Hip hip Touray!
Striker Momodou Touray was so impressive in pre-season friendly against the Martyrs, they signed him on loan:
TWO loan signings have boosted Merthyr Town who hope to extend their unbeaten Evo-Stik South Premier run when they play at home to Farnborough (3pm) at The LoadLok Stadium, Penydarren Park, on Saturday.
Gavin Williams’ Martyrs side got a big lift with a 6-0 triumph at Dunstable on Saturday, albeit against a struggling outfit with a zero playing budget.
Momodou Touray, a promising player from Newport County’s Academy has joined Merthyr on a three-month loan, with Matthew Harris going to Briton Ferry to boost his match fitness.
Touray came on as a substitute at Dunstable where Cameron Pring, a loanee from Bristol City, again did well for Merthyr at left-back.
Merthyr manager Gavin Williams said “We were impressed with Momodou during our preseason friendly, and we look forward to working with him during his time with us.
“I would like to thank Newport County for agreeing to the loan which I am sure will be beneficial to all parties, and it continues the good relationship we have with Newport.”
Farnborough who have had some difficult times in recent seasons visit Merthyr Town with the Hampshire side trying to climb back up the non-Leaque pyramid.
At the weekend they went down 3-1 at home to improved Redditch to see them in 17th spot in the table, having won once away but lost their two home encounters.
Merthyr and Farnborough have met in the past when both were in the then Vauxhall Conference, now The Vanarama National League.
The club were formed in 1967 but re-formed in 2007 after financial problems.
Perry Coles scored for them on Saturday, having joined the club nearly a year ago, after netting 44 goals in one season for Camberley.
He has also been with Guildford City.
DUNSTABLE TOWN .... 0 MERTHYR TOWN ......... 6
Merthyr swept aside a young Dunstable side in a very one-sided match at Creasey Park with Corey Jenkins and Stuart Fleetwood both getting a brace.
Kerry Morgan, the former Swansea, Newport, Bath, Neath, Mangotsfield and Cirencester wide-man, now back with his home club, started with Ian Traylor on the bench. He along with Ben Watkins turned out to be unused substitutes while Touray and Jaye Bowen came on, Touray playing a part in one of the goals.
Dunstable leaked nine goals in their first two games, and trailed on eight minutes.
Eliot Richards, the former Bristol Rovers midfielder, sent the ball through for Corey Jenkins to run on with ease and put the ball out of the reach of goalkeeper Gary Malone.
Merthyr goalie Oliver Davies was called into action eventually, but saving an effort from Brandi Makundi after 18 minutes.
Daniel Triff, who worked hard for the home side, brought down Fleetwood after 22 minutes and the same player stepped up to net from the spot-kick.
Dunstable were under constant pressure after the break, despite the prompting from skipper John Sonuga, and on 46 minutes Jenkins hit his second after a pass from Fleetwood, the muchtravelled forward who
scored 17 goals for Weymouth, on loan from Bath last season.
Former Swansea and Yeovil player Kyle Copp rapped in a terrific free-kick in the 62nd minute after a foul on Richards.
The 67th minute saw Fleetwood race down the right flank to move in and put the ball past a despairing Malone. On 79 minutes it was the turn of substitute Ashley Evans who banged in goal number six.
Merthyr moved up to ninth spot in the table with Banbury, King’s Lynn and Kettering at the top, with maximum points.
Merthyr fans made up almost half of the attendance.
STRATFORD TOWN ........ 2 MERTHYR TOWN ............ 2
It was just a point for The Martyrs in midweek last week after they had taken a 2-0 lead. And both teams ended with 10 men, the referee sending two players off- Ian Traylor for Merthyr.
Manager Williams selected the same squad as that which drew at home to Hitchin Town in the opening match.
Defender Jarrad Wright headed Merthyr into the lead on 27 minutes. Scott Tancock powered home a second for Merthyr in the 38th minute to record his first goal for the club since joining from Swansea City.
Before the break some poor defending let Stratford pull a goal back through Jazz Luckie on 40 minutes.
Five minutes into the second half and the tussle was all level. The scorer was given as Edwin Ahenkorah but there may have been a slight deflection and possibly ‘keeper Oliver Davies might have done better.
There was more drama on the hour with a melee involving most of the players. Traylor, Merthyr, and Ben Stephens, Stratford, were shown a red card. It looked later as if Merthyr had been awarded a penalty but the referee changed his mind, foiling hopes of a third Martyrs goal.
After Merthyr’s 2-0 lead, the home team were on top and it left the visitors disappointed with only two points from their first two games and in 17th place out of 24 teams. But the first-half approach was excellent and possibly a point seemed the likely reward from the start, bearing in mind Stratford’s form last campaign. Attendance 258 Former Bristol City and Merthyr forward Alois (Alec) Eisenstrager has died. He scored 57 goals in 246 games for Bristol City before joining Merthyr in 1958. He was 90, and a one-time prisoner of war, Martyrs fan from Bristol, Rod Vickery said:”A great player. I met him years ago when I was about 17, a real gent.”
At 1pm on Saturday, before the Farnborough clash, some of the Merthyr directors (those who are not on voluntary duties )will host a meeting to answer fans’ questions,either at the Romans bar or Webley’s.
Several former Merthyr players featured in the Welsh League game between Taff’s Well and Goytre on Saturday, with ex-Martyr Andrew (Bambi) Needs the Taff’s Well co-assistant manager.
On August Bank Holiday Monday a big crowd is expected at Edgar Street when Hereford host Merthyr (3pm). Hereford, climbing back up the ladder after re-forming, haven’t found it so easy so far after promotion last season, having won one game, drawn one and lost one. This is very much a local derby and will certainly be the Match of The Day in the league.
Former Merthyr boss Steve Jenkins is now No 2 at Hereford who signed Keyon Reffell from Merthyr in the summer.