Merthyr Town 1, Hitchin Town 1
after extra time, Hitchin won 4-1 on penalties
Merthyr Town’s outstanding season ended in heartbreak at Penydarren Park.
Almost 1,500 spectators turned out on a bitterly cold evening and they were treated to a fiercely contested Southern League play-off clash.
The Martyrs played flowing football with the silky smooth Keyon Reffell threatening to tear the visitors apart at times, while captain Ashley was a driving force.
Merthyr hit the bar and a post, while goalkeeper Michael Johnson produced a series of excellent saves.
The Premier Division semi-final was still locked at 1-1 after extra time and the game swung Hitchin’s way as Johnson saved two Merthyr penalties in the shoot-out.
Hitchin will now play Leamington FC away in the play-off final on Bank Holiday Monday (3pm).
The Martyrs were left to reflect on what might have been, but they can be proud of their promotion chase this season and their #OurTownOurClub slogan underlines the character and team spirit within the club.
Manager Gavin Williams and his coaching team guided his team through a momentous season during which they challenged for top spot at times, eventually finished third and qualified for the play-offs.
They carved out the chances to have won, but Hitchin are a big, strong, physical team who were superbly organised.
The visitors sat back more and more during the second half and the extra 30 minutes, stringing players across the pitch and appearing to settle for the shootout.
Curtis McDonald and Ian Traylor passed late fitness tests for Merthyr and were named among their substitutes.
The Martyrs went ahead after 12 minutes when Scott Barrow took a long throw from their right and Ryan Prosser headed on. Kayne McLaggon arrived at the far post with perfect timing to force the ball into the net from close range.
At that stage Merthyr were on top, but Hitchin are a team who love playing away.
They are unbeaten on the road since December and in a tight, fiercely contested match Hitchin equalised with 23 minutes gone when a shot across goal bounced off the far post and Robbie Burns fired the loose ball home.
Substitute Jack Compton produced moments of magic and he almost netted the winner from a Kyle Copp corner on the closing stages. Compton’s far post header was flying towards the top corner, but Johnson threw himself and somehow clawed the ball away.
Hitchin took control in the shootout, scoring from all four penalties taken. Merthyr, though, netted only once from three attempts.
Goalkeeper Johnson saved from Reffell and Kyle Copp, while Lucas Kirkpatrick, Josh Bickerstaff, Will Wright and Lewis Rolfe scored for Hitchin.
Merthyr Town: O Davies, A Davies, S Barrow, A Evans (capt), K Patten, J Wright, R Prosser, E Richards (K Copp), K McLaggon (I Traylor), K Reffell, C Jenkins (J Compton). Subs not used: C McDonald, J Bull.
Referee: Darren Wilding (Worcester).
Attendance: 1,453.