’Shea Ellis had joined on a one month loan from Birmingham City but had remained on the bench at Spennymoor, but would be expected to figure at some point today.
Merthyr Town FC
Merthyr Town were formed in 2010 when Merthyr Tydfil FC were liquidated whilst playing in the step 3 Southern League Premier Division and the new club entered the step 7 Western League Division One.
Merthyr Tydfil had fought to remain in the English pyramid when the Welsh FA formed the League Of Wales in 1992 demanding all Welsh clubs playing in England’s non-league pyramid moved to play in the Welsh League. Merthyr and Newport County, then a non-league side before winning promotion back to the Football League in 2013, were the only sides to remain outside of the Welsh leagues. Caernarfon Town, Colwyn Bay and Barry Town were also initially refusniks, but eventually returned to the Welsh fold.
The price of remaining outside of Welsh football was no longer being able to play in the Welsh Cup. Merthyr’s success in winning the Welsh Cup in 1987, beating Newport County in a replay, led to probably the most famous night in their history when they were drawn against Italian side Atalanta, who included Swedish midfield maestro Glenn Stromberg and future coach of Italy, Claudio Prandelli, in their line-up.
Although Atalanta had just been relegated to Serie B, they qualified for the European Cup Winners Cup by virtue of losing to Italian Cup Final to Napoli, who had done the double. Merthyr were playing at what would be level 7 in England at the time, but a packed Pennydarren Park, officially 8,000 but estimated to be many more, saw the Martyrs pull off one of the shock results in European history as goals from Kevin Rogers and Ceri Williams saw them to a 2-1 victory. Unfortunately, the return was lost 0-2, but the woodwork denied Merthyr extra-time.
Merthyr Town have worked their way up the pyramid and last season won the Southern League Premier Division South to move up to step 2, where along with Oxford City, they have been given the dubious delights of National League North.
Merthyr This Season
Newly promoted Merthyr came into today’s match in 3rd position with a 14-1-7 record and were 7-1-3 away from home. They were the highest scores in the league with 51 goals but had also conceded 38 times. Only four teams, all in the bottom 8 ( including Oxford City ! ), had let in more goals than the Martyrs.
Merthyr arrived on a good run, having won 9 off their last 10 league matches, the only reverse coming at second placed AFC Fylde, when they lost 0-1. This run included home victories of 6-2 over Alfreton and 4-1 against Leamington, and 4-2 and 4-3 away wins over AFC Telford and Bedford respectively.
Merthyr had started the season with two wins but then lost three times in four matches, Marine ( H 1-3 ), Scarborough Athletic ( H 1-3 ) and King’s Lynn ( A 0-4 ) and had another dodgy spell in late September/early October when they lost 0-5 at home to Radcliffe and 4-6 at Spennymoor.
In the FA Cup, Merthyr began with a 4-0 victory over step 5 Torpoint Athletic but then slumped to a 0-1 home defeat to fellow step 2 side Hampton and Richmond Borough.
In the FA Trophy, Merthyr also fell to lower level opposition, going out at home 0-1 to step 3 Hanwell Town.
Merthyr’s average attendance so far this season was 1,367, but that will increase as Tuesday night’s game against Hereford United was already a 4,000 sell-out. The current highest attendance was 1,822 on the August Bank Holiday against Scarborough Athletic.
Merthyr Squad
Ex-Bristol City Under 23 centre-forward Ricardo Rees was the leading scorer in the league with 24 goals. Former Newport County Welsh Under 18 international youth Lewys Twamley had found the net 5 times but also had 13 assists to his name, and right winger Cole Jarvis was also on 5 goals.
Midfielder Lee Lucas was an ex-Welsh Under 21 International, and had played for Swansea, Burton Albion, Cheltenham and Motherwell, whilst midfielder Jack Evans was another former Welsh Under 21 International and had been on the books of Swansea and Newport County. Defender Will Spiers was on loan from Cardiff City and was a current Welsh Under 19 international.
