MARTYRS PREPARE FOR CLASH WITH HEREFORD
THE final pre-season friendly for Merthyr Town - at Hereford on Saturday (3pm) - will prove a stern test as Martyrs boss Gavin Williams returns to one of his old clubs.
And he will be pitting his wits against Steve Jenkins, to whom he was No 2 last season, who has joined Hereford as assistant to Peter Beadle. Both Williams and Jenkins are Merthyr-born.
Williams, who was 36 on July 20, played 168 games, scoring 36 times for Hereford United, as they were then, between 1996 and 2002 before a move to Yeovil Town.
Big-spenders Hereford (the former Hereford United were wound up in 2014) have been promoted to Division One of the Evo-Stik Southern League, a level below Merthyr. They have drafted in experienced players but Merthyr were pleased that so far none of their men have been lured to Edgar Street as was feared.
Their average gate last campaign was 2,836.
Beadle said: “It is intimidating for away sides that are not used to playing in front of a crowd the size of ours.”
Merthyr are likely to take a good number of fans for this attractive work-out.
Williams was this week close to completing his squad for the new season (after this Tuesday’s home friendly with Penybont) which kicks off at King’s Lynn on Saturday August 6.
There should be keen competition for places, particularly at the back following the capture of Curtis McDonald, former Cardiff, Newport, Forest Green and Brackley Town.
Central defender Jamie Rewbury had been training at Merthyr’s Loadlok Community Stadium but his return to the club has now been ruled out.
Jamie Mack, club secretary, commented: “People are excited about the coming season and cannot wait for pre-season to end and for the proper games to start. Kettering and Leamington will be strong favourites and I am sure full-time Basingstoke (visiting Merthyr on August 9) will be looking to bounce back at the first attempt.”
The Merthyr manager has said he will do things his own way and his passing ideas have already shown up well in friendlies. He has returned to playing after injury all last season, taking part as a substitute in friendlies.
MERTHYR TOWN ......... 2 CARDIFF METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY ......... 1
THE side newly promoted to The Welsh Premiership, who have played un- der five different names, gave a good account of themselves in Saturday’s friendly which saw Merthyr without a number of players.
John Littlemore soon forced goalkeeper Cameron Clarke into a save but Merthyr got into action with a good build-up between Keyon Reffell, Ashley Evans and Kayne McLaggon.
Then Will Fuller stopped an effort from McLaggon, the former Southampton forward.
Speedy Met winger Jordan Lam who lives in Devon, broke through only for Jon Brown to clear well.
It was a fierce battle in midfield but with scoring chances at a premium. Bradley Woolridge did well to foil one of the quick runs from Merthyr’s Ian Traylor.
Reffell also went on some good forages while at the other end Charlie Corsbie was just wide from a ball by Lam.
During the second half, Merthyr changes included trialist goalkeeper Alex Connell, over here from Melbourne and played some games for Haverfordwest last season, and Gavin Williams.
The first goal was on 71 minutes when a free-kick from Williams was turned into his own net by substitute Liam Black.
Emlyn Lewis, formerly with Aberystwyth, brought down McLaggon who drove in the spot-kick with 75 minutes gone.
Merthyr gave a run-out to a few of their development squad players, before Number 14 snatched a late goal for The Met.
Midfielder Matthew Harris is off his crutches after his knee operation but is not expected to play this coming season
At Saturday’s game was former captain Steve Williams who was waiting to decide where he will play following his season with Paulton Rovers who were relegated to Division One of the Southern League.
Former Martyrs Ross Porter will be manager of Welsh League side Treharris Western for 2016-17.