Merthyr Town test themselves against the EvoStik Southern League leaders Hartley Wintney at their Memorial Fields stadium in Hampshire this afternoon.
Wintney finished fourth in the East division last season, going on to beat Cambridge City 1-0 in the play-off final to clinch promotion.
Captain Nic Ciardini and his team moved top thanks to a 5-3 win at Staines, having led 2-0 at half-time.
#MILLERSONMARTYRS @MerthyrTownFC @SouthernLeague1 #UTR @TvRow @OfficialShots @ReadingFC 3pm Sat 29/9 RG27 8DL #ComeAlong #TopOfTheLeague pic.twitter.com/TftdnIpQo0
— Hartley Wintney FC (@HartleyFC) September 27, 2018
“We showed great character in the final phase of the game and deserved the win,” said Ciardini. “We were well organised and felt that we should have been further ahead by the break.”
Staines recovered from two goals down to lead 3-2 with 22 minutes left, but Hartley Wintney were hungry for the victory and battled back with three goals in the final nine minutes.
Their scorers were centre-half Liam Eagle, who headed home from a third successive corner midway through the first half. Eagles won the aerial battle from all three corners, taken by Josh Webb, and Staines cleared his first two efforts before he netted.
Ciardini scored from a free-kick just outside the penalty area with 33 minutes gone, but Staines hit back in the second half.
Hartley looked in trouble going into the last 10 minutes, but goals from Webb (81 mins), Smith (penalty, 84) and Louie Paget completed an away win.
Merthyr Town, from: Joe Perry, Joe Hunt, Jarrad Wright, Kyle Patten, Adam Davies, Kieran Lewis, Ashley Evans, Kerry Morgan, Corey Jenkins, Owain Jones, Ian Traylor, Connor Young, Lewis Webb, Craig McDonnell, Lee Lucas, Gavin Williams, Matthew Harris, Tom Meechan.
Southern League Premier South
 |
Hartley Wintney | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 19 | 14 | 5 | – | 15 |
 |
Weymouth | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 21 | 10 | 11 | – | 14 |
 |
Taunton Town | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 17 | 7 | 10 | – | 14 |
 |
Tiverton Town | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 16 | 9 | 7 | – | 14 |
 |
Merthyr Town | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 16 | 10 | 6 | – | 14 |
 |
Basingstoke Town | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 10 | 5 | – | 14 |
 |
Hendon | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 9 | 4 | – | 14 |
 |
Farnborough | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 16 | 11 | 5 | – | 13 |
 |
Gosport Borough | 7 | 4 | – | 3 | 15 | 13 | 2 | – | 12 |
 |
Poole Town | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 10 | 1 | – | 10 |
 |
Salisbury | 7 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 13 | 12 | 1 | – | 9 |
 |
Metropolitan Police | 7 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 14 | -3 | – | 9 |
 |
Harrow Borough | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 16 | 16 | 0 | – | 8 |
 |
Walton Casuals | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 13 | 18 | -5 | – | 8 |
 |
Dorchester Town | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 16 | -6 | – | 8 |
 |
Beaconsfield Town | 7 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 12 | -2 | – | 7 |
 |
Frome Town | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 14 | -4 | – | 7 |
 |
Staines Town | 8 | 2 | – | 6 | 11 | 19 | -8 | – | 6 |
 |
Swindon Supermarine | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 9 | -2 | – | 5 |
 |
Kings Langley | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 14 | -4 | – | 5 |
 |
Wimborne Town | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 11 | 18 | -7 | – | 4 |
 |
Chesham United | 7 | – | 1 | 6 | 2 | 18 | -16 | – | 1 |