Cambridge City chalked up their first league win of 2004 with a commanding 3-1 victory at a murky Penydarren Park on Saturday. At times the gulf in class was as wide as the Rhondda Valley as the visitors dominated long periods of the game.

Returning from injury for City were Craig Pope and Lewis Baillie in the fullback positions, giving the back line a more balanced look whilst Stuart Niven and Carl Williams were restored to the midfield.

Danny Bloomfield looks to get the better of Gethin Jones

Despite the gloomy conditions, the Lilywhites started brightly. As early as the second minute Simon Martin took advantage of a defensive gaffe only to place his shot straight at goalkeeper Neil Thomas when clean through. Moments later, the early onslaught continued as City endeavoured to put the Soham defeat out of their systems. Niven whipped in a near post corner which was powerfully headed a yard wide by skipper Lee Pluck with Thomas at full stretch. A minute later the visitors went agonisingly close again. Merthyr squandered possession on the edge of the penalty area allowing Louis Riddle to scamper down the left wing and deliver a dangerous cross which was met first time by Danny Bloomfield, only for the ball to flash just wide of the post with Thomas a spectator.

The Martyrs seldom threatened in the early stages as most of the game was being played out in their half of the pitch. All they had to show for their early efforts was a tame header from Jason Price until the 26th minute when Martin Davies was called into action for the first time. Paul Keddle forced the City stopper to save smartly at the foot of his post after Price’s scuffed shot had fallen invitingly for him inside the penalty area.

Things turned even more in City’s favour when the home side were reduced to ten men when Thomas was correctly dismissed for a professional foul on Bloomfield. City’s leading goalscorer had been put clean through by Martin’s astute throughball only to be cynically chopped down by the Martyrs ‘keeper. The Lilywhites felt a little hard done by as a certain goalscoring chance was denied unfairly and Niven’s resulting free-kick came to nothing.

City didn’t have to wait long to get their noses in front however. Carl Williams was fouled out on the right wing, Niven curled in the free-kick and centre-back Matt Langston delivered a towering header past the despairing dive of replacement ‘keeper Jason Price and into the net. It was no more than the visitors deserved. The home side, stunned by this reverse, were then lucky not to be reduced to nine men when Jason Donovan escaped with only a talking-to after appearing to elbow Lewis Baillie as both players tussled for possession during a rare first half Merthyr attack.

Simon Martin is dragged down by Gary Thorne

Play switched to the other end and some inspired play by Williams set up another shooting chance for Bloomfield, but ulucklily his effort rebounded off the foot of the post. City came within a whisker of doubling their advantage as half-time approached when Martin’s audacious chip over the stranded Price was sensationally hooked off the line with a flying scissor-kick from Gethin Jones.

The first-half had belonged almost entirely to Gary Roberts’ men but Merthyr’s ten men began the second half with increased vigour. Five minutes into the half Keddle got the better of Langston down the right, crossed for Danny Carter who drilled in a shot which Davies got down well to smother.

The visitors found themselves under sustained pressure for the first time in the match as Merthyr defiantly poured forward, casting caution to the wind. Their efforts were rewarded on 56 minutes when Carter crossed dangerously into the area. The ball cannoned off Gary Thorne and into the path of Kevin Aherne-Evans who stabbed it into the net from point blank range.

Delirium in the home stands soon turned to abject silence as Merthyr joy turned to despair in sixty seconds to be precise. That’s all it took for the visitors to regain the lead. Martin took advantage of a quickly taken throw-in, his shot from an acute angle was comically fumbled into his own net by the hapless Price to the delight of the travelling fans. The quick strike back seemed to totally deflate the home side and play became a touch on the scrappy side. Riddle was scythed down out on the left wing by Dean Clarke as tempers flared. Clarke, for his misdemeanour earned himself a yellow card, Riddle was forced to limp out of the game.

Lewis Baillie battles with Merthyr's Justin Pritchard

Soon afterwards, the game was well and truly up for Merthyr, as City stretched their lead to 3-1. Craig Evans presented the ball to Williams on a plate and the midfielder charged in on goal before squaring for Bloomfield who slammed the ball past Price to notch his 25th goal of the season. Merthyr attempted to retaliate immediately. Evans lobbed a 67th minute freekick into the City penalty area, Gary Thorne climbed on Pluck to power a header at goal which Davies brilliantly tipped around the post. That was about as good as it got for the Welshmen as City dominated the remainder of proceedings.

Bloomfield saw a swift turn and shot foiled by the keeper’s legs before attention briefly switched to the other end for the first of three penalty claims. Baillie slid in with a perfectly timed tackle to deny substitute Justin Pritchard as he was about to pull the trigger in the penalty area, despite futile home shouts for a spotkick. In the 82nd minute it was City’s turn to claim a penalty. Martin was unceremoniously bundled over inside the area by Thorne only for the referee to wave play on.

As play entered the final stages, Rob Nightingale and Jamie Godbold were introduced to the action as City continued to tear down the flanks. Two minutes from time Martin was upended on the edge of the box during another raid, the ball fell invitingly for Nightingale but his shot was blocked well by Price. With seconds remaining, Miller collected a loose ball and charged into the danger zone looked up and played the ball into Bloomfield’s feet. His deft touch found Nightingale who was clearly tripped in the box as he turned. Once again no penalty was awarded, only a yellow card for the unlucky City substitute for allegedly diving. The final whistle sounded soon afterwards and the visitors celebrated a resounding victory.