Attacking midfielder Kieran Evans was another former Welsh Under 21 international in Merthyr’s ranks, from his time at Swansea, keeper Jamie Coogan was Australian and joined from Cardiff City, whilst full-back Tom Handley was English, and began his career with Cheltenham Town.
Midfielder Aneurin Livermore was an ex-Welsh Under 19 international and had played for Newport County and defender Jay Williams was a former Welsh Under 21 international and previously with Fulham, and was not to be confused with Crawley Town’s midfield enforcer and yellow card collector !
Previous Meetings
The two sides had played each on four occasions with both sides having one victory. In 2008/09 Merthyr won 4-1 at Court Place Farm but their home game was a 2-2 draw. The following season, a 2-2 draw was played in Oxford but the Hoops won 3-2 at Pennydarren Park.
Watching Merthyr Tydfil
The first time I saw Merthyr Tydfil was in the 1970/71 season when they visited Crawley and won 3-1 in the Southern League Division One, in front of an attendance of 350. Merthyr went on to finish 2nd in the league to be promoted to the Southern League Premier Division. The Merthyr side that afternoon included Gerry Hitchens, who had won 7 caps and scored 5 goals for England. Hitchens had played for Aston Villa, Inter Milan, Torino, Atalanta and Cagliari, and was the first Englishman to play whilst on the books of a foreign club, but his England career ended when Alf Ramsay became manager and picked only home based players. This was one of just games six games Hitchens played for Tydfil.
Merthyr visited Crawley for an FA Cup Fourth Round Qualifying Tie in 1988/89. Crawley were unbeaten up to that point in the season, whilst Merthyr were languishing 4th from bottom but fielded 9 of the side that had beaten Atalanta. In front of a crowd of 1,649 goals from Tony Vessey, Richard Tiltman and Grant Gallagher had given Crawley a 3-1 lead with 8 minutes left to play and they seemed to be cruising into the next round. However, two late goals gave Merthyr a draw, and they could have won in added on time. The goals scorers for Merthyr were Dave Webley, Ceri Williams and Phil Green , and they won the replay 3-1. Merthyr had an incredible run after Christmas, storming on to win the league, ironically with another 3-1 home win on the final day over Crawley for a second consecutive promotion.
In 1990/91, I went to see a match between Slough and Merthyr between Christmas and New Year in the GM Vauxhall Conference. Merthyr won 2-1 in front of an attendance of 1,031 with Rogers and Paul Sanderson getting the goals. The Merthyr team that day included ex Swansea and Cardiff Nigel Stevenson ( 4 caps ), ) ex-Crystal Palace centre-back Terry Boyle ( 2 caps ), whilst winger Ceri Williams had won a Welsh cap whilst a Merthyr player. The Martyrs finished 9th that season.
The last time I had seen Merthyr play was another FA Cup Fourth Round Qualifying tie at Crawley, this time in 1993/94. However, this time Crawley won 2-1 in front of a crowd of 1,623 as Craig Whitington and Joff Vansittart got the goals for the Red Devils as they got revenge for 1988/89 in what was a Cup upset. Although Crawley were top of the Beazer Homes and like in 1988/89 unbeaten in the league, Merthyr were a Vauxhall Conference side. Merthyr’s player-manager was ex-Swansea, Stoke, QPR, Leicester, Cardiff and Bradford City Welsh midfielder Robbie James ( 45 caps ) and their side also included ex-Swansea defender Dudley Lewis ( 1 cap ). Defender Ryan James was the goalscorer for the Martyrs.
Matchday Information
Merthyr’s journey to Oxford was 110 miles via the Heads Of The Valleys Road and the A40, which would normally take around two and a half hours. It looked like there were around 300 Merthyr fans at the match.
Tickets for today’s game were £13 for adults online and £16 at the turnstile. There were a whole range of reductions depending on ages, from seniors to children.
