Second half goals from Ian Traylor and substitute Kerry Morgan earned Merthyr Town a third successive EvoStik Southern League victory.
The Martyrs are fourth in the Premier Division table with a game in hand on leaders Taunton Town after a 2-0 victory against Wimborne at the MetCoaches Stadium.
Wimborne goalkeeper Gerard Benfield made a series of outstanding saves to keep his team on level terms at half-time, while several efforts were cleared off the line.
Keiran Lewis forced Sam Davidson to concede a Wimborne corner early on. Lewis later set up Owain Jones, who shot on the turn and was denied by Benfield.
Benfield saved on the ground from Adam Davies and then gathered an effort from Ryan Prosser, who again looked in top form.
Luke Holmes went on a surging run for the Dorset side, but put the ball wide.
Merthyr did everything but score. Prosser fired wide after a good run, while Benfield saved from Davies.
The second period settled into a similar rhythm with Merthyr attacking and Wimborne keeping things tight.
Home team Merthyr broke the deadlock after 69 minutes when Prosser picked out Traylor inside the penalty area and the striker drove the ball past Benfield.
Wimborne pushed forward with Luke Holmes going close, but Kyle Patten and Craig McDonnell shone in a solid Merthyr defence.
Morgan clinched victory during second half injury time, firing in after Traylor and Ashley Evans had combined.
Wimborne boss Matty Holmes said before the game his Magpies team would show ‘no fear at Merthyr’.
They certainly made the Martyrs work for victory, but manager Gavin Williams’ team gave everything they had and earned a reward of three points.
With the club needing all the support they can muster, the gate was a disappointing 377. Merthyr have scored 10 goals and conceded one in their last three matches and will hope crowd numbers increase as they aim to step up their challenge for a play-offs finish.
Merthyr Town: Joe Perry, Kyle Patten, Craig McDonnell, Joe Hunt, Ian Traylor, Adam Davies, Ashley Evans, Lee Licas, Owain Jones Kerry Morgan 72), Ryan Prosser (Tom Meechan), Kieran Lewis (Matthew Harris). Subs not used: Cavan Williams, Connor Young.
Merthyr Town’s remaining fixtures in 2018
December
Saturday 1 v Hendon (away)
Saturday 8 v Kings Langley (home)
Tuesday 11 v Poole Town (home)
Saturday 15 v Harrow Borough (away)
Saturday 22 v Chesham United (home)
Wednesday 26 v Frome Town (away)
Saturday 29 v Swindon Supermarine (away)
EVO-STIK LEAGUE SOUTH PREMIER DIVISION SOUTH – 2018/2019
| Club | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | -Pts | Pts | |
 |
Taunton Town | 16 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 38 | 17 | 21 | – | 35 |
 |
Weymouth | 15 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 37 | 19 | 18 | – | 33 |
 |
Salisbury | 15 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 37 | 20 | 17 | – | 30 |
 |
Merthyr Town | 15 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 33 | 17 | 16 | – | 28 |
 |
Hendon | 15 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 31 | 22 | 9 | – | 28 |
 |
Metropolitan Police | 13 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 31 | 24 | 7 | – | 25 |
 |
Harrow Borough | 14 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 35 | 25 | 10 | – | 24 |
 |
Beaconsfield Town | 15 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 29 | 24 | 5 | – | 24 |
 |
Tiverton Town | 16 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 29 | 25 | 4 | – | 24 |
 |
Poole Town | 12 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 27 | 13 | 14 | – | 22 |
 |
Walton Casuals | 16 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 27 | 37 | -10 | – | 21 |
 |
Farnborough | 17 | 6 | 2 | 9 | 31 | 38 | -7 | – | 20 |
 |
Hartley Wintney | 16 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 29 | 31 | -2 | – | 19 |
 |
Gosport Borough | 16 | 6 | 1 | 9 | 27 | 32 | -5 | – | 19 |
 |
Basingstoke Town | 14 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 26 | 27 | -1 | – | 18 |
 |
Kings Langley | 14 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 19 | 26 | -7 | – | 18 |
 |
Wimborne Town | 16 | 5 | 1 | 10 | 28 | 35 | -7 | – | 16 |
 |
Swindon Supermarine | 15 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 22 | 25 | -3 | – | 15 |
 |
Frome Town | 16 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 23 | 31 | -8 | – | 14 |
 |
Dorchester Town | 14 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 15 | 32 | -17 | – | 13 |
 |
Chesham United | 16 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 12 | 37 | -25 | – | 12 |
 |
Staines Town | 18 | 3 | – | 15 | 20 | 49 | -29 | – | 9 |