Merthyr Tydfil 0-1 Stevenage Town
Wednesday, 10 May 1967, 7pm
Southern League Division One
Referee:
Attendance:
Scorer: Peter Walker (5)
Southern League Division One
Referee:
Attendance:
Scorer: Peter Walker (5)
Stevenage team
Starting XI
1: Ray Peacock
2: Robinson
3: John Standing
4: John Hiner
5: Mills
6: Freeman
7: Colin Powell
8: Peter Walker (c)
9: Roy Cutler
10: Johnny Brooks
11: Robin Chandler
1: Ray Peacock
2: Robinson
3: John Standing
4: John Hiner
5: Mills
6: Freeman
7: Colin Powell
8: Peter Walker (c)
9: Roy Cutler
10: Johnny Brooks
11: Robin Chandler
Hertfordshire Express
GOING UP!
Stripes win in Wales to make sure of premier status next season
From Mike Green: Merthyr, Wednesday
Get out the champagne! At the fourth attempt Stevenage Town have won a place in the Premier Division of the Southern League. The Stripes clinched promotion in Wales last night by scoring a fine 1-0 win over Merthyr Tydfil.
Said a similing George Curtis after the match: "It's just great to be going up at last. I am quite convinced that we shall do well next season, and I can't praise the lads too much."
Peter Walker, the Stevenage captain, who has not been offered terms for next season yet, was just as pleased. "I was delighted to get the goal that counted," he told me.
Mr Phil Laycock, the new Stevenage Chairman, said: "This has been a difficult season in many ways, but now everything has worked out right."
Delvin Stevens and Hugh Pratt, two amateurs who have played such a big part in Stevenage's bid for promotion, were not available last night. John Hiner took over at right half and John Standing came in to play what was probably his last game for the club at right back.
Merthyr were by no means at full strength, and one of the players missing was goalkeeper Roy Taylor, who took on the Stripes almost single-handed at Broadhall Way a few weeks back.
Stevenage quickly showed that they meant to get both points and not just settle for a draw. They were straight into the attack with Robin Chandler breaking down the left.
Left half Harris came across to turn the ball behind the line, but to Stevenage's astonishment, the referee, on a signal from his linesman, awarded a goalkick instead of a corner.
BETTER LUCK
The next time the Stripes attacked, they were to have better luck. With the game five minutes old, Chandler again streaked down the left wing, beating two men before sending a high ball to the edge of the area.
Ice-calm Peter WALKER quickly brought it under control and then jumped for joy as his shot hit the back of the net.
The Stripes could hardly have wished for a better start, and Walker nearly had a second in the next minute, his shot just going past the post.
Since being recalled to the first team, Walker seems to have taken on a new lease of life, and Mr Curtis may yet decide to offer him terms for next season.
Walker, like the rest of the team, was quickly back in defence when Merthyr attacked, but even so the Stripes had cause to thank the agile Ray Peacock on more than one occasion.
Generally, though, it was Stevenage calling the tune, with Chandler looking dangerous every time he got the ball.
Johnny Brooks was content to direct operations from midfield and his cleverly flighted long passes caused the Merthyr defence all kinds of trouble.
One such pass sent Chandler on yet another dash and Ray Freeman was only just over the top with a first-time shot when the centre came across.
IN DIFFICULTIES
The Merthyr wingers also looked dangerous at times, but Peacock was quick to cut out their high centres. However, one from the left had him in real difficulties and he only just managed to flick the ball off the head of the oncoming Lloyd.
Ten minutes before half time, the referee came off the field after a fit of coughing. A linesman took over in the middle and this of course meant that we were still a linesman short.
"Shall I run the line?" asked Mr Curtis. "Yes, please," said the new referee, and so for the first time in my experience we had the sight of the manager of one of the clubs competing on the field acting as a linesman.
The second half started with Stevenage going all out for another goal. Colin Powell had a good chance, but he was too slow to get in a shot.
Then the tension began to tell on the Stevenage players, and Merthyr came storming into attack. The Stevenage defence at times looked shaky. Once Rees slipped the ball past Peacock but Mills was there to clear off the line.
FIERCE HEADER
It was a case of lucky Stevenage a couple of minutes later when a fierce header by Lloyd struck Robinson who was standing just inside a post.
Merthyr appealed strongly for hands, and it was perhaps fortunate that the original referee had now taken over from Mr Curtis on the line. He indicated no penalty and I don't think there is any doubt that it was the right decision, for even if the ball had hit Robinson's hand, the offence was not intentional.
Merthyr kept attacking, and three corners were forced in as many minutes. The last of these was cleared by centre forward Roy Cutler, which illustrates just how much Stevenage were under pressure at this stage.
