Merthyr Town braced for possible exodus of players
MERTHYR Town were bracing themselves this week for the possible exodus of players with the January transfer window to the Welsh Premiership open.
The Martyrs, under manager Gavin Williams, were able to field a strong side against big-spenders Hereford on Boxing Day, gaining a creditable draw, despite the half a dozen players who left the club when the wages cut was announced.
But there were fears in the New Year of more of the experienced footballers quitting the LoadLok Community Stadium, Penydarren Park, with clubs such as Barry Town and Carmarthen Town looking for new signings and able to offer more than Merthyr’s reduced money.
The club could face a difficult rest of the season if they have to rely on more of their youth team players who, however, are learning fast when called upon to complement the squad.
Williams was hoping to make two loan signings late in the year but the move was delayed when both the players were injured.
In the meantime, the club’s interim board are tackling the debts situation and with a view to move forward as well as discussing matters with their Merthyr Council landlords.
A further-weakened side could bring problems with Merthyr down to 18th place in the Evo-Stik South Premier although only the bottom club will be relegated. That is Gosport, while the team above them, Dunstable, come to Merthyr on Saturday (ko 3pm).
Thanks to the fans organising Just Giving online donations, the PAYE bill has been met. A market stall selling club memorabilia etc, raffles and other fundraising schemes have also boosted the club who announced last week a total debt of £90,000, including a £30,000 overdraft.
The interim board are cutting expenditure allround at the club and seeking to boost income to survive.
The Just Giving campaign to raise funds to pay amounts owed to HMRC has been completed with all of the proceeds released to the club, minus Just Giving receiving 5% commission of the total raised. The Just Giving page was set up in the aftermath of the club’s 13-1 defeat at Chesham with a £2.5k target, when at that point the extent of the amount owed was not known. Following a public meeting the target was adjusted to £25k.
Interim chairman Paul Donovan said: “The club have been overwhelmed by the donations received from everyone via Just Giving. There have also been numerous other fundraising initiatives including bucket collections at Cardiff City, Swansea City and Newport County which has meant that we have now settled the amount owed to HMRC including interest. The remaining money will be ring-fenced to go towards future tax owed.
“I would like to personally thank the Dial M for Merthyr boys for all of their fundraising activities, along with others who have raised money, and of course the donors for their support and generosity.”
The club will keep owners updated going forward with regards to the financial situation of the club with other debts still owed.
Dunstable Town are also struggling financially and lost to The Martyrs 6-0 in Bedfordshire last August.
But they had a surrprise second win of the season on Boxing Day 2-1 at Banbury United with scorers Kieran Ogden and Peter Kioso.
Willams will be hoping for a Merthyr victory but it will depend on what players he can keep for the rest of the season.
Nick Hayes, the Dunstable goalkeeper, is a member of the England Under19s squad. Arel Amu is the leading scorer.
MERTHYR TOWN ......... 0 HEREFORD .................... 0
A HEROIC performance saw Merthyr arrest ambitious Hereford’s tilt for the title before a huge Boxing Day crowd of 2,612.
And the Martyrs, with a meagre wage bill against a top-earning side aiming to one day return to the Football League, were unfortunate not to win after creating more chances.
The attendance also helped raise much-needed Merthyr cash.
Gavin Williams had been considering being at least on the bench but this didn’t happen after he had been unwell over Christmas.
The visitors from over the border paraded five ex-Merthyr players in their squad as well as former Merthyr boss Steve Jenkins, now number two to Peter Beadle.
The Hereford fans filled the Theatre Royal terrace end but could not urge their team to a win. They are strongly tipped for automatic promotion but have a backlog of games.
Late on, Merthyr fans in the grandstand, leapt to their feet as they thought Merthyr had scored. But with only keeper James Horsell to beat, substitute Harrison Lewis, of the development squad, could only fire wide.
A fine double save from Ian Traylor and Lewis by Horsell also foiled Merthyr. At the other end, Oliver Davies, returning to the club in goal to help out having quit over the wages slash, was rarely troubled by free-scoring striker John Mills.
Merthyr began well with Ryan Green having to push the ball back as Traylor ran through.
Some of Merthyr’s passes went astray but Jaye Bowen threatened with a shot over the bar on 18 minutes. Adam Davies and Traylor combined only for former Merthyr loanee Cameron Pring to concede a Hereford corner.
Eliot Richards put the ball well over the Merthyr bar before a Mills ball was well headed away by Ashley Evans.
Ryan Prossser chased through for the home side but his effort went wide of the post.
The second half continued to be competitive, with Jamie Bird making some ground up front for Hereford. Keyon Reffell might have done better when he fired wide after Merthyr defender Jarrad Wright had lost the ball.
