Despite recent heavy rain, the pitch was in good condition, perfectly playable and a credit to the hard-working ground staff. Catching Parkway off guard, the visitors forced a corner straight from the kick off which came to nothing. With both sides feeling their way into the game Parkway created the first chance on 4 minutes after good work by Mikey Williams set up Crago who turned well only to see his powerful shot headed off the line. With both sides showing good energy the pace of the game quickened with on 9 minutes Truro City loanee Rio Garside shooting wide after good work by Crago. On 11 minutes a Merthyr corner deep to the far post was headed back into the danger area with Kyle Moore making a good save. Williams then saw his shot deflected over for a corner on 13 minutes as played switched from end to end in what was turning out to be an even, well contested affair. With Callum Hall and Billy Palfrey working hard in midfield supported by Lane and Harrison Davis, Palfrey became the first played to be booked on 25 minutes.

Merthyr continued to threaten but the Parkway defence well marshalled by Landricombe held firm with Moore relatively untroubled. Chances for either side were few and far between however on 27 minutes a shot from Tom Bath was almost deflected over Jaimie Cogman in the visitors goal with the keeper scrambling backwards to tip it on to the bar away to safety. Play continued at a pace in a very competitive midfield and on 35 minutes a superb raking 40 yard ball from Aaron Bentley found Williams wide on the right who linked well with the supporting Davis whose shot was blocked by resolute defending. Play became scrappy and fragmented as half time approached with a plethora of yellow cards for Crago,

Callum Hall and the visitors Corey Shephard. A fairly even half of few chances with neither side able to take control or dominate but cancelling each other out in most areas with both sides games plans being effective. Parkway created the first chance of the second half on 50 minutes after a break along the left saw Hall go clear but Cogman spread himself well to block the shot. Merthyr were next to show on 55 minutes switching play from left to right with Moore making a good save with his feet from a fierce shot. In an increasingly tight affair, a Merthyr break along the right on 57 minutes saw a dangerous cross headed behind for a corner by some determined Parkway defending. On the hour Josh Grant replaced the hard working Bath up front. With play continuing at a pace, Crago showed good determination in winning successive tackles in the final third, forcing defensive errors which created a chance for Williams whose shot was blocked.

Alex John replaced Connor Davies for the visitors on 69 minutes with the game remaining on a knife edge as both sides looked to create openings but unable to break down solid defensive units. On 71 minutes Parkway almost took the lead after winning possession in midfield with Garside and Crago linking well to release the latter whose shot was parried by Cogman with Williams shot on the rebound being bravely blocked at close range. Merthyr continued to look dangerous along the left flank but Parkway remained composed at the back with neither side able to gain complete control or dominate play. On 80 minutes and with a penalty shootout looming large, the industrious Hall was replaced by Copp with Williams seeing an effort ruled out for a marginal offside on 81 minutes after a flowing move along the left. Merthyr responded and could have taken the lead on 83 minutes when a cross from the left fizzed across the 6 yard area narrowly evading two onrushing players. Both sides continued to search for a winner with play still going from end to end but with defences holding firm. Dylan Jones was replaced by Daniel Barnard for the visitors on 85 minutes as Parkway continued to apply pressure and look the more likely side to snatch a winner.