Martyrs hold on
Ten-man Merthyr earn draw against Weymouth
REALISTICALLY, Merthyr Town will do well now to scrape a play-off spot for The Vanarama National League Division One but will be likely to lose as they will face a tough away tie whoever they meet. Whatever the scenario, they will be up for the challenge.
But after only five points from five fixtures and without a home win in three, they are not yet assured of a top five place. After the weekend when 10-man Merthyr were held to a 2-2 draw by Weymouth, Banbury were breathing down their necks, just six points behind and with a game in hand.
On Tuesday night Banbury were home to Chesham, who could also yet make the play-offs, and the two sides may have a bearing on the final places, meeting again this Saturday in Buckinghamshire.
The Martyrs trailed nine points behind top team Chippenham with them and Leamington looking the most likely to take the title in the Evo-Stik Southern League Premier Division.
But Chippenham played on Sunday and won 2-1 with late goals at relegation-threatened Hayes and Yeading to go 12 points clear of Merthyr, both sides having seven games left. And this Saturday, Merthyr go to Chippenham hoping to dent the Wiltshire side’s hopes as well as help their own aspirations of the playoffs.
Merthyr are set to take at least two coaches full of fans as well as those travelling by car to face at 3pm a side unbeaten in 21 matches in what will be surely a tough fixture for the visitors.
In former Newport County player Andy Sandell, Chipp have the top league scorer while Merthyr’s marksmen have not been at their best in recent matches.
Against Weymouth, Merthyr were again without big striker Ryan Prosser struggling with a back complaint.
For the Weymouth game, Merthyr boss Gavin Williams looked on from afar, serving a touchline ban after disputing the referee in the previous game at Biggleswade where Merthyr won 3-0 and then the following Tuesday Biggleswade beat Slough Town, also in the play-offs berths, 3-0, showing that any team can beat anyone else in this competitive league.
And Williams was on crutches at the weekend after an accident at home which will lead to a visit to a specialist. He has made only two starts this season on the field, coming on 14 times and that way back in December. He will serve the last of his ban at Hardenhuish, Chippenham, leaving No 2 Dean Clarke again in main charge.
On Saturday the Merthyr club held their Players’ Reunion Day, most of the ex-Martyrs being from the 1970s era.
The men on parade included Phil Green, Ian Love, Ian Docherty, Chris Holvey, David Jones (Neath), Brian Chivers, Alan Mullins, Paul Keddle, Tony Davies, Paul Caviel, John Wakeham, Micky Lenihan, Alan Sullivan and Ceri Williams. Also there was former trainer Ieuan Evans, now 89.
A photographic lineup showed the squad of 1978 which reached the quarter-finals of the FA Trophy.
The sad news was that former manager Lyn Jones who led his side to European Cup Winners’ football in 1987, was not present. He is suffering from dementia, was in a care home but also has been in hospital as Ceri Williams regretted to announce.
The Porthcawl boss’ health has declined since the death of his wife but Merthyr fans will always remember “The Silver Fox’s” success at Penydarren Park (now The LoadLok Community Stadium).
MERTHYR TOWN ......... 2 WEYMOUTH .................. 2
IT’S hard to say if Merthyr would have taken all three points if playmaker Keyon Reffell had not been sent off early in the second half.
Although a goal up at the break, they hadn’t been at their passing best and might have taken a more commanding lead against a mid-table team who didn’t offer a lot other than through lively leftwinger Aaron Rodriguez.
The red card for Reffell seemed harsh, certainly from the player’s point of view and that of spectator Howard King, a former Football League referee.
But the man with the whistle, Steve Oakey of Cheltenham, refereed strictly and dished out several yellow cards.
Weymouth travelled to Wales on Friday, for a hotel stay in Merthyr, but they had just two on the bench. Meanwhile, The Martyrs were again without left-back Scott Barrow who was serving the second game of a threematch ban after being sent off against Hitchin Town.
Eliot Richards and Reffell were in action from the start, the latter unleashing a cross which crashed off the bar.
Rodriguez replied with an attack, repelled by goalkeeper Oliver Davies. A little later the same player had a good effort saved.
On 16 minutes Merthyr led when captain Ashley Evans rocketed the ball into the top corner after Curtis McDonald had headed on a throw from Jack Compton.
Ben Thomson pushed through for Weymouth only for McDonald to win the ball. At the other end a ball from Adam Davies saw Kayne McLaggon shoot but Tom McHale saved on the ground.
Merthyr bossed the first half but early after the break, a foul on Reffell went unpunished and off the ball, the Merthyr player seemed to kick back at an opponent. He was sent off, Merthyr having to regroup.
On 72 minutes former Cardiff City and Forest Green striker Stuart Fleetwood, on loan from Bath City, ran in to put the ball over the head of Oliver Davies to make it 1-1.
Merthyr made three subsitutions and one of the players, Corey Jenkins, was brought down by Stephane Zubar.
Another replacement, Kyle Copp, ex-Yeovil, equalised with a welltaken 77th-minute spotkick, after protests that the Weymouth player was “the last man” and should have gone off. Biut there were various views on that later.
Merthyr’s lead didn’t last long as three minutes later,a cross was met with a free header for Dean Evans to score a well-taken goal.
Merthyr held on for a point, Billy Lowes almost hitting a late winner for The Terras.
The attendance of 611 was the second Southern League highest of the day.