THEY were in a different league last season and could be next as well.

For long periods at Cuthbury on Saturday, the Martyrs were on a different planet to the Magpies.

Formed from the ashes of Merthyr Tydfil, successive promotions saw the Welsh outfit breeze through the Western League to join Wimborne in Division One South & West of the Southern League.

And if this ruthless and efficient display is anything to go by, there could be nothing to stop the South Walian phoenix re-establishing itself as a non-league powerhouse.

Having seen off Clevedon from the same division and Banbury from the one above, Wimborne had been enjoying their best run in the competition until it came to a rather inglorious end.

Any suggestion Merthyr would be vulnerable after losing the last unbeaten record in their league in midweek was quickly put to bed as the visitors came out of the traps like Mick The Miller.

Wimborne had no answer as a combination of brain and brawn saw Merthyr dominate the opening skirmishes, even if they failed to seriously test Magpies goalkeeper Jason Harvell.

The biggest surprise of the first half was that Wimborne fashioned the first goalscoring chance when Scott Arnold’s thunderous effort from 25 yards skimmed the crossbar.

However, there was an air of inevitability about the opening goal, a sweeping move seeing Merthyr slice through the Wimborne backline with ease before Ryan Prosser finished with accuracy.

The tie was all but settled in the minutes leading up to half-time when Jamie Davidson had a shot well saved by Giles Cutlan and George Webb chose the wrong option with the goal gaping.

Wimborne were again exposed at the back as Prosser and player-manager Garry Shephard combined to tee up Ian Traylor who made no mistake with virtually the last kick of the 45 minutes.

Davidson saw another effort cleared off the line at the start of the second half before Matthew Harris fired through a crowd of bodies to make it 3-0 and the impressive Traylor added a fourth.

Steve Smith, on as a 68th-minute substitute, saw his volley reduce the arrears before Shephard, who came out of retirement this season, bagged a deserved fifth to complete Wimborne’s torture.

Magpies boss Steve Cuss said: “We were second best and they caused us real problems. We didn’t start well and that put us on the back foot. We were always chasing the game. We were slow and sluggish and they took full advantage. They really stretched us in the second half.

“But I am not going to start being critical of the players. We have come a long way in a short space of time. We had an off day and were punished. We have got to take it on the chin and try to bounce back.”

Magpies: Harvell, Arnold, Cole (Maybury, 68), Costello, Brian, Blake (Kemble, 68), Sainsbury, Hubbard, Jeffes, Davidson, Webb (Smith, 68). Unused subs: Roast, Ackerman (g/k).