Matthew Harris, back this season after two years sidelined through injury, was on top form for Williams’ men, stemming many moves. Bowen had to limp off injured, with Lewis coming on. Traylor set up Prosser but he headed wide.
Hereford replied in quick breaks but without really threatening, and Merthyr looked more likely to score.
The side enjoyed a fine ovation at the end, having drawn both games this term with Hereford, after a 1-1 game at Edgar Street on Boxing Day.
Hereford boss Peter Beadle said: “They started great, we didn’t start so well and took a little while to get going. We’re disappointed because we’ve been so good up until today, we didn’t match their energy, desire and they wanted it more than we did.”
MERTHYR TOWN ......... 0 KING’S LYNN ................. 1
A SIMPLE goal was enough to give the Norfolk visitors a win and Merthyr defender Jarrad Wright was sent off in the second half.
The Martyrs were able to field a strong squad (but without injured Kerry Morgan) and overall enjoyed more possession but found it difficult in the box to create too many scoring chances. Fans rallied to back Merthyr with the gate of 502 up on the average and creditable for just before Christmas.
They introduced big Ryan Prosser in the second half and he made his presence felt as King’s Lynn were frequently pushed back.
Merthyr began in lively fashion with Ian Traylor pulling the strings to twist and turn to torment defenders. But Lynn went ahead on six minutes. Simon Lappin, ex-Norwich, Cardiff and Scotland Under-21s, crossed. Wright miss-judged the flight of the ball for Michael Gash to easily beat goalkeeper Oliver Davies, back to help the side out, with Cameron Clarke and Ed Hewitson both injured.
Adam Davies sent through some good crosses. From one, Corey Jenkins was unable to connect. A Lappin centre was well caught by Oliver Davies.
Merthyr forced successive corners and Lynn didn’t look so special considering their position.
Keeper Alex Street pushed away a Jenkins effort and Traylor saw a header cleared off the line.
Craig Parker missed a good chance to make it 2-0.
The second half saw Merthyr still looking more dangerous, and on 63 minutes Street did well to stop a shot at the near post.
Then just after midway in the half, it looked hard for Merthyr.
Wright was shown a red card after bringing down an opponent after an underhit pass by Matthew Harris.
The 10 men handicap didn’t worry Merthyr who were urged on by the crowd, but Lynn defended well in the box to win.
MERTHYR TOWN ......... 1 BASINGSTOKE TOWN .. 1
A TEAM of experience and youth gave their all and deserved to take all the points against a big, strong opposition.
But for the second successive match, Merthyr saw their keeper off injured. It was Cameron Clarke at Kings Langley, and he recovered from concussion to see his replacement Ed Hewitson, the 15-year-old youth keeper, hurt just before half-time. He continued after treatment but for the second half, he was replaced by Wright, with youth player Harrison on as a substitute
Merthyr served up some good passing football but the manager rested big guns Prosser, Traylor and Ashley Evans, all on the bench but not coming on.
Connor Hanford did well in defence, and Merthyr paraded Harry Franklin, aged 18, who had signed on loan from Hererford. He showed good control and running and after one surge, almost scored. Kerry Morgan had to go off injured before the break, with diminutive forward Jacob Flower coming on.
Basingstoke led on 67 minutes with Callum Bunting heading past Wright from a well-taken corner. But Merthyr hit back and got an 81st minute leveller. The ball came across for Miles John, with Cinderford Town last season. He looked to have lost it at first but then hooked his effort into the top far corner of the net to the delight of home fans who applauded the team off at the end.
FROME TOWN ............... 1 MERTHYR TOWN ......... 2
A FIRST win for Merthyr since their cash crisis came to light ended with both sides reduced to 10 men.
An incident saw Merthyr’s Craig Reddy and Frome’s Roberts shown red cards.
But the victory was deserved and gave the beleaguered club a good start to 2018.
Wide-man Kerry Morgan returned after injury to play up front with Ryan Prosser and Ian Traylor for this New Year’s Day clash.
Early play was fairly even on a pitch that had passed an early inspection.
Ashley Evans was involved in a period of pressure from the Martyrs.
Frome took a 35th minute lead through Jonathan Davies after a slip by Merthyr keeper Oliver Davies.
Just before the break, Prosser was hurt and limping.
Merthyr began the second half well and Evans fired narrowly wide before Frome missed a good chance to extend their lead, a player firing over from close range.
In the 65th minute, Merthyr were back in the game with Traylor equalising.
The Martyrs kept pressing, and Harry Franklin, on loan from Hereford, saw his shot stopped by the home keeper on 77 minutes.
And three minutes later it was Traylor again who gave Merthyr the lead, to the delight of the travelling supporters.
The sendings-off came in stoppage time as the Martyrs held on to the three points.