Martyrs aim to shoot down high-flying Hawks
THE high-flying Hawks need to be shot down if Merthyr Town are to go on a much-needed FA Cup run.
The Martyrs go to Vanarama National League Division One South outfit Havant and Waterlooville on Saturday (3pm ko). After earning £3,000 from their previous match, £4,500 is on offer for this second qualifying round fixture.
Merthyr will clearly be the underdogs but as one director said: “It might not prove to be so hard as people think. They will have to come at us.”
The Hampshire side were second after winning 1-0 at mid-table Gloucester on Saturday, Theo Widdrington scoring.
Havant faced St Albans City away on Tuesday. Before then, they had won six games, drawn two and lost two, with 16 goals scored and seven conceded. Merthyr were at Basingstoke on Tuesday, a side having won their latest three games.
But the good news for the Martyrs was that defender Cameron Pring, from Bristol City, has had his loan extended for another month, until October.
The Wooton-underEdge-based player was previously with Cheltenham.
“Everyone has been impressed with Cameron,” said football secretary Jamie Mack.
Central defender Curtis McDonald had a runout in a Merthyr XI’s 6-0 friendly win over Aberfan last midweek, following an injection.
“Ryan Prosser (striker) is still a month or so away from returning,” said Mack.
But Merthyr have a reasonably-sized squad, and with their defence on top form, they could force Havant to a replay, which would be on next Tuesday, all being well.
MERTHYR TOWN ......... 0 BISHOP’S STORTFORD 0
AFTER the six goals smashed home against Willand Rovers in the FA Cup, Saturday’s return to Evo-Stik South Premier football produced a dour encounter with few scoring chances for either side.
Stuart Fleetwood operated on the flank with loanee from Newport County Mo Touray a lone striker. Ian Traylor, back after three games of suspension, and another wide-man Kerry Morgan, came on as second-half substitutes. Eliot Richards was serving a one-game suspension.
Touray was well-held by the visiting defence as the Martyrs struggled to break their opponents down in the box. At the back, Merthyr were solid with former Swansea City man Scott Tancock superb. In goal, Oliver Davies had few direct attempts to save but excelled in the air, catching crosses with ease.
Bishop’s Stortford boss Kevin Watson said afterwards: “It was a good point for us after coming here on a long trip and playing on a 3G pitch. Merthyr are a good, experienced side with Fleetwood who looks like he has played a bit. This is a tough league and Merthyr are a good side.”
Tancock commented: “It was frustrating and they got what they came for.” Merthyr chairman Meurig Price was disappointed. “We have drawn too many games.”
And another director said: “We had only two shots in the first half with the keeper saving one with his legs.”
This was Merthyr’s fourth league draw in six matches. They had won twice, conceding just three goals.
Apolapi Akinyemi tested Davies early on before Corey Jenkins set up raids down the left, trying to find Touray but he was often foiled by Marvel Ekpieta.
The Londoners were strong at the back and happy to soak up pressure. The nearest Merthyr went to scoring was after 38 minutes when Adam Davies got in a header to Touray with his shot stopped by a defender, the ball going for a corner.
That resulted in a header from Jarrad Wright flashing wide.
At the other end Davies saved smartly from a longrange drive by Samel Hatton.
Early after the break, Fleetwood, hassled by two defenders, earned a corner.
There was effort from Merthyr but no end product. Akinyemi battled up front but lost out in aerial duels to determined Wright.
Kyle Copp drove over the bar for Merthyr before he was replaced by Traylor. Then Kerry Morgan and Jaye Bowen came on for Jenkins and Adam Davies but play became more frustrating as time went on.
However Wright got in a late header which was wide from Bowen’s corner and Touray had an effort blocked.
Third-from-bottom Stortford, relegated last season, had been chasing their first win this term.