An online programme was available and a cup of tea cost £2.50. There were huge queues at the burger bar, with probably supporters seeking to soak up a few hangovers, whilst many of the Merthyr fans appeared to be adopting a hair of the dog strategy, once they had got over the shock of Oxfordshire prices compared to back home.
The weather at the 13.00 kick-off time was clear blue skies but a chilly 5 degrees.
Bet365 made Merthyr 13/10 favourites, with Oxford City at 31/20 and the draw at 12/5.
Merthyr made three changes from the side that started against Curzon Ashton with Livermore, Williams and Cawley Cox coming into the team with Aaron Harris and Keiran Evans dropping to the bench and Lucas missing out with illness
Oxford City made two changes to the side that took to the field at Spennymoor with Jack Bearne returning after a lengthy injury lay-off and Chris Francis was in at centre-back. Braydon Daniel and Darnell Johnson were amongst the substitutes
Merthyr were playing in all lime green with a single large black chevron on the front of their shirt, whilst Oxford City were in their usual blue and white hoops.
Match Report
The game started quietly but then suddenly burst into line with a goal for the visitors. Livermore released Cox down the right-wing and his pass found Rees, whose shot was blocked. The loose ball rolled to Livermore, whose fierce long-range shot took a deflection and flew into the top of the net, with keeper Pardington wrong footed. 0-1 after 5 minutes.
The referee awarded a soft foul against Jacob Roddy but the free-kick from Twamley into the City area was headed away by Francis. Shortly after, Rees nicely spread play to the right where Spiers had pushed forward from right-back, and Francis was forced to put the cross out for a corner. The set-piece was sent beyond the far post where Evans was left unmarked but his header struck a defender, and Evans could only spoon the rebound left footed high over the bar.
A flowing Merthyr passing move saw Williams thread a pass to Cox who turned the ball back in the direction of Livermore, but this time he blazed high over the bar. It was a great chance spurned.
Merthyr’s slick passing was regularly cutting The Hoops apart and the home side were in danger of being overwhelmed. However, they responded by stringing over 50 passes together which eventually led to Bearne and Ashby seeing shots blocked by the Martyrs defence.
The game was held up for several minutes as Livermore lay on the ground injured, but after treatment he was able to continue.
A careless Merthyr pass was intercepted by Bearne who ran deep into the Merthyr half and passed to George Burroughs, but his cross from the byline was partially cleared and Roddy was unable to get to the loose ball.
Cox, Twamley, Jarvis all combined to put Twamley in space and his low ball from the right-hand byline went slightly behind Rees, who on the floor, managed to get a foot to the ball to steer it goalwards but keeper Pardington managed to block with an outstretched leg and the follow-up shot was blocked by an Oxford City defender.
Merthyr keeper Cogman was called into action for the first time in the 22nd minute. DJ Campton-Sturridge ran onto a long ball out of The Hoops defence and with the Merthyr defenders appealing for off-side, showed good control and turned, but the shot was straight at Cogman who made a routine catch.
The home side were now getting into the match. Zac McEachran then gave Ewan Clark a chance to run into the Merthyr area, but good defending from Williams saw him escort the ball off for a goal-kick. McEachran then went on a mazy dribble before teeing up Josh Ashby, and the Hoops captain’s low 25-yard effort needed to pushed around the post by Cogman. The corner led to a scramble inside the visitors 6-yard box before the ball was cleared, but Oxford City reworked possession and Charlie Wiggett’s ball to the near post was put off for another corner by Williams on the stretch.
Handley was fouled at the corner to give Merthyr a free-kick, but Livermore went down again and needed to be replaced, and Alex John was introduced in the 27th minute.
The home side then nearly shot themselves in the foot when keeper Pardington passed straight to Jarvis, but with the keeper off his line, the attempted lob from Jarvis bounced narrowly wide.
