Martyrs Take On Chesham In Big Premier Clash

Merthyr Town's Owain Jones. Pic: Peter Harman.

Martyrs Take On Chesham In Big Premier Clash

Merthyr Town play their final midweek home match of the season on Tuesday when Chesham United are visitors to then Loadlok Community Stadium.

The Martyrs are keen to produce a big team performance after crashing 13-1 in their EvoStik Southern League match against Chesham away.

That was the first match played following the announcement of financial issues which meant the first team did not travel.

A mixture of the club’s development team and a few staff members played the game and Jacob Flower scored the Martyrs only goal on the day.

Teenage goalkeeper Ed Hewitson was man of the match and made national news with his heroic display. The team of the day has been made into a shirt – which can still be bought from the shop – and will go down in history as the team that kept the club going.

Merthyr Town manager Gavin Williams and his coaches. Pic: Peter Harman.

The Martyrs are in far better shape now after manager Gavin Williams and club directors stabilised the situation and they earned a goalless draw at promotion chasing King’s Lynn in their latest match.

Hewitson made a number of fine saves, while Owain Jones and Harry Franklin could have even won the game when they forced Lynn ‘keeper Street to make a fine double save.

Ashley Evans, Scott Tancock and Ryan Prosser should be available for the Martyrs against Chesham after missing the long trip to Norfolk.

Merthyr Town squad: Ed Hewitson, Adam Davies, Miles John, Dan Dima, Scott Tancock, Matthew Harris, Kyle Patten, Jarrad Wright, Ashley Evans, Craig Reddy, Harry Franklin, Lee Price, Kerry Morgan, Corey Jenkins, Ian Traylor, Owain Jones, Ryan Prosser.

Merthyr defended superbly at King’s Lynn and kept out a dangerous home team at their Walks Stadium.

The Martyrs’ game plan was to hit The Linnets on the counter attack and in the eighth minute Ian Traylor burst into the box, but his effort was straight at Alex Street.

Hewitson was beaten after 89 minutes by a Tom Siddons header, but Kyle Patten rescued the situation by heading off the line.

In the third minute of injury time Hewitson turn a strike from Siddons on to a post and behind. From the resulting corner Hewitson was there again to turn Ward’s header over the crossbar.

While second-placed Lynn earned a point, Hereford FC took a massive step towards the Premier Division title when they defeated Chesham United 3-0 at Edgar Street.

Former Merthyr Town player Keyon Reffell, who is now with Hereford FC. Pic: Same Old Smith.

In doing so, the Bulls won the race to 100 league goals with fourth-placed Kettering Town winning 2-1 to reach 99.

More than 2,700 spectators watched Hereford win thanks to goals from former Merthyr player Keyon Reffell, Lance Smith and ex-Newport County man Jennison Myrie-Williams.

King’s Lynn: Street, Norman, Blake-Tracy, Fryatt, Ward, Jarvis, Clunan, Hilliard (Siddons 62) Gash, King (Parker 65), Lappin (Hawkins 62). Subs: Siddons, Hawkins, Parker, Mettam, Frary.

Merthyr Town: Hewitson, Davies, Franklin, Reddy, Harris, Patten, Jenkins (Price 76), Wright, Jones, Morgan (John 45), Traylor. Subs: Dima, John, Price.

Attendance: 721

Premier Table

# Team Pl HW HD HL AW AD AL W D L F A Diff Pts
1. Hereford 41 18 1 3 13 4 2 31 5 5 100 32 68 98
2. King’s Lynn Town 42 15 5 1 13 3 5 28 8 6 91 34 57 92
3. Weymouth 42 15 3 3 13 3 5 28 6 8 96 43 53 90
4. Kettering Town 39 16 2 1 10 5 5 26 7 6 99 44 55 85
5. Slough Town 40 14 4 3 11 4 4 25 8 7 96 43 53 83
6. Royston Town 41 15 1 4 7 3 11 22 4 15 76 57 19 70
7. Tiverton Town 40 13 2 4 9 2 10 22 4 14 69 61 8 70
8. Chesham United 41 10 6 5 8 5 7 18 11 12 77 55 22 65
9. Banbury United 39 7 7 7 10 4 4 17 11 11 79 51 28 62
10. Hitchin Town 40 10 4 5 8 4 9 18 8 14 65 55 10 62
11. Basingstoke Town 41 14 3 3 3 4 14 17 7 17 80 65 15 58
12. Frome Town 42 7 3 10 10 3 9 17 6 19 74 86 -12 57
13. St Neots Town 41 9 5 6 5 7 9 14 12 15 69 73 -4 54
14. Redditch United 42 10 7 5 4 2 14 14 9 19 67 66 1 51
15. Stratford Town 41 7 6 9 7 3 9 14 9 18 60 70 -10 51
16. Biggleswade Town 38 8 5 5 5 4 11 13 9 16 43 45 -2 48
17. Merthyr Town 41 8 5 7 4 7 10 12 12 17 66 86 -20 48
18. Farnborough 42 8 2 11 6 3 12 14 5 23 77 108 -31 47
19. Bishop’s Stortford 40 8 4 8 4 5 11 12 9 19 62 73 -11 45
20. Dorchester Town 40 11 2 8 1 7 11 12 9 19 59 76 -17 45
21. Kings Langley 42 5 8 8 3 5 13 8 13 21 56 86 -30 37
22. St Ives Town 39 2 4 11 5 3 14 7 7 25 48 91 -43 28
23. Dunstable Town 41 2 1 18 1 3 16 3 4 34 25 130 -105 13
24. Gosport Borough 41 1 4 16 1 1 18 2 5 34 28 132 -104 11

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