Mardy v Tredegar

Mardy returned to action for the first time in over a month at the weekend against a visiting Tredegar team looking to make it a double over them after a home win earlier in the season. However,  Mardy proved to be much stronger opposition on this occasion and a committed display saw them gain revenge with a hard fought 3-1 win.

The visitors made a strong start to the game and had the better of the first half hour with the home side having a reprieve in the thirty eighth minute when Tredegar were awarded a spot kick only for keeper Mathew 'Baz' Davis to save the penalty but also to block an effort from the rebound as well. To rub salt in the visitors' wound, with the interval looming a Jamie Laurent corner was met first time by Nathan Price only for his shot to cannon off the crossbar. Fortunately, Ross Melrose was on hand to net the rebound and give Mardy a 1-0 half time lead.

Tredegar started well again after the break and equalised within four minutes of the restart thanks to a goal from Adam Carey. Nevertheless, the setback seemed to galvanise Mardy and after some promising attacks, they retook the lead just after the hour mark when a through ball from Ben Jones put Nathan Price through on goal and he rounded keeper Tom Evans to score. 

The home side then increased their lead with twenty minutes remaining when a misplaced Evans clearance was seized upon by Levi Boulter and he squared the ball to Melrose who curled his shot into the net for his second of the afternoon. The match remained a competitive affair but there were no further goals and the home side were delighted to claim the three points and gain revenge after a comfortable win for Tredegar in the previous fixture against an under strength Mardy side.

Manager Dai Sadler said afterwards "I was proud of the work ethic and mentality from the whole squad. We came together as a proper team, dug in and battled for each other and got the win we deserved in the end. If only we could get a full strength team on the park every week, we could be challenging at the top end of the table".

This Saturday Mardy will be at home to Cwmcarn Athletic whilst the Development squad travel to play Tranch in the Gwent Central Open Cup.