Trophy hunters
Martyrs ready for FA Trophy challenge
AFTER four defeats in five Evo-Stik South Premier matches, before Tuesday’s home clash with Stratford Town, Merthyr Town look to silverware for better things.
They travel to Somerset on Saturday (ko 3pm) to meet Taunton in the first qualifying round of the Buildbase FA Trophy.
It’s going to be another tough challenge for the Martyrs. Taunton appear to have splashed the cash in the summer to strengthen the squad and they currently lead the Evo Stik South West, a step below Gavin Williams’ team.
A disappointed Williams saw Merthyr lose two games on the road in five days, both with late drama at Weymouth and at Hitchin.
Taunton had a convincing 4-1 triumph over Winchester City in the league on Saturday as they recorded their seventh win in a row. That saw them with nine wins from 11 games, one draw and one loss, with 25 goals for and 13 conceded. They were at Slimbridge on Wednesday night.
So Merthyr will need to be at their best at the Viridor Stadium against the Peacocks if they are to make progress in their last cup competition of this campaign. Taunton manager Leigh Robinson has stressed the importance of the match with Merthyr. And Williams will want to get something after his side lost their past three away matches.
The Taunton midfield includes the experienced Les Afful, formerly with Exeter, Torquay (on loan), Forest Green and Truro. Born in Liverpool, he is of Caribbean descent. He scored 41 goals for Truro in 277 games. Their strikers include Matt Wright. He has also starred for Truro. He began his career with Swansea City and Crystal Palace. He helped Salisbury win the Southern Premier play-offs before a stint in Sweden, then playing for Tiverton and Bideford before Truro.
The Merthyr boss has tried different formations this season. The feeling of some fans before the Stratford game was that Merthyr can match any team going forward but they are giving away too many simple goals.
For Merthyr supporters travelling over the Severn Bridge, the admission prices at Taunton are £8 adults, concessions £6, Under-19s £3, and under14s free.
Taunton beat AFC Totton 2-1 in the preliminary round replay after a 1-1 draw at home.
If a replay is needed, it will be at the LoadLok Stadium, Penydarren Park, on Tuesday (7.45pm).
HITCHIN TOWN ............ 2 MERTHYR TOWN ......... 0
THE Martyrs might have snatched a point on Saturday away to the team who pipped them in the playoffs semi-finals last season.
In the final minute Kyle Copp went down under a challenge, possibly easily, it seemed. He picked himself up to take the awarded penalty. But goalkeeper Michael Johnson, the bane of Merthyr in previous meetings, saved. Merthyr pushed forward but the Canaries were on song, broke and Elliott Bailey tapped home the second goal in the first minute of stoppage time.
It wasn’t a great game to watch with some Merthyr followers having travelled from London, and was often scrappy and made difficult by the strong wind, Merthyr didn’t look too likely to find the net. Oliver Davies, the Merthyr keeper, was kept busy and early on saved a free kick from Ben Walster. Stuart Fleetwood tried a snap shot for Merthyr but Johnson gathered.
Brett Donnelly missed a great chance for Hitchin, chipping the ball over after a muddle between Davies and Kyle Patten.
After a goal-less opening half, Merthyr felt that the game was there for the taking. But on 61 minutes, the visiting defence failed to clear a free kick by Charlie Smith and the loose ball came to Bailey who headed in.
Merthyr got more into the game when Mo Touray and Kerry Morgan came on to liven them up but the home defence was solid.
The Martyrs forced several corners and when Kavan Cotter brought down Copp, the travelling fans were hoping. But their hopes were dashed.
Merthyr were then left in ninth place in the EvoStik Premier, seven points behind the play-offs where Hereford were fifth but having played two fewer games.
WEYMOUTH TOWN ...... 3 MERTHYR TOWN ......... 2
THE Dorset side improved their play-offs push with a late winner last Tuesday, leaving Merthyr’s Williams dejected.
Brandon Goodship got a hat-trick with goals in the 40th, 54th and 87th minutes with Ian Traylor (25 mins) and Eliot Richards (64) replying before a 527 crowd.
The Merthyr manager praised the fans who made the long midweek trip on a wet and windy night.
Overall, Merthyr played well enough but were again let down by defensive errors.
Goalkeeper Travis held a shot from Richards with Merthyr starting promisingly. And they led on 25 minutes after a long kick out by Oliver Davies. The ball bounced and Wells failed to clear, allowing Traylor to nip in and net from 12 yards. Weymouth pushed back and from one corner, Kyle Patten did well to head away.
But near half-time Curtis McDonald fouled Brooks, earned a yellow card, and Goodship scored from the penalty.
Goodship was on form and he got past Patten and Jarrad Wright to score Weymouth’s second goal.
The Dorset side looked on top until Merthyr stormed back. Fleetwood sent in a near post shot with the ball coming off the legs of Travers and Richards volleyed into the top corner of the net.
Both sides battled to try and get a winner. Kerry Morgan came on for Traylor who suffered a slight hamstring injury.
Later, Touray replaced Fleetwood and Merthyr hoped to hang on for a point. But hesitancy in their defence allowed Goodship to fire home the winner.
Copp replaced Ashley Evans in a last throw of the dice but Weymouth grabbed the points with Williams saying he was sorry that Merthyr couldn’t hang on for a deserved point.
In November, tickets will go on sale for the Merthyr v Hereford Boxing Day clash which is expected to attract a 2,000plus gate, with hundreds of Hereford fans likely to make the short trip. Hereford will themselves arrange their tickets sales.
The Merthyr board are making plans for the day. Fans will be segregated. The kick-off time is yet to be arranged but 1pm is a possibility with the police being consulted.