The small band of Stevenage supporters were now ticking off the minutes. Ten minutes to go, and Peacock watched anxiously as an awkward curling centre by Johnson just cleared the bar. Five minutes, and panic in the Stevenage penalty area as the ball bobbed around after a corner. Harris eventually hit it goalwards and Peacock just managed to punch the shot over the bar.
Four minutes, three, two, then, with the referee looking at his watch, Lloyd ran through to head into the net. But offside was given and Stevenage breathed again.
Then came the final whistle, and Mr Curtis ran on to the field to congratulate his lads.
Stripes win in Wales to make sure of premier status next season
From Mike Green: Merthyr, Wednesday
Get out the champagne! At the fourth attempt Stevenage Town have won a place in the Premier Division of the Southern League. The Stripes clinched promotion in Wales last night by scoring a fine 1-0 win over Merthyr Tydfil.
Said a similing George Curtis after the match: "It's just great to be going up at last. I am quite convinced that we shall do well next season, and I can't praise the lads too much."
Peter Walker, the Stevenage captain, who has not been offered terms for next season yet, was just as pleased. "I was delighted to get the goal that counted," he told me.
Mr Phil Laycock, the new Stevenage Chairman, said: "This has been a difficult season in many ways, but now everything has worked out right."
Delvin Stevens and Hugh Pratt, two amateurs who have played such a big part in Stevenage's bid for promotion, were not available last night. John Hiner took over at right half and John Standing came in to play what was probably his last game for the club at right back.
Merthyr were by no means at full strength, and one of the players missing was goalkeeper Roy Taylor, who took on the Stripes almost single-handed at Broadhall Way a few weeks back.
Stevenage quickly showed that they meant to get both points and not just settle for a draw. They were straight into the attack with Robin Chandler breaking down the left.
Left half Harris came across to turn the ball behind the line, but to Stevenage's astonishment, the referee, on a signal from his linesman, awarded a goalkick instead of a corner.
BETTER LUCK
The next time the Stripes attacked, they were to have better luck. With the game five minutes old, Chandler again streaked down the left wing, beating two men before sending a high ball to the edge of the area.
Ice-calm Peter WALKER quickly brought it under control and then jumped for joy as his shot hit the back of the net.
The Stripes could hardly have wished for a better start, and Walker nearly had a second in the next minute, his shot just going past the post.
Since being recalled to the first team, Walker seems to have taken on a new lease of life, and Mr Curtis may yet decide to offer him terms for next season.
Walker, like the rest of the team, was quickly back in defence when Merthyr attacked, but even so the Stripes had cause to thank the agile Ray Peacock on more than one occasion.
Generally, though, it was Stevenage calling the tune, with Chandler looking dangerous every time he got the ball.
Johnny Brooks was content to direct operations from midfield and his cleverly flighted long passes caused the Merthyr defence all kinds of trouble.
One such pass sent Chandler on yet another dash and Ray Freeman was only just over the top with a first-time shot when the centre came across.
IN DIFFICULTIES
The Merthyr wingers also looked dangerous at times, but Peacock was quick to cut out their high centres. However, one from the left had him in real difficulties and he only just managed to flick the ball off the head of the oncoming Lloyd.
Ten minutes before half time, the referee came off the field after a fit of coughing. A linesman took over in the middle and this of course meant that we were still a linesman short.
"Shall I run the line?" asked Mr Curtis. "Yes, please," said the new referee, and so for the first time in my experience we had the sight of the manager of one of the clubs competing on the field acting as a linesman.
The second half started with Stevenage going all out for another goal. Colin Powell had a good chance, but he was too slow to get in a shot.
Then the tension began to tell on the Stevenage players, and Merthyr came storming into attack. The Stevenage defence at times looked shaky. Once Rees slipped the ball past Peacock but Mills was there to clear off the line.
FIERCE HEADER
It was a case of lucky Stevenage a couple of minutes later when a fierce header by Lloyd struck Robinson who was standing just inside a post.
Merthyr appealed strongly for hands, and it was perhaps fortunate that the original referee had now taken over from Mr Curtis on the line. He indicated no penalty and I don't think there is any doubt that it was the right decision, for even if the ball had hit Robinson's hand, the offence was not intentional.
Merthyr kept attacking, and three corners were forced in as many minutes. The last of these was cleared by centre forward Roy Cutler, which illustrates just how much Stevenage were under pressure at this stage.
The small band of Stevenage supporters were now ticking off the minutes. Ten minutes to go, and Peacock watched anxiously as an awkward curling centre by Johnson just cleared the bar. Five minutes, and panic in the Stevenage penalty area as the ball bobbed around after a corner. Harris eventually hit it goalwards and Peacock just managed to punch the shot over the bar.
Four minutes, three, two, then, with the referee looking at his watch, Lloyd ran through to head into the net. But offside was given and Stevenage breathed again.
Then came the final whistle, and Mr Curtis ran on to the field to congratulate his lads.