Stratford Town 2, Merthyr Town 2

Merthyr Town were left bitterly disappointed after their Southern League Premier Division match at Stratford Town.

The Martyrs led by two goals only to draw and had goals ace Ian Traylor sent off during the second half.

Manager Gavin Williams and his team were almost given reprieve when referee Neil Pratt appeared to award them a late penalty, but seemed to change his mind.

It was a tough, competitive match in which Stratford goalkeeper Louis Connor produced some excellent saves to deny Merthyr at the MoodChimp Stadium.

They will, though, take satisfaction at being unbeaten after two matches going into Saturday’s fixture against Dunstable Town away (3pm).

Both teams finished with 10 players after Traylor and Stratford’s Ben Stephens were dismissed following the same incident eight minutes into the second half.

Merthyr took the lead when Jarrad Wright headed powerfully home from a 27th minute corner, while Scott Hancock made it 2-0 11 minutes later. Between those goals Traylor went close with a shot which went into the side netting.

Jazz Luckie pulled a goal back (40 mins) and then former Birmingham City Academy player Edwin Ahenkorah (50 mins) equalised.

Merthyr Town: O Davies, A Davies, S Tancock, J Wright, C Pring, R Patten, E Richards, K Copp, I Traylor, S Fleetwood, C Jenkins. Subs: B Watkins, M Harris, A Evans, J Bowen, K Morgan.

Attendance: 258.

Banbury United, King’s Lynn and Kettering Town are the three clubs who have won both of their opening matches and stand level on points at the top.

Tuesday results, Southern League:

Premier Division: Bishops Stortford 2, King’s Lynn 3; Chesham 1, Banbury 3; Dunstable 1, King;s Langley 4; Gosport 1, Slough 5; Hereford 1, Tiverton 0; Kettering 1, Redditch 0; St Ives 1, Biggleswade 2.