Martyrs seek Kettering double
A DOUBLE is sought for Merthyr Town as they travel to reputed bigspenders Kettering Town on Saturday (3pm) in The Evo-Stik Southern League Premier Division.
The Martyrs earned a 2-0 win when they met in South Wales in November, Ian Traylor and loanee from Crawley Town Josh Yorwerth the Merthyr scorers.
The Northants club, who play at Latimer Park, Burton Latimer, were tipped to be among the promotion favourites but they have largely occupied a mid-table place. However, manager Marcus Law is still pursuing hopes of a play-off, knowing that Merthyr, in fourth spot, will give them a battle. After the weekend Kettering were ninth, eight points behind Merthyr.
Kettering include in their squad forward Aaron O’Connor, exRushden and Diamonds, Luton, Newport and Forest Greeen (Stevenage on loan). He was with Newport County when Merthyr defender Scott Tancock was there on loan from Swansea in 2014. Another former Newport player at Kettering is Rene Howe. Bedford-born, he has been with 12 clubs, including some as a loan player. He made his mark at Kettering previously when he grabbed goals in one match.
Kettering were scheduled to meet Leamington away on Tuesday after Saturday’s game at Dunstable was called off because of a frozen centre circle.
Gavin Williams, Merthyr manager, will have Traylor back in contention for the trip, the wide man having been unavailable last Saturday for the scheduled home clash with second-placed Hitchin Town. Unfortunately, the match was postponed. After the snow of Thursday and Friday, the 3G pitch was frozen. An 8am inspection was called for. Although, the field might have been playable by the afternoon, there had to be caution. If the match officials and the Hertordshire team had arrived and the referee called the game off, Merthyr would be hit with expenses. Hitchin were due to leave at 8.30am. If the opponents were nearer, an earler inspection would have been arranged. Merthyr were fourth and bidding to keep an unbeaten home run in the league.
The postponement was disappointing as the fixture was eagerly awaited in the promotion battle. It did bring comments from some Matryrs fans, and those from other clubs, five on social media. But a 3G pitch can’t beat all kinds of weather. Extreme cold causes the rubber and grass components to freeze.
If a ground is possibly dangerous, then it is unplayable.
A club statement in the morning read: “Today’s match at home to Hitchin Town has been postponed due to frozen pitch from heavy overnight frost.
“The decision was made by a Southern League rep- resentative and a referee at the pitch inspection earlier on this morning and concluded that the risk was too great in regards to the players’ safety which is paramount.”
Merthyr’s home game with Redditch United was also ruled out on January 2 after the pitch froze. In between, Merthyr had a 2-0 win at Cirencester with goals by Ryan Prosser and Kayne McLaggon.
Since then Merthyr goalkeeper Glyn Gar- ner and central defender Gethin Jones have gone to Cirencester on loan. Both had been on the bench recently at Merthyr, the players having signed for Gavin Williams from Cirencester last season.
Merthyr are home to King’s Lynn on Tuesday, January 24 in a rearranged game (7.45pm) which the Norfolk side tried to get played on December 29.
The Linnets have not been doing too well this campaign. In 14th spot at the weekend, they are way behind play-off hopefuls.
Lynn were home to Biggleswade on Tuesday after going down 2-1 at highriding Chippenham on Saturday in a tough tussle.
Merthyr drew at Lynn on day one of the season, Ryan Prosser the marksman.
The re-arranged game with Redditch will be at Merthyr on Tuesday, January 31 (7.45pm).