Brace of wins guarantee Martyrs a play-off place
PREMIER DIVISION REDDITCH UNITED ..... 0 MERTHYR TOWN ......... 1
MERTHYR Town snatched a win at Redditch United on Easter Monday to guarantee a place in the semi-finals of the play-offs for the Vanarama National League Division One.
Their maximum points in Worcestershire saw The Martyrs push up to third place in the EvoStik Southern League Premier Division as contenders Slough and Hitchin both drew while Banbury’s hopes of moving into a play-off spot were wrecked when they fell 1-0 away to secondplaced Leamington.
Now a bumper gate is likely at The LoadLok Stadium, Penydarren Park, on Saturday when a win against relegated Hayes and Yeading (3pm) will mean Merthyr will be home in the play-offs against whoever finishes in fourth place while Leamington will have home advantage over the side which ends up fifth.
After Monday’s matches, Hitchin were fourth on 85 points, one point behind Merthyr, and Slough fifth with 84 points. Leamington assured themselves of a home semifinal battle after beating Banbury.
It’s just one leg and the highest-placed team will be at home in the final. Hitchin go to Basingstoke on Saturday with Slough at home to Redditch. Merthyr can only finish third, fourth or fifth. They will expect to overcome Hayes who have had a poor season and must win to possibly avoid the drop.
In their home game with The Martyrs, it was a 6-1 triumph for Gavin Williams’ men (McLaggon 3, Traylor, Baggridge and an own goal) and he will hope to complete the double on Saturday. It is likely that winger Jack Compton, on loan from Newport County will still be sidelined with an ankle injury.
Merthyr were without free-scoring forward Ian Traylor at Redditch after he went off injured on Saturday. But former Southampton player Kayne McLaggon lined up in attack with recent signing Josh Bull and Corey Jenkins. McLaggon came on as a substitute at the weekend, wearing protective headgear, having missed recent games because of a fractured cheek-bone sustained at Chippenham Town which required surgery.
Redditch earned a home draw with Kings Langley on Saturday to make sure of avoiding relegation.
Before a big crowd of travelling fans, Merthyr dominated the 90 minutes against Redditch and possibly should have had more than one goal.
The goal came after 65 minutes when captain Ashley Evans drove home, helped by a deflection.
Merthyr president Owen Money, a Radio Wales presenter, praised the players. He said: “They are all from the Valleys and don’t just play for the money as some have in the past.”
He added that the manager had done a good job in recruiting the players according to the club’s budget.
MERTHYR TOWN 2 ST IVES TOWN 0
FRUSTRATION, then realisation that the play-offs bid was very much on as The Martyrs eventually found a way to prise open the Cambridgeshire side’s defence on Saturday.
The visitors were halfway in the table but their aim seemed to be to keep marauding Merthyr out rather than try to win the game themselves.
From the start, they strung five men across the back and four in midfield, leaving Dubi Obgonna as a lone striker who had to run around in the hope that the ball would occasionally come to him.
St Ives changed the formation only when they went 2-0 down. Merthyr goalkeeper Oliver Davies scarcely had a shot to collect.
But it was a nervy first half for Merthyr. They needed someone who could burst through the middle and cause confusion in the box.
Most of their attacks ended with crosses which were meat and drink to the St Ives rearguard.
Danger man Ian Traylor took a nasty knock and had to receive treatment as he tried to open up play in the opening half.
At times, Merthyr’s passing was not at its best as the game wore on without a breakthrough. Tom McGowan, ex-Northampton, looked useful for The Hives on occasions when they tried to break forward.
Scott Barrow, on the left for Merthyr, sent over lots of centres but there were few scoring opportunities as a result.
The home fans were getting anxious too in a bumper holiday crowd. But they had to wait until the second half for the first goal.
On 56 minutes Keyon Reffell was pushed over just inside the penalty area by Charlie Day and bearded Ryan Prosser who has been struggling with back and hamstring injuries, drove the spotkick past keeper Tim Trebes.
Before the game, Prosser had been given a presentation from chairman Meurig Price to mark the player’s 150th goal for the club. By the 70th minute, his tally was 152 as he got Merthyr’s second goal, just getting his head to a cross from Barrow who is often instrumental in causing problems for opponents.
Then The Hives began to play some constructive football – but it was too little too late.
On 75 minutes came their first real threat when Ogbonna had a chance but headed wide.
As play came to a close, news came through that Banbury, just below Merthyr but hoping to get into the play-offs, had drawn at home to third-placed Hitchin Town. The Martyrs moved up, on the day that Chippenham Town finished top to grab the one automatic promotion place even though they lost at home to St Neots to end their 23-game unbeaten run.
Also before kick-off, Mr Price gave an award to Ian Traylor who marked his 300th appearance for Merthyr at the game at Kings Langley on April 1.
On Thursday April 20 at Romans room at Merthyr’s ground, The LoadLok Stadium, the club’s annual meeting will be held at 7.30pm.
Before Saturday’s match, there will be a business lunch at the club, 12.30-2.45 when Merthyrborn Tony Mahoney will be the guest speaker. Now of Malta, he began as a bank clerk before progressing to head a team of 31,000.
Two local poets, Mike Jenkins and Julie Pritchard, who were at the club’s Webley’s Bar recently, had their work in the match programme on Saturday. Three other poets are expected to be included in next Saturday’s programme.