MARTYRS FOCUS ON LEAGUE AFTER FA CUP EXPLOITS
EVO-STICK SOUTHERN LEAGUE PREMIER
MERTHYR Town manager Gavin Williams soldiers on with his wounded army, hoping that some of the injured players will return to the ranks as they go back to Southern League duty on Saturday at Chesham in Buckinghamshire (3pm).
This will be the 11th away trip of the season and it has been tough going with long journeys and players ruled out with bumps and knocks.
Their Emirates FA Cup venture, with all three matches away, ended on Saturday at Whitehawk, Brighton, who ply their trade a level above The Martyrs in the English non-League pyramid.
Merthyr gave a good account but with six of the squad absent, it was always going to be hard to reach the final qualifying round and pick up £7,000 prize-money.
Meanwhile, Chesham made progress with a home win by 2-0 over Staines Town.
Next Tuesday Merthyr are at home to Dorchester in the Evo-Stik Southern League Premier (7.45pm) and it’s a Pay What You Want offer to the fans as a gesture after the game with Stratford Town was abandoned at the interval through lights failure when Merthyr were 1-0 up.
The Merthyr Town board hope for a large crowd with the team unbeaten at home with three league successes.
WHITEHAWK .................. 2 MERTHYR TOWN ........... 0
A depleted squad, with only three on the bench, faced a difficult ordeal on Saturday against a team from the Vanarama Na- tional League Division One South.
But, despite their problems, Merthyr matched their opponents in most departments. However, they didn’t take their chances while the seasiders did and progressed to the next round.
Getting game time in goals was Cameron Clarke, Merthyr opting to rest the experienced Glyn Garner.
Merthyr began playing down a considerable slope and against a strong wind, Ashley Evans soon going close with a 25-yard effort.
In defence for the home team, Reid and M’Bounguo impressed.
Ian Traylor and Curtis McDonald combined for Kayne McLaggon to net for Merthyr but he was ruled offside. Neither keeper was seriously tested and both defences were in outstanding form.
Traylor was one to watch by the home team and Ben Watkins was also prominent in runs down the right for Merthyr.
In the second half, Jarrad Wright and McDonald cleared early danger for The Martyrs.
A foul on Evans led to a free-kick taken by Elliot Scotcher with Keyon Reffell connecting but sending his effort wide. Strevens and Abdulla combined for Connolly to head the Hawks into the lead on the hour.
Corey Jenkins replaced Wright to add to Merthyr’s attacking hopes. A Scotcher free-kick was missed by Jenkins with keeper Munoz sending it into Traylor’s path but Strevens was able to clear the danger.
Gavin Williams came on for Evans and Curtis Hutson for Traylor with Merthyr still pressing. McDonald seemed to be brought down but the referee waved play on.
Jenkins twisted his knee and went off, leaving Merthyr down to 10 men and making the late stages all the tougher.
Merthyr left gaps at the back, throwing everyone in attack. And so late on, Torres got past Scott Tancock and sent the ball past Clarke for the second Hawks’ goal, leaving Merthyr conquered despite their brave efforts.
BANBURY UNITED ......... 1 MERTHYR TOWN ........... 1
A RE-SHUFFLED Merthyr side conceded a last-minute goal last midweek after a battling performance which deserved all the points.
With the Martyrs bidding to kill the game off late on as Ryan Prosser came on for Kayne McLaggon, Banbury never gave up and a cross led to Jack Self, ex-Didcot Town, firing an equaliser.
Merthyr were without the injured Adam Davies, Gethin Jones, Jon Brown, Corey Jenkins and Scott Barrow, so manager Gavin Williams had to make changes, giving Ben Watkins his debut.
Merthyr’s defence included Curtis McDonald, known at Banbury, having been with nearby Brackley Town for whom Merthyr players Brown and Kyle Patten have also played.
Merthyr were disallowed a goal early on, Kayne McLaggon netting but the referee deciding the lively striker had fouled keeper Jack Harding.
But on 28 minutes the impressive Ian Traylor crossed. McLaggon rose but Jarrad Wright connected with the ball and Merthyr were ahead.
Merthyr ran the show with captain Ashley Evans driving his men forward.
Industrious Keyon Reffell almost made it 2-0 before the break, but Ricky Johnson blocked the attempt.
Mike Ford, the Banbury boss, made substitutions in the second half but still Merthyr were in command. However, they were unable to get a second goal.
Traylor covered almost every blade of grass to frustrate the Oxfordshire team. At the back McDonald was strong while, although not busy, keeper Glyn Garner did well.
The Banbury media voted Merthyr the best side they had seen this season. But the game is not over until the final whistle and Banbury deserved credit for snatching a point at the death. Still Merthyr made it a win and three draws from their past four away matches.
Afterwards scorer Self said: “Merthyr were one of the best sides we have played this season and they will be there or near the top at the end.”
Meanwhile, the Merthyr team were left with just a point despite their fine performance considering the enforced changes.