Wantage Town had Sam Barder sent off as they started life under new management with a 3-0 home loss to the high-fliers Merthyr in Evo-Stik Southern League Division 1 South & West.

An Ian Traylor hat-trick proved the difference.

With boss Daniel Barry away, his assistant manager Ian Lovegrove took over and his temporary charges should have gone ahead on 20 minutes.

Tom Bradley in the Merthyr goal parried Jake Johns’ powerful shot, only for debutant Mark Janes to fire the rebound straight at the keeper.

However, Merthyr went ahead after Wantage gave away a foul on the edge of the area and Traylor put away Kayne McLaggon’s free-kick.

Wantage were finding it hard to make any headway against the visitors, who had won their last five league games and Traylor made it 2-0 on 52 minutes.

The hosts were reduced to ten men when Barder was sent off for a second yelow card.

And Wantage’s misery was completed five minutes from time when Traylor wrapped up his hat-trick.

Wantage Tn: Tucker, Glover, Hulbert-Thomas, Cattell, Warne, Jones, Barder, Johns, A Lovegrove (Barton 75), Janes (Lee 82), Davies (Dalton 58).

Attendance: 124.