It all went wrong late on for Peterborough Sports at Merthyr Town
Peterborough Sports battled well at high-flying Merthyr Town in their National League North fixture in South Wales, before it all fell apart in the final 20 minutes.
The hosts are the top-scoring team in the division, but the city side restricted them to few chances until the final stages when Lewys Twamley struck twice, either side of a straight red card card for Sports centre forward Mark Jones.
The defeat dropped Sports a place to 22nd , two points from safety with at least one game in hand on four of the five teams above them. It was a 13th win in 15 outings for Merthyr.
Sports started well with wing-back Marcel Oakley’s pace taking him beyond the home defence, but he couldn’t hit the target, a failing that haunted the city side throughout the contest.
Jones twice when close for Sports in the first-half when Jay Davies also threatened. Jones was denied on one occasion by the boot of Merthyr ‘keeper Jamie Cogman.
The home side also enjoyed good moments with Cawley Cox forcing a decent save from Sports ‘keeper Peter Crook.
Merthyr made the breakthrough on 71 minutes when Twamley sent a screamer into the top corner past Crook. Jones was then dismissed for a rash challenge on 76 minutes and on 82 minutes Twamley was sent clear before going round Crook and tapping into an empty net.
Sports kept battling and substitute Sam McLintock saw a late strike tipped onto the crossbar by Cogman.
Sports received a handful of yellow cards including one in first-half stoppage time for manager Phil Brown who was incensed with the officiating something he commented on in detail after the match.
More detail to follow.
Sports: Crook, Willis, Joshua, Stewart, Oakley (sub Felix, 63 mins), Wood (sub McLintock, 83 mins), Cadogan, Whitehouse (sub Hickingbottom 75 mins), Davies (sub Booth, 75 mins), Miller (sub Carayol, 83 mins), Jones. Unused subs; Felix, Booth, Edwards, McLintock, Carayol, Hickingbottom, Faakye.