McEachran played a cute chip over the Martyrs backline which Campton-Sturridge and Bearne ran clear onto. Unfortunately for Oxford City, Campton-Sturridge got there first and the flag was raised for off-side well before the ball was put into the net. If he had left the ball for Bearne, who was clearly onside, the home side probably would have equalised.
Latrell Humphrey-Ewers and Bearne combined to give Clark a chance to cross from the right-hand byline but again Williams was in the right place to stretch and concede another corner. The set-piece came to nothing and Merthyr quickly counterattacked, but the final pass was overhit and rolled through to Pardington to collect.
After a period of reflection, the referee decided that McEachran had indeed been fouled when he fell to the floor and put his hands on the ball. Ashby took the free-kick which McEachran back headed on, and Campton-Sturridge’s acrobatic bicycle kick went narrowly over the bar.
Twamley set off on a dangerous run from inside his own half, turning away from Ashby who was unsuccessful in his attempt to make a foul, and freed John on the left, but the cross into the Oxford City area was poor and Roddy headed away.
After the subsequent City move led to a goal-kick to Merthyr, Ashby was shown the first yellow card of the game, presumably for his attempted foul two minutes earlier.
A minute later Ashby fouled John near the touchline and was very fortunate not receive a second yellow card in quick succession.
Merthyr then passed straight to Clark, who then returned the favour by passing to Cox who then sped down the touchline, but his cross was easy for Pardington to catch.
On the stroke of half-time Campton-Sturridge won the ball near the half-way line and set off on a strong run, but then undid the good work with an awful pass to Bearne, who in the end did well to win a throw-in.
Four added minutes were signalled to be played, and Rees received possession on the left wing and cut inside to pass to Cox, but the shot was at the keeper who made a regulation save.
The last action of the half saw McEachran run at the retreating defence and received a return pass from Ashby, but his poke from the edge of the area went a couple of feet wide with the keeper scrambling to get near to the ball.
The teams headed to the dressing rooms at the interval with Merthyr leading 1-0. After a strong opening 15 minutes from the visitors, the rest of the half was pretty even and both sides were looking dangerous.
Almost straight from the restart, Humphrey-Ewers stole possession and ran deep into the Merthyr half but his cross bounced through to Cogman.
Jarvis then rugby tackled McEachran near the half-way line but the referee deemed it not to be worthy of a yellow card, but seconds later Evans brought down McEachran and this time the referee did reach to his pocket to produce a yellow card.
Clark, McEachran and Ashby exchanged passes and forced a corner, which was headed away as far as Bearne, whose strong drive was blocked and Cogman was able to prevent the ball going out for another corner.
With 51 minutes on the clock, Rees ran onto a ball down the left-hand channel and played an inviting ball across the goalmouth for Jarvis to run onto but he could only shoot into the side netting.
A minute later Humphrey-Ewers attempted a chip forward for Bearne to go clear but Handley made an important interception with his chest. Francis then passed to McEachran who made a 60-yard run, but his shot from the edge of the area was weak and Cogman had an easy save.
A minute later a suspiciously looking offside Rees ran onto a long pass, but with play allowed to continue, the left-footed shot from Rees was held above his head by Pardington.
Josh Parker replaced Campton-Sturridge and almost had an immediate impact. Merthyr gave away possession and Humphrey-Ewers sent Burroughs galloping down the right-wing and his low cross to the near post was met by Parker, but his back-heel at the near post was blocked by Ryan-Phillips and rolled to Cogman.
The game was becoming end-to-end, and a snap-shot from Jarvis from 20 yards went just wide of the far post.
McEachran, Ashby and Clark again exchanged passes but after the cross from Clark was headed away, Burroughs’ cross was too close to Cogman, who made the catch.
There didn’t look to be any particular danger when Twamley received possession inside his own half close to the left-hand touchline, but the Merthyr winger set off on a diagonal run and kept running until he had run clear of the Oxford City defence. With just the keeper to beat, he calmly finished into the opposite corner. A stunning individual effort had changed the course of the match, and Merthyr now led 2-0 after 62 minutes.
