Merthyr Town 3, Hednesford Town 2
Merthyr Town may have unearthed a gem in Jordan Islip, whose quick feet and trickery will surely be a nightmare for Southern League defenders this season.
The young winger or striker scored a late winner for the Martyrs in this pre-season win, but he contributed far more than that goal at the Loadlok Community Stadium.
Islip is from Abertillery, joined Swansea City at the age of 16 and played for Forest Green Rovers.
He joined Cwmbran Celtic last season and his potential has been spotted by Merthyr manager Gavin Williams.
Islip is a winger who loves to score goals and, while he was left with an open goal against Hednesford, he was in the right place to finish off a flowing passing move.
Merthyr hit back from a goal down to earn the win and manager Williams will be delighted with the spirit and character shown.
The Martyrs, who start their Southern League Premier season against Hitchin Town at home next Saturday, went ahead after four minutes when former Cardiff City youth player Jaye Bowen smashed a first time shot into the corner.
Stuart Fleetwood fired home just after the half hour only for the effort to be disallowed for offside and less than a minute later Hednesford were level.
James Lowery whipped a low pass across goal from the right and full-back Adam Davies, running back and lunging in a desperate attempt to clear, could only turn the ball into his own net.
Hednesford had the ball in the Merthyr net again, but it was blatantly turned into goal by an outstretched arm and referee Paul Walters disallowed the effort.
The Northern Premier League visitors did go ahead, though, when Danny Glover scored from a penalty after 66 minutes.
Hednesford complained bitterly when substitute Kerry Morgan scored to make it 2-2, claiming the ex-Swansea winger was offside.
But referee Paul Walters was spot on in awarding the goal. Both Stuart Fleetwood and Morgan were onside when a crisp, accurate, low pass was threaded through the Hednesford defence.
Goalkeeper Liam Haynes rushed out to challenge Fleetwood, who cleverly stepped over the ball and it rolled on to Morgan. Had Fleetwood touched it then Morgan would have been offside, but he scored into an empty net.
The winner followed a flowing build-up by Merthyr and Islip was on hand to add the finishing touch and score their winner after 85 minutes.
The Martyrs look reasonably solid with former Swansea City keeper Oliver Davies back in goal, while Jarrad Wright and Scott Tancock linked up at centre-half.
Davies made a magnificent reflex save from Jordan Nadat, throwing up an arm to turn away a fierce close range shot which took a deflection in front of him.
Merthyr had injured players Curtis McDonald and Ryan Prosser watching from the stand, while player-manager Gavin Williams wasn’t involved on the pitch.
Ian Traylor was a first half threat out wide before making way for Miles John at half-time, while hard-running Corey Jenkins caught the eye.
The influential Ashley Evans, full of energy, running and creative ability, took over from Robbie Patten in central midfield for the second half.
Patten, Bowen and MacAuley Southam, who all played for the Martyrs, are all former Cardiff City youth players.
Merthyr Town: Oliver Davies, Adam Davies, Connor Hanford, Robbie Patten, Jarrad Wright, Scott Tancock, Corey Jenkins, Eliot Richards, Stuart Fleetwood, Jaye Bowen, Ian Traylor. Subs: Ashley Evans, Miles John, MacAuley Southam, Matthew Harris, Kerry Morgan, Lewis Baldwin, Kyle Copp, Jordan Islip, Lee Price.
Paul Walters (Merthyr Tydfil).