MARTYRS EARN A VALUABLE POINT
MERTHYR Town manager Gavin Williams has done well to keep a strong squad together at the debt-hit club, and the team are unbeaten in three games after a draw at Farnborough.
No mean achievement with the loyal players who agreed to stay for the rest of the season turning out for much-reduced wages and turning down more lucrative offers from other south Wales clubs.
The Interim Board and supporters are battling to keep the club going and another Special General Meeting of the owners is lkely to be held soon to update the situation.
Fans are using the Romans bar downstairs at the LoadLok Community Stadium, Penydarren Park, as their base in a bid for more usage. And last Friday they kicked off with a Happy Hour (7pm-8pm). Fundraising ideas, including music nights, for the bar are under way. And fans are making full use of social media to list the facilities at the stadium which are available for hire.
The Interim Board are detailing the income and expenditure situation, making savings whenever possible.
At the club on January 26 (from 7pm) there is an Evening with Ray Wilkins. There may be a few tickets left to hear Ray talk about his career which took in Chelsea, Manchester United, AC Milan and England.
Tickets are £35 and include a two-course dinner. Anyone interested should contact the club.
On Saturday, there will be a tough battle on the field with second-inthe-table Kettering Town arriving in The Evo-Stik South Premier, 3pm start.
The Northants side were surprisingly held to a 1-1 home draw on Saturday with lowly Kings Langley. But the visitors pinched a point in stoppage time, leaving Kettering one point behind leaders King’s Lynn on the same number of fixtures played.
The Martyrs were 18th with everyone at the club hoping they can get over the financial problems to avoid a Company Voluntary Agreement. That would mean creditors accepting a certain amount of pence in the pound owing. It would also bring a 10 points deduction from the league.
With Gosport, seven points, and Dunstable, nine points at the weekend, Merthyr should still avoid the one relegation place but it wouldn’t be an ideal situation to lose points.
Top scorer Aaron O’Connor, a former Newport County player, got Kettering’s goal at the weekend. There were six players ruled out for Kettering for various reasons but they did have new signing Orrin Pendley from Redditch United.
Kettering boss is Marcus Law, a former Bristol Rovers and Stafford Rangers goalkeeper. Another former Newport player is Rene Howe, a striker whose other clubs include Peterborough, Torquay and Burton Albion.
Merthyr crashed 5-0 at Kettering this campaign but have generally done well against them, completing the double last season as they got to the playoffs semi-finals. Kettering’s Poppies TV (audio) hope to broadcast the game.
On the following Saturday Merthyr have another big task – going to Slough Town who have fallen to eighth place but have played just 21 games and are tipped for a play-off spot.
Despite turmoil at the club, Merthyr have done well on the field, with teenager Harry Franklin, on loan from Hereford, impressing. He came to Merthyr with his club wanting him to gain some first-team experience.
With Ryan Prosser back after missing early months of the season and Ian Traylor in scoring form, Merthyr could give Kettering a competitive game.
But Craig Reddy is suspended, the first of four games served last Saturday, while Jarrad Wright, send off at Farnborough, will also shortly be banned. He returned to face Farnborough after serving a one-game ban.
FARNBOROUGH TOWN 2 MERTHYR TOWN 2 .........
THIS match didn’t really come aliight until the final 22 minutes with four goals netted and two players given marching orders.
Farnborough made team changes after signing seven players and releasing others.
The first half was scrappy at times with not too much action to warm fans on a cold day.
Merthyr had the edge but without really looking likely to make it count.
Then Spencer Day’s Farnborough side led on 68 minutes. Dan Walker centred and Connor Calcutt headed home with goalkeeper Oliver Davies at a standstill.
A little later, Calcutt and Wright were dismissed after clashing. Merthyr shrugged off their numerical disadvantage to attack with zest. And on 76 minutes, scores were level Traylor surged through and as keeper Aiden Uoward advanced, lobbed the ball over him.
Five minutes later, Merthyr sensed a rare win (there having been just one since their debts picture was revealed). Traylor ran through on the left after Prosser got on to a poor Farnborough throwin, covered half the pitch, and put the ball away.
However, Farnborough didn’t give up and equalised three minutes from time.
Dan Walker beat Oliver Davies with a low drive just inside the box. And there were a frantic final few minutes with boith teams going for victory.
Luke King cleared off the line to prevent Traylor getting his hat-trick and Farnborough had a goal disallowed.