MARTYRS HAVE TO SETTLE FOR A POINT
FUNDRAISING initiatives by fans and finance juggling by the Interim Board while they seek help and advice to tackle expenditure and income issues go on for debt crisis club Merthyr Town.
Supporters and officials are rallying to keep the club afloat and at the same time, plan ahead to achieve stability.
An election is due soon for the Society members to vote in a new Board. It may be interesting to see how many nominations are received.
Meanwhile, things are difficult on the field with the Martyrs unable to beat bottom club Gosport Borough away on Saturday and take their run to 16 games with just one win – at Frome Town on New Year’s Day.
Merthyr were home to second from the bottom outfit Dunstable Town on Tuesday.
And on Saturday they host third from the foot of the Evo-Stik South Premier St Ives Town at the LoadLok Community Stadium, Penydarren Park (3pm).
Can they achieve a double, having won away to the Cambridgeshire team 3-2 in September?
St Ives saw Saturday’s home game with Redditch United postponed because of a waterlogged pitch.
Their record reads won six, drawn six and lost 19, with 39 goals for an 71 conceded.
Before the fixture with Dunstable, Merthyr were 19th, having moved up one place after the point at Gosport, with eight victories, 11 draws and 14 defeats, having scored 52 goals and leaked 71.
Their points tally was 35, 26 ahead of Gosport.
Only one team will be relegated this season as a result of Non-League football reorganisation.
GOSPORT BOROUGH ... 1 MERTHYR TOWN ......... 1
WITH the club struggling over debts and players on small wages, Merthyr could only draw at bottom club whipping boys Gosport Borough on Saturday.
The Hamphshire men had scored just 20 goals and let in 103 but Merthyr despite taking the lead were disappointed with just a share of the spoils.
The draw meant Gosport got just their 10th point of the campaign.
Merthyr, who lost five players in November when wages were slashed because of the money situation, were still without Jarrad Wright, suspended, but Craig Reddy was back in the squad after a fourgame ban.
On a stormy afternoon on the south coast, Gosport began brightly and hit the post through Patrick Suraci.
Merthyr replied with Ian Traylor having a shot stopped by goalkeeper Patrick O’Flaherty.
Merthyr got on top and forced several corners. Then Corey Jenkins put Merthyr 1-0 up after 21 minutes with a volley from a Jaye Bowen cross, the ball slipping through the keeper’s hands. The away defence looked solid and foiled Gosport attacks.
A Jenkins-Bowen-Jenkins move led to Harry Franklin heading over 27 minutes. After 33 minutes Oliver Davies pulled off a good save as Gosport succeeded in one raid.
Then the second half saw the home side revitalised. In the 47th minute Gosport gained a corner but the ball got past everyone and it was a goal-kick to Merthyr.
Merthyr were under pressure from Gosport and there was a 60th minute scare for Merthyr as the ball went past Oliver Davies but he recovered to stop it going over the line.
On 61 minutes Reddy went on for Jaye Bowen. Three minutes later Ryan Prosser played in Traylor but his left foot shot was saved by the goalkeeper.
The 74th minute saw Prosser have a goal chalked off for offside.
Three minutes later O’Flaherty pushed out a Frankln shot before Prosser could get in to score.
This was a game most thought Merthyr should win but with nine minutes left, Gosport levelled. They peppered in several shots before an effort from Craig MacAllister came off Davies for Stephane Bombelenga to drill home into an empty net.
There were still Merthyr chances and Kyle Patten headed over a Traylor free kick after 87 minutes.
In time added on the goalkeeper saved well from Merthyr skipper Ashley Evans.