City’s first draw of the season saw their unbeaten league run stretch to three games but they will consider this as two points dropped after a controversial second-half equaliser severely disrupted the attacking momentum they had built up after the break.

With both Craig Pope and Leon Bell serving suspensions, Marcus Hering came in at right back and Jamie Godbold, having come off the bench in the previous four games, retained his place in the starting line-up. With Martin Davies still side-lined Alan Calton was preferred ahead of loanee ‘keeper Darren Horrigon.

City struggled to settle in the opening stages and the well organised Martyrs gradually imposed themselves on the game enjoying the lions’ share of the possession, keeping the Lilywhites penned into their own half. With a quarter of an hour gone Simon Heal worked the ball in from the right for Jason Price to release a near post shot which was blocked by Lee Pluck in front of goal.

Jamie Godbold holds off a lunging tackle

With a quarter of the match gone Merthyr’s sustained pressure was rewarded with the opening goal. A Danny Carter free-kick, taken from wide on the left just inside City territory floated across the area to the far post where Ian Edwards was first to react firing low to Alan Calton’s near post forcing the Lilywhites ‘keeper to deflect the ball behind for a corner with the aid of the woodwork. It was Carter again who took the place kick which was arrowed into the six yard box. Despite having sufficient defenders in place to cover the danger none of the City rearguard were able to seize the opportunity to clear the ball and as it ran loose across the face of goal Gary Thorne span and fired home from close range.

In the immediate aftermath of the goal the visitors still looked the most lively and as Simon Heal worked another crossing opportunity Price planted a header straight at Calton when well placed.

Half an hour had gone before a Louis Riddle snap-shot from distance saw Neil Thomas worked for the first time but the former Ebbw Vale stopper was comfortably behind the ball.

This at least marked a revival in City fortunes and they were very much in the ascendancy for the remainder of the half. Showing good close control Jamie Godbold, on the edge of the Merthyr area, laid the ball wide for Marcus Hering whose near post cross found Robbie Simpson with his back to goal. Simpson in turn laid the ball back to Godbold who was unable to get a shot on goal but did force a corner. Rob Miller’s resultant place kick picked out Matt Rice who rose well at the far post but his unchallenged header was high of the target.

The Lilywhites had one final half-chance before the break, Carlin Itonga playing the ball in from the right where Jamie Godbold got in front of his marker but poked the ball narrowly wide.

Similarly to last week Gary Roberts chose to make a change at the interval in an attempt to turn things round. Stuart Niven, making his first appearance of the season, replacing Marcus Hering with City reverting to three at the back allowing Niven to link up with Rob Nightingale and Rob Miller in the centre of the midfield.

This change allowed Rob Nightingale to get closer to the strikers and with the half only a minute old he combined with Itonga to force a corner, Rob Miller’s centre seeking out Lee Pluck whose powerful downward header was cleared from the six yard box.

Minutes later Merthyr were forced into a change, Lee Collier, who appeared to have picked up a knock, replaced by Kevin Aherne-Evans.

Robbie Simpson controls the ball under pressure

With 53 minutes on the clock City were level, Gary Roberts’inspired change paying dividends. Niven, whose vision and variety of passing gave the Lilywhites extra attacking options played a long raking pass to Simpson in the inside right channel. Forced wide City’s teenage striker swung in a cross which appeared too powerful, however Rob Miller chased the ball and kept it alive deep on the left. Showing great persistence he crossed back towards the penalty spot where Rob Nightingale struck a first time volley low towards goal. Merthyr had bodies back to defend but the ball cannoned off an outstretched leg and into the path of Simpson who gratefully smashed the ball back past a wrong-footed Thomas.

On the hour mark, both sides made further changes, the visitors withdrawing Simon Heal and introducing Grant Thomas, for City the familiar switch, Danny Bloomfield for Carlin Itonga. Whilst Bloomfield would no doubt prefer to be starting matches there is no question that his contribution, when coming on from the bench, has been considerable in recent weeks and today was no exception.

With Jamie Godbold forced into defensive action by the 3-5-2 formation when Merthyr had the ball he found himself in the right back position on 64 minutes, showing great tenacity to win the ball he launched a long clearance in the general direction of Danny Bloomfield. Cleverly anticipating the bounce the City striker hung off the shoulder of Gethin Jones who was deceived as the ball came up off the turf, seizing his chance Bloomfield raced down the inside right channel, outpacing the chasing defenders before checking inside on the edge of the area and firing a superbly placed shot across Neil Thomas into the corner of the net. An excellent solo effort and almost a carbon copy of his winner against Dover a couple of weeks previously.

Again, having taken the lead City looked vulnerable. A routine through ball down the inside left channel bypassed the Lilywhites defence presenting Cortez Belle with a clear sight on goal from the edge of the area but a recovering Matt Rice did just enough to force the teenage striker to steer his shot wide of the target.

As the game entered the final 20 minutes Merthyr continued to press forcing a left wing corner. Carter’s kick was only partially cleared allowing the Martyrs’ skipper to float the ball in once more. Stuart Niven found himself in the unfamiliar position of last man and as he stretched his back header fell invitingly for Jason Price with effectively the whole goal to aim at. As Price looked to bury a routine far post header Alan Calton made a magnificent effort to get across his goal and keep the ball out. Whilst Calton got down low to cling on he was clearly over the goal line when he made the save. Merthyr were convinced that the ball had crossed the line too and to be fair, viewed from the stand, they appeared to be right. However both referee Culot and his assistant failed to indicate decisively that a goal had been awarded. Calton bowled the ball out and City mounted an attack of their own down the right hand side.
Confusion reigned as Mr Culot then halted play and confirmed a goal had been scored. Ultimately the right decision but none the less highly unsatisfactory in the way it was communicated.

Matt Rice watches as his header flies over the bar

With 14 minutes remaining the Martyrs made their final change Kristian Witcombe replacing Gethin Jones. But by now the game had become somewhat disjointed. Merthyr no doubt pleased to have equalised and by a large happy to go home with a point from here on in. City, visibly disturbed by the equalising goal and failing to reproduce their earlier attacking flair as a result. There was one more half-chance to snatch all three points, a Louis Riddle corner from the right finding its way to Rob Nightingale on the edge of the box, Nightingale fired low to Thomas’s left and as the Martyrs’ stopper spilled the ball Danny Bloomfield followed-up but was adjudged have fouled the ‘keeper.

There was still time for Stuart Niven to collect a yellow card for a mis-timed tackle and Academy player Paul Bass to make his debut at the expense of Louis Riddle who appeared to be carrying a knock for most of the second half even before a clash with Cortez Belle saw him receive a kick to the side of the head an incident which saw the game end on an acrimonious note but ultimately it made no difference to the result.

City will no doubt be disappointed that they failed to take all three points from this game but they paid the price for a slow start and conceding a couple of sloppy goals when failing to deal effectively with set plays. On the positive side City again looked menacing going forward (after the interval) having now scored nine times in four undefeated league and cup games with both Robbie Simpson and Danny Bloomfield finding the target again. The Miller/Nightingale partnership in midfield looks very solid and the return of Stuart Niven will give the Lilywhites increased options in that department. At the back Rice and Baillie were again outstanding and with Lee Pluck consistently turning in decent performances improved defensive displays are at the heart of a string of more consistent results which can only auger well for the City’s immediate future on the pitch.