Merthyr Town were victims of an EvoStik Southern League smash and grab raid at their MetCoaches Stadium home.

The Martyrs were leading with less than three minutes left, but Hartley Wintney grabbed two late goals to win 2-1 and snatch the three points.

The visitors from Hampshire were second best for most of the match in front of almost 350 spectators, but they kept battling to the end.

Substitutes Sal Abubakar and Alex Albert were the scorers for Hartley Wintney with the winner coming three minutes into injury time.

Love these boys @HartleyFC 3 points away in Wales never easy! #UTR pic.twitter.com/ffudw1tKKt

— Luke Tuffs (@luketuffs) April 6, 2019

Merthyr started brightly and went ahead after seven minutes when Owen Jones beat defender Matthew Drage and crossed to set up a simple finish for Ashley Evans.

Jarrad Wright went close soon after, while the Martyrs were dangerous down the wings with Kerry Morgan, in particular, creating danger.

Goalkeeper Chris Harris made a big reaction save to deny Martyrs after 24 minutes, while Ian Traylor ran clear and was one-on-one with the goalie but failed to find the finish he needed.

Mitchell Parker hit a post for Hartley after home ‘keeper Scott Reed failed to hold on to a Jack French drive. The ball spilled from his grasp, but Parker could not turn it home.

Merthyr looked likely to hold on and jump above their visitors in the Premier Division table, but Abubakar (87 mins) and Albert (90+3) scored to leave the home team down and out.

Merthyr Town: Scott Reed, Connor Young, Jarrad Wright, Kyle Patten, Kieran Lewis, Kerry Morgan, Ashley Evans, Lee Lucas, Jamie Veale, Owain Jones, Ian Traylor. Subs: Ben Swallow, Craig Reddy, Matthew Harris, Corey Jenkins, Tom Meecham.

Hartley Wintney: Chris Harris, Nathan Smart, Louie Paget, Jack Ball, Matthew Drage, Tyrone Smith (Alex Albert 74), Marley Ridge, Jack French (Zapata Montes Angel 74), Mitchell Parker, Joshua Webb, Steven Duff (Salhin Abubakar 65), Sub not used: Tyrone Newton.

Attendance: 343.

Remaining Merthyr Town fixtures this season:

Saturday 13 v Gosport Borough A (3pm)

Tuesday 16 v Beaconsfield Town A (7.45pm)

Saturday 20 v Farnborough H (3pm)

Monday 22 v Taunton Town A (3pm)

Saturday 27 v Walton Casuals H (3pm)

 

	Club	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD		Pts
	Weymouth	38	24	9	5	91	48	43		81
	Metropolitan Police	38	21	11	6	87	59	28		74
	Taunton Town	38	22	7	9	79	50	29		73
	Salisbury	38	20	10	8	89	60	29		70
	Kings Langley	38	19	6	13	61	58	3		63
	Poole Town	38	17	9	12	71	55	16		60
	Harrow Borough	38	16	8	14	81	73	8		56
	Farnborough	38	16	7	15	67	68	-1		55
	Swindon Supermarine	38	15	9	14	68	56	12		54
	Hartley Wintney	38	14	11	13	75	68	7		53
	Beaconsfield Town	37	14	11	12	62	60	2		53
	Chesham United	38	14	11	13	44	52	-8		53
	Merthyr Town	37	14	7	16	61	61	0		49
	Dorchester Town	38	13	10	15	59	67	-8		49
	Hendon	38	13	9	16	59	66	-7		48
	Basingstoke Town	38	13	7	18	73	74	-1		46
	Tiverton Town	38	12	10	16	61	66	-5		46
	Wimborne Town	38	13	6	19	69	74	-5		45
	Walton Casuals	38	12	9	17	63	71	-8		45
	Gosport Borough	38	13	4	21	55	65	-10		43
	Frome Town	38	11	3	24	44	67	-23		36
	Staines Town	38	4	–	34	39	140	-101		12