Martyrs manager Gavin Williams has a decision to make before their EvoStik Southern League home fixture against Kings Langley at the MetCoaches Stadium on Saturday (3pm).
Goalkeeper Josh Gould, signed on loan from Swansea City, made his debut in a 3-0 Premier Division defeat at Hendon, while Joe Perry is available again after suspension.
Perry served a one match ban and is ready to play again.
Taunton-born Gould, aged 21, is on a professional contract with Championship Swansea.
The former Cardiff Metropolitan University student joined the Swans after playing Welsh League football for Taffs Well.
Ashley Evans was sent off at Hendon, but his suspension won’t kick in until after the Kings Langley clash.
The Martyrs are in the Premier Division play-off places, but need to bounce back from that defeat at Hendon.,
Merthyr Town, from: Josh Gould or Joe Perry, Joe Hunt, Kyle Patten, Craig McDonnell, Ian Traylor, Adam Davies, Ashley Evans, Lee Lucas, Kerry Morgan, Ryan Prosser, Kieran Lewis, Connor Young, Matthew Harris, Gavin Williams, Tom Meechan.
On Saturday, December 15 Merthyr Town FC supporters’ groups Red Flag Martyrs and MTFC On The Terraces will head to Harrow Borough for the club’s Southern League fixture and the fans annual Christmas jumper trip.
The Martyrs supporters will be raising money and awareness for Solidarity Sports and the Non-League 4 Grenfell movement.
Fans travelling to the match are asked take small gift or toy (football, cuddly toys, games for example) and they will be donated to the children of still displaced families to make their Christmas a little better.
Three of the four ties in the EvoStik Southern League’s CSS League Cup third round ties played this week went to penalties.
Southern Premier Central leaders Kettering Town were held to a 1-1 draw by Barwell at Latimer Park and then Poppies edged out Barwell 4-3 in the shootout.
Premier Central Stratford Town qualified for the last eight after penalties at a wet and miserable Loop Meadow stadium.
The score was 1-1 and Stratford defeated Division One Central hosts Didcot Town 4-2 in the penalty shootout.
On-loan Nuneaton ‘keeper Ross Etheridge was Stratford’s hero.
Division One Central rivals Berkhamsted and Welwyn Garden City couldn’t manage a goal between them in 90 minutes, with Berko winning the penalty competition 4-2.
The only tie this week which produced a winner in normal time was the all-Division One South tie at The Causeway when Cinderford Town won 4-2 against Slimbridge.
CCS League Challenge Cup, third round (last 16) fixtures to be played:
Tuesday, December 11: Basingstoke v Walton Casuals, Royston Town v Hitchin Town, Wimborne Town v Bideford.
Tuesday, December 18: Salisbury v Blackfield and Langley.
Third round results: Berkhamsted 0, Welwyn Garden City 0 (Berkhamsted won 4-2 on penalties); Cinderford Town 4, Slimbridge 2; Didcot Town 1, Stratford Town 1 (Stratford won 4-2 on penalties); Kettering Town 1, Barwell 1 (Kettering won 4-3 on penalties).
LEAGUE TABLE: EVO-STIK LEAGUE SOUTH PREMIER DIVISION SOUTH – 2018/2019
Club | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | -Pts | Pts | |
Taunton Town | 17 | 12 | 2 | 3 | 42 | 20 | 22 | – | 38 | |
Weymouth | 15 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 37 | 19 | 18 | – | 33 | |
Salisbury | 17 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 41 | 25 | 16 | – | 31 | |
Hendon | 17 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 35 | 25 | 10 | – | 31 | |
Merthyr Town | 16 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 33 | 20 | 13 | – | 28 | |
Harrow Borough | 15 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 40 | 25 | 15 | – | 27 | |
Beaconsfield Town | 16 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 33 | 26 | 7 | – | 27 | |
Metropolitan Police | 14 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 32 | 25 | 7 | – | 26 | |
Tiverton Town | 17 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 30 | 27 | 3 | – | 24 | |
Poole Town | 13 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 28 | 14 | 14 | – | 23 | |
Hartley Wintney | 18 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 33 | 34 | -1 | – | 22 | |
Kings Langley | 16 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 24 | 31 | -7 | – | 21 | |
Walton Casuals | 16 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 27 | 37 | -10 | – | 21 | |
Farnborough | 18 | 6 | 2 | 10 | 31 | 43 | -12 | – | 20 | |
Wimborne Town | 17 | 6 | 1 | 10 | 30 | 36 | -6 | – | 19 | |
Gosport Borough | 17 | 6 | 1 | 10 | 28 | 34 | -6 | – | 19 | |
Swindon Supermarine | 16 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 24 | 26 | -2 | – | 18 | |
Basingstoke Town | 15 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 27 | 30 | -3 | – | 18 | |
Dorchester Town | 15 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 16 | 32 | -16 | – | 16 | |
Frome Town | 18 | 4 | 3 | 11 | 24 | 33 | -9 | – | 15 | |
Chesham United | 17 | 4 | 3 | 10 | 14 | 38 | -24 | – | 15 | |
Staines Town | 18 | 3 | – | 15 | 20 | 49 | -29 | – | 9 |