With “2-0 to the Sheepshaggers” ringing out from the Merthyr fans massed behind the goal their side were attacking, Oxford City appeared deflated, and conceded again almost immediately. The Hoops carelessly gave the ball away and Cox ran down the left-hand channel and sent a tremendous left-footed effort crashing against the underside of the bar. The ball bounced over the line before Roddy cleared, and the linesman signalled for the goal to be given. 0-3 with 64 minutes played.
That was the last contribution from Cox as he was promptly substituted after scoring. City also made two changes as Isaac Westendorf and Daniel came on, and Westendorf immediately ran past Williams and played a low ball to the near post where Parker steered it just wide. It looked like it had hit a Merthyr defender but the referee awarded a goal-kick to the Martyrs.
Daniel was showing the form he displayed in the last home game against Darlington, and had the vision to pass to Clark, who could only cross to the keeper, then Daniel’s low cross was well claimed by the Merthyr keeper.
The impressive Twamley ran past Burroughs but his low cross was cleared by Wiggett. Clark then did well on the left to find Ashby, who decided to take a touch rather than shooting first time, which enable the Merthyr defence to close in and block the eventually shot.
A linesman’s flag denied Parker after he ran onto Humphrey-Ewers through ball then Clark played in Ashby, whose shot was bravely blocked by Ryan-Phillips.
The home side continued to press for a consolation, and a touch back from Parker saw Daniel shoot left-footed over the bar from 18 yards.
At the other end Spiers played a dangerous ball in from the right, and substitute Brandon Smalley got a toe to it 10 yards out, but the ball went narrowly wide of the far post.
Merthyr then sloppy passed to Clark who ran towards the goal, but was forced wide and his attempted cross was cleared by Ryan-Phillips.
Jarvis then played a dangerous looking ball across the Oxford City goalmouth, but just too far ahead of Smalley.
After Burroughs won a corner for the Hoops, Clark’s delivery hit Parker and was hoofed clear, and when City reworked, Clark’s cross was headed over by Westendorf.
Merthyr then created two chances but shots from Smalley and Jarvis were blocked. Smalley then played in Twamley but Pardington made a great close range save. When Merthyr reworked possession, Twamley’s curling effort was clutched out of the sky by the Oxford City shot-stopper. Pardington then had to be alert to come out of his area to clear a through ball before Jarvis could reach it.
Daniel continued his impressive cameo, first delivering a good cross but Parker’s effort went into the side netting, then with Parker he combined to set-up Ashby for a shot to be blocked. Daniel finally got some reward for his efforts when his cross was stabbed home from 6 yard by Clark. 1-3 with 88 minutes played.
The home side continued to pour forward and Daniel’s run led to a pass to Westendorf, who turned and shot, but straight at the keeper, but the match finished with Merthyr on the front foot as Twalmey shot from 20 yards at Pardington, then after City gave away the ball, Jarvis ran clear but again Pardington produced another brave save to deny Merthyr a fourth goal.
At the final whistle, Merthyr deservedly took the three points, making in 30 points from a possible 33 but they remained in 3rd place in the table. Oxford City slipped back into the bottom four, and faced an important game at 5th bottom Peterborough Sports on Tuesday evening, when they would also be hoping that Merthyr would give them a hand by beating struggling Hereford United.
Oxford City : Pardington – Burroughs, Wiggett, Francis, Roddy – Bearne ( Daniel ), Ashby, Humphrey-Ewers ( Ellis ), McEachran ( Westendorf ), Clark – Campton-Sturridge ( Parker )
Merthyr Town : Cogman – Spiers ( Smerdon ), Williams, Ryan-Phillips, Handley ( Lewis ) – Cox ( K. Evans ), Jarvis, J. Evans, Livermore ( John ) – Rees ( Smalley ), Twamley
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