Merthyr Town start the new year with a home fixture against Southern League leaders Taunton Town at the MetCoaches Stadium (3pm).

Manager Gavin Williams and his Martyrs are intent on opening 2019 in style and giving Taunton a torrid time.

The Peacocks maintained their seven points lead at the top of the EvoStik Southern League Premier after a 3-3 draw against second-placed Weymouth.

‘Bring on Merthyr’ insisted Taunton manager Rob Dray, saying: “Our point against Weymouth means nothing if we don’t follow up against the Martyrs.

“I was pleased with that performance in the 3-3 draw, a great game for the neutral which had a bit of everything. Weymouth are an excellent side and for us to be where we are shows how far we have come in a short time.”

VIDEO: All the goals from @SupermarineFC v @MerthyrTownFC including a superb strike by @conormcdonagh which could feature in December's @MagicTouchProm Goal of the Month competition.https://t.co/wYdDw95jTb@NickTaylor105 @BrianDavisSport

— Your Sport Swindon (@YSswindon) December 29, 2018

Andrew Neal (3, 52 mins) and Matthew Buse (20) scored Taunton’s goals in their top of the table draw against Weymouth.

Taunton’s squad for their visit to South Wales is Mike Davies, Pierce Mitchell, Josh Nelmes, Lewis Hall, James Dodd, Ben Adelsbury, Keith Emmerson, Shane White, Matt Buse, Ollie Chamberlain, Dan Sullivan, Craig Veal, Matt Wright (capt), Andrew Neal, Chandler Hallett.

Merthyr went down 3-0 at Swindon Supermarine in a match far closer than the scoreline suggests.

Former Oxford City and Banbury feared Conor McDonagh, aged 25, scored twice for Swindon Supermarine against Merthyr Town. ‘Marine led 1-0 at half-time thanks to a 36th minute McDonagh goal and he added a second 10 minutes after the interval.

Former Martyrs and Cardiff City striker Stuart Fleetwood added a third goal with eight minutes left.

36" GOOOOOOAAAALLLLLL He's single handedly owning the goal of the month competition and he's got another beautiful curling effort into the top corner! Great goal from @conormcdonagh 1-0 #sfl @SouthernLeague1 pic.twitter.com/fVUb5OqcRQ

— Swindon Supermarine (@SupermarineFC) December 29, 2018

Merthyr started strongly and had the upper hand for 20 minutes, but the goal they needed didn’t come. Then the Martyrs were opened up by McDonagh’s individual skill when he fired a curling shot into the top corner after 36 minutes.

Tom Meechan and Lee Lucas had both gone close for the Martyrs before McDonagh stuck. 

Meechan forced a big save out of goalkeeper Will Henry, a 20-year-old playing for Supermarine on loan from Swindon Town.

Henry made a number of good saves to deny Merthyr, while Swindon’s Matt Williams headed against his own crossbar when the home team were forced back soon after half-time.

McDonagh struck with his second goal after 55 minutes when he chased a long ball from Brad Hooper and took on two defenders and goalkeeper Lewis Webb before slotting home.

The Martyrs sent on substitutes Owain Jones and Gavin Williams for Ian Traylor and Ryan Prosser just after the hour and pressed forward, forcing several corners. 

Merthyr kept working and Meechan’s fierce shot was saved by Henry, but they were caught out while pressing forward in search of a goal. It was ‘Marine captain Fleetwood who scored their third goal after 82 minutes.

Swindon Supermarine: Will Henry, Connor Thompson, Michael Hopkins, Jerel Ifil, Matt Williams, Henry Spalding, Brad Hooper Joe Shepherd 86), Stuart Fleetwood (capt), Connor McDonagh, Ryan Campbell (Joe Selman 86). Subs: Hoe Selman, Joe Shepherd, Dave Bampton, Dan Williamson, Zak Westlake.  

Merthyr Town: Lewis Webb, Connor Young, Kieran Lewis (Reuben Mackay 81), Ashley Evans (capt), Craig McDonnell, Kyle Patten, Kerry Morgan, Lee Lucas, Ryan Prosser (Cavan Williams 65), Tom Meechan, Ian Traylor (Owain Jones). Subs: Cavan Williams, Gavin Williams, Owain Jones, Craig Reddy.

Referee: Dale Wootton (Cheltenham)

Merthyr Town fixtures

EvoStik Southern League (all 3pm)

JanuaryTuesday 1 v Taunton Town (home)

Saturday 5 v Salisbury (home)

Saturday 12 v Wimborne Town (away)

Saturday 19 v Basingstoke Town (home)

Saturday 26 v Tiverton Town (away)

February 

Saturday 2 v Dorchester Town (home)

LEAGUE TABLE: EVO-STIK LEAGUE SOUTH PREMIER DIVISION SOUT 2018-2019

	Club	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	-Pts	Pts
	Taunton Town	22	15	3	4	58	28	30	–	48
	Weymouth	20	12	5	3	48	27	21	–	41
	Salisbury	21	11	6	4	51	33	18	–	39
	Harrow Borough	21	11	4	6	53	40	13	–	37
	Metropolitan Police	19	10	7	2	43	32	11	–	37
	Merthyr Town	22	10	5	7	38	31	7	–	35
	Beaconsfield Town	21	9	7	5	42	35	7	–	34
	Hendon	22	9	4	9	39	39	0	–	31
	Kings Langley	21	9	4	8	37	39	-2	–	31
	Swindon Supermarine	22	8	5	9	40	35	5	–	29
	Hartley Wintney	22	7	8	7	41	40	1	–	29
	Poole Town	18	8	4	6	38	26	12	–	28
	Tiverton Town	21	7	7	7	38	35	3	–	28
	Walton Casuals	21	8	4	9	38	43	-5	–	28
	Gosport Borough	22	9	1	12	36	44	-8	–	28
	Farnborough	23	8	4	11	36	50	-14	–	28
	Basingstoke Town	20	7	3	10	37	43	-6	–	24
	Wimborne Town	22	7	3	12	40	47	-7	–	24
	Dorchester Town	21	6	5	10	28	41	-13	–	23
	Chesham United	21	6	4	11	21	41	-20	–	22
	Frome Town	23	6	3	14	30	43	-13	–	21
	Staines Town	23	3	–	20	24	64	-40	–	9

SOUTHERN LEAGUE PREMIER SOUTH TOP SCORERS: LEAGUE 2018-2019

Position	Player	Team		Goals
1	Brandon Goodship		Weymouth	18
2	Ricardo German		Hendon	17
3	Ryan Pennery		Gosport Borough	12
4	Andrew Neal		Taunton Town	12
5	Ian Traylor		Merthyr Town	12
6	Jack Mazzone		Metropolitan Police	12
7	Conor McDonagh		Swindon Supermarine	12
8	Tobias Holmes		Wimborne Town	12
9	Luke Hopper		Salisbury	11
10	Dylan Kearney		Harrow Borough	11
11	Ryan Moss		Harrow Borough	11
12	Brendan Matthew		Beaconsfield Town	11