MARTYRS HOPE FOR TWO WINS ON THE BOUNCE
WITH only one victory in 15 matches since November when news of the club’s spiralling debts was announced, Merthyr Town will look for two wins on the bounce.
On Saturday they go to bottom club Gosport Borough (3pm start) and on Tuesday, February 13, the side next to the foot, Dunstable, are at Merthyr’s LoadLok Community Stadium, Penydarren Park (7.45pm).
Gavin Williams, Merthyr manager, and his players have been praised by the way they have responded after wages were heavily cut but it has been difficult on the field, especially as recent games have been against top sides battling for the playoffs.
On Saturday Merthyr will still be minus central defender Jarrad Wright, serving the last of his fourgame ban, but local man Craig Reddy, in midfield, will be available for the Hampshire trip, after his four-match suspension.
Gosport have just eight points with two wins and two draws and lost 5-0 at Merthyr in October. They had netted just 18 goals by the weekend, having leaked 95, and on Tuesday were home to table-toppers King’s Lynn.
Gosport went down 5-0 at Banbury United at the weekend while Dunstable lost to the same score at King’s Lynn.
So the Merthyr boss will be looking for double success after his side sank to 20th place in the table after losing to Weymouth.
Only one team will be relegated this season due to non-league football being re-organised next term.
Merthyr have 34 points from 32 games with 51 goals for and 70 conceded.
When The Martyrs went to Dunstable early in the season, they won by 6-0 but five of the team are no longer with the club.
Another player went last week when goalkeeper Cameron Clarke, concussed at Kings Langley, in December, quit, saying he wanted to play more football. He had been on the bench recently with Oliver Davies still with the club.
Clarke, from Ponypridd, rejoined The Martyrs from Cinderford Town. He was a spectator at Saturday’s game.
There was some cheer before the Weymouth tussle when Ian Traylor received a trophy, a silver tray, from the club to mark him reaching 150 goals for Merthyr. The former Pontypridd and Cwmaman wide-man received the award from Phil Mack, club secretary, and Wayne Cooper.
There was a minute’s silence beforehand in memory of former trainer and physio Ieuan Evans who died recently.
Saturday’s attendance was down due to the Wales v Scotland rugby but there were two interested visitors from the northern region of Malta. The duo with Swieqi, a club in The Maltese BOV League, so called because of their links with The Bank of Vallletta, met club officials.
They were shown around the stadium by Dominic Mahoney, Merthyr’s Community Development Officer, the son of Tony Mahoney who is a finance worker in Malta but from Merthyr Tydfil.
Dominic said: “Swieqi don’t have some of the things that we have here, such as Walking Football.”
So he explained the setup at Merthyr and how the club works in the community. The visitors also went to see the University of Wales at Cardiff.
They were impressed by what they saw in South Wales.
There was also praise from the Weymouth officials for the hospitality they enjoyed and for Merthyr’s stadium.
Meanwhile, off the pitch the Interim Board are meeting regularly and seeking advice and help to survive and also to plan forward.
The financial picture was painted last Thursday when a Special General Meeting was held just for the “owner fans”.
The club state that volunteers are needed to help in tasks on match days and during the week.
MERTHYR TOWN ......... 0 WEYMOUTH .................. 3
THE Martyrs’ build-up saw them gain plenty of possession but Weymouth gained a comfortable win – their third in a week – to climb to second spot in The Evo-Stik South Premier on Saturday.
Merthyr earned a number of corners before the seaside team got their first but when the ball came across, Ashley Wells and captain Jake McCarthy cleared any danger with some solid headers.
You couldn’t fault Merthyr’s efforts and they went close when captain Ashley Evans headed over the bar from a Corey Jenkins corner.
When Weymouth attacked, Merthyr were let off the hook with Kyle Patten, returning after injury, booting off the line from regular scorer Brandon Goodship.
Ryan Prosser worked tirelessly up front for The Martyrs, running off one injury, but the away defence and goalkeeper Will Dennis were solid.
Then the visitors led on 34 minutes, Abdulai Baggie centred from the left flank to see Harry Baker, unmarked, swoop high to head past Davies.
Just before the break Dennis did well to save at the foot of the post from an Adam Davies drive.
Merthyr began the second half with determination and another header form Evans sailed wide.
But it looked tough when on 65 minutes Weymouth netted again. Merthyr lost possession as Evans got into a tangle with Calvin Brooks sending through Josh Carmichael who easily netted.
Merthyr again displayed some good football, and Prosser forced Dennis to save superbly. Seven minutes from the end, any Merthyr hopes of a consolation went when a cross from Brooks was gratefully snapped up by an unmarked Goodship to head past Davies and delight Terras travelling fans.
MERTHYR VETERANS . 3 CARDIFF ACADEMICALS ............. 1
NEAT passing football led to a merited win for Merthyr Over-50s although The Accies rallied in the second half.
Playing at The LoadLok Community Stadium on Sunday, the home side fielded a strong squad, even without the influential Ross Wakeley and Keith Williams.
Merthyr attacked well through the centre of the park to pressurise the Cardiff opponents. Clive Evans was effective pushing through on the flank with Chris Jones showing good ball control up front.
The Accies were welldrilled but when attacking, they were thwarted by Chris Cleaver and Paul Jones.
Gerry Hatch found space on the right for Merthyr and forced a stop from the visiting keeper.
The breakthrough goal was on 12 minutes after Gary Jones and Chris Jones were involved. The ball came across for Paul Otway, who travels from Lampeter, who tucked the ball away.
The Cardiff men were beaten back again with the score at 2-0 in the 16th minute. A through pass found Chris Jones with only the keeper to beat and he did with ease.
Lazza and Penketh worked hard to get The Accies pushing forward but Merthyr were still in charge and twice Carl Lewis was denied by the keeper.
Welsh and Miles combined for The Accies but again Paul Jones cleared danger.
The Cardiff team started the second half well but then Merthyr earned a corner. Otway threatened, having a shot blocked and another one over the bar.
After 16 minutes of the half an amusing goal came for Merthyr’s third. Gareth Cook, trying to clear, sent the ball straight to Otway who hammered it back and into goal.
Cook made amends a little later when he pushed up and sent a shot dipping into the net over keeper Martin Rees.
Gary Jones went close for Merthyr and Evans hit the side netting. Des Astley gave Merthyr another option as he came on as a second-half substitute with his team completing a good win to extend their good run.
Former Merthyr Veterans player Paul Fisher has been appointed treasurer of The Wales Veterans Football Association.
Shane Davies, from The Merthyr Town Veterans, and Jon Parkinson, Nelson, are among new committee members.