Merthyr Town clinched the Southern League Premier South title with a 3-0 victory over Hungerford on Easter Monday

A battle-weary Hungerford put in a heroic effort to frustrate the home side and stop the party until the end of the game.
The game was still in the balance until the 84th minute when Merthyr’s Kane Simpson fired home to put the hosts 2-0 ahead in front of more than 3,000 supporters at Penydarren Park.

Moments earlier Louie Paget had squandered a golden opportunity to equalise when played in by Rafa Ramos but he scooped his shot just outside the post.

It was Simpson's second goal of the afternoon as he had scored in the sixth minute of injury time in the first half to give the home side the lead.
The game had been soured with a first half red card shown to Kyle Tooze after a foul on Lee Lucas which sent the Merthyr player into a spin. Perhaps reacting to the aftermath of the challenge rather than the contact the referee deemed it was worthy of a red card. Lucas however was Ok to continue.

Moments later a two footed lunge on Curtis Angell by Jarvis saw the home player pick up a yellow card to add to Hungerford’s frustrations at the match official.

Despite conceding deep into first half injury time Hungerford’s press continued to be impressive, led by George Smith and Joe Shepherd giving little time to Merthyr and forcing them back for most of the second half.

Ryan Clarke had little to do until fifteen minutes to go when rushing off his line he collided into a Merthyr player whilst gathering the ball but fortunately was Ok to continue. When this occurred Hungerford were having a dangerous little spell, a Matt Berry-hargreaves cross was only just headed away for a corner and from that Jordan Rose just failed to get a header on the ball. Ultimately though this led to Paget’s chance and the breakaway second.

Merthyr striker Ricardo Rees capped off the afternoon for The Martyrs with his side's third goal in second half added time. Then the party did start on the final whistle

Team : Clarke, Paget, Angell (McNally), McGrory, Berry-Hargreaves, Rose (Passey), Smith, Hooper (Squires), Shepherd, Tooze, Marquez (Ramos)
Sub Not Used : Stedman

Attendance : 3098
Star Man : George Smith