MERTHYR TOWN ......... 2 DORCHESTER TOWN ... 0
LAST Tuesday saw Merthyr earn a deserved win in a Pay as You Want Match, this coming after lights failure saw the game with Stratford Town abandoned.
The experiment worked fairly well, with an attendance of 603. There was less cash at the turnstiles than for the called-off fixture but the bar and tea chalet etc did well. And the club may try the idea out again sometime.
Dorchester were a little disappointing, failing to create much. Scotcher and Scott Barrow combined early on only for McLaggon to fire over the bar. After 25 minutes, there was a foul on Reffell and Barrow’s free kick was met by McLaggon who headed home past Shane Murphy in goal.
Traylor and Barrow did well early in the second half but then Merthyr lost their way, leaving the fans a little nervous.
Relief all round when after 77 minutes the second goal came. McLaggon netted from close range after a run by Traylor in which he got past two defenders.
Shortly afterwards, goalkeeper Garner had to make his first real save of the night from an effort by Neil Martin.
Afterwards, a Dorchester player said: “Merthyr deserved to win but they may find it harder on a grass pitch when they play us in February when our pitch could be like a cowpatch.”
After negotiations, Merthyr defender Adam Davies, Player of the Year 2015-16, decided to leave and sign for Hereford United, the ambitious club who are one division below Merthyr.
It was reported here in the summer that Hereford were eager lure him to Edgar Street, after the then Merthyr boss Steve Jenkins moved there as the No 2 to Peter Beadle.
Manager Williams said: “It is a major blow to lose Adam. We fought hard to keep him in the summer when there was interest in him, and we have tried to keep him again but he has decided to leave. For the last three seasons now we have lost our player of the year. It is frustrating because it makes it difficult to build a squad to challenge for the league, but unfortunately that is the nature of football, especially non-league football.”
Davies, from Merthyr Tydfil, has also played under Jenkins at Llanellii and Monmouth. He Merthyr in the summer of 2014. He made 115 appearances for the club, scoring one goal, and he played a big role in the club’s 2014/15 double-winning season. Last season he scooped all of the player of the season awards, helping the club win the Red Insure Cup, now titled The Southern League Challenge Cup.
Merthyr secretary Jamie Mack said: “We have suffered a blow with Adam Davies departing for Hereford. It is difficult for us to compete financially when Hereford come knocking so it was not surprising when they made an offer that was too good for him to turn down and one we were unable to match.”
On Saturday, Merthyr return to home duty, hosting Bedfordshire side Biggleswade (3pm).
While Merthyr were at Stratford Town this Tuesday, Biggleswade had a free night, coming after their 0-0 home tussle with full-timers Basingstoke on Saturday.
It was a dour encounter with, however, the Waders’ defence in top form. It’s Frome Town away on Wednesday, October 26 in another league game for Merthyr. After the weekend, Biggleswade were in 11th place, Frome were ninth, Merthyr were seventh, three points behind play-off side Hitchin and with two matches in hand.
Merthyr midfielder Jon Brown has gone to play football in Bangladesh on a four-month contract.
The former Hereford and Brackley Town player, in his second term with Merthyr, has also had two spells playing in Thailand.
Goalkeeper Oliver Davies has joined Merthyr Town after release from Swansea City. Davies was with Swansea since junior football and progressed through to their youth setup.