MERTHYR TOWN 1

Raison 70

DORCHESTER TOWN 1

Purrington 53

DORCHESTER Town earned the first point of the Glenn Howes era with a 1-1 draw at Merthyr Town.

Both sides struggled to create chances in a tight first half, Tiago Sa’s corner hitting the Merthyr crossbar.

After the restart the game burst into life courtesy of Tom Purrington’s first goal of the season.

However, Merthyr sub Toby Raison struck with 20 minutes remaining to give the Martyrs a share of the points.

Dorchester boss Glenn Howes made three changes to the side that began the 1-0 loss to Swindon Supermarine on Saturday.

READ MORE: Merthyr Town 1-1 Dorchester Town - how it happened

Out went Harry Lee, the goalkeeper recalled to Exeter City yesterday, Flavio Tavares and Billy Lowes.

In came Oakley Hanger, who returned from suspension, while Sam Bayston was given his first start since recovering from Covid-19.

Goalkeeper Gerard Benfield also made his first start in the aftermath of suffering dislocated fingers.

Lowes dropped to the bench, while Greek winger Christos Papakonstantinou, defenders Adam Heaton and George Calverley, plus midfielder Ben Symes, were Howes' other options.

Merthyr made a late change to their named XI, with dangerous winger Keyon Reffell injured in the warm-up, Tom Hillman filling in.

With Dorchester placed 19th before kick-off – one spot and two points above the Martyrs – avoiding a poor start was imperative.

And the Magpies began brightly when Kieran Roberts had two quick chances, the first blocked by the covering defence before the striker lashed his second wide.

Merthyr’s first serious chance agonisingly evaded Ian Traylor on six minutes, the winger narrowly failing to connect with Curtis Hutson’s cross.

In a half of few clear chances, Benfield had to be alert to advance and deny veteran Ismail Yakubu after the defender latched on to Cameron Keetch’s cross.

Merthyr escaped harm when Tiago Sa’s inswinging corner clipped the bar and the hosts subsequently broke upfield, only for Hillman to send a tame effort at Benfield.

Late in the half, Hillman fizzed an effort just wide of the far post before Alfie Stanley’s rising drive cleared the Merthyr bar prior to half-time.

It took Dorchester just eight minutes of the second half to break the deadlock, with Purrington timing his first goal of the season to perfection.

Bayston was the producer, his offload allowing Purrington to bury a finish at the second attempt in the 53rd minute.

Merthyr nearly had an equaliser three minutes later, Hutson spinning off the defence and unleashing a fierce long-distance drive that clattered into the upright.

The Martyrs looked to their bench before an hour was up, Raison and Dylan Jones coming on for Hillman and Keetch.

Howes, meanwhile, freshened up his midfield with Lowes replacing Bayston.

With Dorchester adjusting to the change, Merthyr struck as Benfield was beaten to a cross by the soaring Raison, his header nestling into the bottom corner for 1-1.

Howes signalled his intent by introducing Papakonstantinou for skipper Tom Soares with 13 minutes remaining as the Magpies chased a winner.

As the match became stretched, a big chance fell at either end.

Jones was the recipient of Merthyr’s as a cross deflected off Benfield and fell for the substitute, who contrived to blaze over from underneath the bar.

Six minutes remained when Dorchester spurned their own big opening, Papakonstantinou flying down the left.

His cross picked out Roberts whose effort was blocked only as far as Purrington, the midfielder guiding his follow-up wide.

Neither side could make headway in the four minutes of stoppage time as Dorchester earned a solid point after what is one of the Magpies’ longest away days of the season.

Merthyr: Cogman, Davies (Morgan 81), Yakubu, Barnard, Keetch (Raison 58), John, Shephard, Thomas, Hutson, Hillman (Jones 58), Traylor. Sub not used: Clarke.

Magpies: Benfield, Hanger, Sa, Soares (Papakonstantinou 77), Buckley, Da Silva, Purrington, Madden, Roberts, Stanley, Bayston (Lowes 65). Subs not used: Calverley, Heaton, Symes.

Attendance: 398