Shortwood United 7, Merthyr Town 2

Jacob Flower scored both Merthyr Town goals in this BigFreeBet.com Cup tie.

A young Martyrs team were beaten 7-2, but their development players battled for 90 minutes on a difficult evening in Gloucestershire.

Yesh Lomety (3), Will Hawes (2), Liam Meredith and Joe White were the marksmen for Shortwood.

Merthyr manager Gavin Williams took the club’s development team to Shortwood. He was without suspended Stuart Fleetwood and striker Mo Touray, who is on duty with the Wales under-19 squad.

Williams is also concerned about a number of niggling injuries with a massive Southern League match against leaders Kettering Town away being played on Saturday.

Williams’ decision will allow players suffering from minor injuries to recover over the week, while Touray should be available for the trip to Kettering.

Fleetwood will also miss the Kettering (away) and Slough Town (home) fixtures.

Merthyr are fifth in the Southern League Premier Division table and those next two fixtures are going to be crucial. Kettering have a 100 per cent home record and are top of the table, while Slough are third.

While Merthyr’s development players travelled to Shortwood, their first team squad had training and treatment in South Wales.

Merthyr Town: Luc Hughes, Daniel Dima (capt), Alex Sullivan, Robbie Hughes, Liam Martin, Adam Mahgan, James Jones, Sean Montgomery, Jacob Flower, Levi Jones, Ellis Holland. Subs: Rowan Kaier, Connor Hanford, Cole Jarvis, Don Hayward.