CRUCIAL WIN AT SAINTS FOR MARTYRS
TENSION is mounting for Martyrs fans as they face three more games this season to clinch a playoffs spot in The Evo-Stik Southern League Premier Division.
Chippenham Town have virtually secured the automatic place to climb to The Vanarama National League Division One, and second-placed Leamington made sure of a playoff position with a nervous 0-0 home draw with lowly Kings Langley.
Meanwhile, Merthyr Town drove in two late goals and won at St Neots to maintain the last playoff spot – fifth – a point ahead of Banbury who earned the points at Cinderford who will be relegated after one season in the Premier Division.
What pleased Merthyr also was that third and fourth sides Hitchin and Slough both lost. They are now just three points ahead of Gavin Willams’ Merthyr side. So The Martyrs could yet get home advantage if they stay in the play-offs. If they end up third, they will be at home in the final week of April. If they stay fifth, they will be away, and at the moment, it looks as if they will have to travel to Leamington.
Merthyr would be the underdogs although Leamington missed out in the play-offs in 2015-16. Nothing is certain yet and Slough v Merthyr is a possibility if the former finish third and Merthyr fourth above Hitchin. The latter went down at home to Chippenham at the weekend.
At the LoadLok Community Stadium, Penydarren Park, Merthyr fans could get behind their side and might have the edge.
Injuries and suspensions have made it rather nervy for Merthyr in recent weeks but they have maintained their position.
On Saturday they hope for a big crowd to see them take on St Ives at The LoadLok (3pm). The Cambridgeshire visitors are 14th in the table and have netted just 47 goals, with only three rival teams scoring fewer. But they have let in only 66 goals, a better record than most clubs below them.
Their forwards include Danny Kelly, who has been with Norwich and Barnet. St Ives went down 2-1 at home to Weymouth at the weekend.
On Easter Monday (3pm) Merthyr are at Redditch United who have dropped down to 17th place. Redditch have struggled in the second half of the season but will probably be the sternest test for Merthyr in their remaining three fixtures. On Saturday they drew 2-2 at home to Basinstoke.
On Saturday, April 22 (3pm) Hayes and Yeading will travel from Middlesex to Merthyr for the last game this campaign. Hayes sit fourth from the bottom – in a relegation place. It could be that both sides will need points for different reasons as the play-offs and relegation fight goes to the wire.
ST NEOTS ...................... 2 MERTHYR TOWN ......... 3
TWO goals in the last seven minutes sealed a comeback as Merthyr inflicted their 10th home defeat of the season over the Cambridgeshire team who are not clear of relegation worries.
Plus news for Merthyr was the return of playmaker Keyon Reffell, after a three-game ban. He came straight back into the starting line-up but Merthyr were still without injured Curtis McDonald, Kayne McLaggon and Jack Compton.
The Saints had a poor start, conceding an own goal on two minutes. Ian Traylor crossed for The Martyrs and Taylor Parr could only turn the ball past his own goalkeeper, Alex Archer.
But it wasn’t going to be easy for the visitors and after 15 minutes Fernando Bell-Toxtie set up Declan Rogers to fire the leveller past keeper Oliver Davies. Ryan Prosser almost made it 2-2 but his effort went wide.
Merthyr didn’t create enough afterwards and on 34 minutes they were trailing. A long throw-in by Jonny Herd found Lee Clarke who sent a firm header spinning into the net.
It was nail-biting time for the small contingent of Martyrs fans. But things changed after the break, Merthyr bringing on three substitutes.
However, they were lucky to see the keeper stay on the field after he rushed out of goal and upended Jevani Brown but escaped with just a yellow card.
But time was running out for Merthyr.
Then in the 83d minute a Scott Barrow flag-kick reached Jarrad Wright and, as often in the past, he managed to force the ball home.
A point wouldn’t have helped Merthyr’s cause too much but, fortunately, they earned all three. There were just two minutes left when Traylor finished superbly, Barrow the provider from a throwin.
The Saints felt they deserved at least a point but it was a crucial win for Merthyr and joy all-round with chairman Meurig Price relieved after an anxious 90 minutes.