Match reports from October 2025

Saturday 4 October
Chester 2 Merthyr Town 2
National League North
Attendance: 2,268 Half-time 2-0
Booked: K.Roberts, Woods.

Chester: Murray-Jones, K.Roberts, Leak, Carson, Bainbridge, Woodthorpe, Murray, Weeks, P.Jones (Peers 68), Mottley-Henry, Zanzala (Woods 85). Subs not used: Barlow, Kelly-Evans, Shrimpton, Arthur, F.Roberts.
Merthyr Town: Cogman, Ryan-Phillips, Handley (Bourne 86), Jarvis, John (Lewis 52), Smalley (Cox 52), Rees, Twamley, Evans, Smerdon (Sambu 52), Wlliams (M.Harris 86). Subs not used: A.Harris, Morgan.
Referee: Alexander Beckett.

The two sides had not met competitively for a long time. Merthyr – in a previous incarnation as Tydfil – were the last team to knock Chester out of the Welsh Cup in 1980. Since then both clubs have reformed and worked their way back up the leagues.

Storm Amy, the first of the autumn gales this year had a huge influence on the game. Both side found it to their advantage kicking towards the South Stand End where all the four goals were scored.

Chester raced into an early lead when Zanzala slotted in Weeks’ precise defence-splitting pass. Many of the visiting fans were still arriving as he did so on five minutes. The Blues then dominated the first period without creating many clear cut chances initially. Bainbridge flashed a wind-assisted effort narrowly wide of the post. Zanzala deftly put the ball in the net from a left wing cross but was ruled offside. Woodthorpe then began to make good use of the wind to launch long throws into the box from the left. One crept, agonisingly for Chester, across the six yard box but just behind Zanzala who couldn’t reach it to score. But a second effort to the near post was headed over his own keeper by Merthyr captain Handley.

On the stroke of half time City were handed the opportunity to take a three – nil lead into the interval after Mottley-Henry had been felled by Jarvis in the penalty area. Pat Jones lined up the kick but Cogman guessed correctly and turned it wide of the post.

“How would City cope playing into the wind during the second period?”” we wondered. They began purposefully, pushing the visitors back and came within an inch of scoring again when Zanzala had a shot blocked on the line and then lashed the rebound against the upright from close range but a restrictive angle.

The Martyrs began to find their range with long throws though and were back in the game when Handley thumped home the ball as a long throw was cleared to the edge of the penalty area. City tried to finish the game off. Pat Jones got through again but had his shot blocked. Similarly Weeks and Murray as Merthyr closed ranks and tried to hit Chester on the break. Winger Twamley was proving a danger with his running at the Blues defence and curled a shot narrowly wide across goal.

In the dying minutes, however, Chester struggled to clear their lines down the left allowing Jarvis to muscle in to the by-line from where he hammered a powerful shot into the roof of the net. A struggle ensued as players from both sides tried to retrieve the ball from the net and became caught up in it like a freshly landed catch of salmon. Two from each side were subsequently booked by the referee – taking up most of the allotted stoppage time to do so.

Having been well clear in this game City felt nothing but frustration at only having a point for their troubles but credit must be given to the visitors for their fightback. The Blues, though, will rue most of all the chances missed which would have put them out of sight long before the Martyrs got themselves back in the match.

Colin Mansley

• Table after Merthyr draw

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