Media Watch - Abingdon United

Merthyr do the double over Bishops Cleeve
Ian Caleb, Celtic Sport

AFTER the wintry football white-out, things are hotting up in the Evo-Stik Southern League promotion race with Merthyr Town on Saturday picking up their 25th point out of the last 30 on offer.

After completing the double over basement side Bishops Cleeve, co-managers Garry Shephard and Danny Carter are plotting a win in Oxfordshire this Saturday when they visit Abingdon United who have slipped to third from the bottom of the Division One (South and West).

The Martyrs overcame them 3-2 at Penydarren Park earlier this season and with only one league away defeat this campaign – 3-2 at Poole – Merthyr will be setting their sights on another double.

As fans celebrated last weekend’s latest success, there was more joy when they heard that the top two sides Hungerford Town and Poole Town had both been beaten, leaving Merthyr very much snapping at their heels in third slot as they battle for at least a play-off spot in the hope of returning to the Premier Division.

Hungerford going down 1-0 at home to Cirencester and Poole losing 3-0 at Gloucestershire side Shortwood United saw the Martyrs 13 points behind Hungerford and with six matches in hand and five points below Poole but with both having completed 22 games.

Abingdon were due at Evesham on Tuesday. Before then they had won five, drawn one and lost five at home with 17 goals for and 17 against.

The situation is boiling up nicely for Saturday, February 16, when Poole visit Merthyr for a much anticipated match for both teams, followed by fourth-placed Swindon Supermarine coming to the Park on the following Tuesday. These are two vital games which the club hope will pull in the crowds.

Injuries have seen Jamie Rewbury and Kris Leek sidelined recently but Shephard and Carter will be hoping for a full squad as Merthyr face 20 fixtures before the end of the season. They were pleased to see top marksman Ian Traylor return to action, from the bench, against Bishops Cleeve and hit the winner.

Merthyr look to keep up promotion charge
Terry Phillips, South Wales Echo

MERTHYR Town have hit sizzling form in 2013 and travel to Oxfordshire tomorrow seeking to maintain EvoStik Southern League momentum.

Managers Garry Shephard and Danny Carter have steered the Martyrs to five consecutive wins this year and they make the trip to play Abingdon United tomorrow in confident mood.

Merthyr are right back in the hunt for promotion, lying third behind leaders Hungerford Town and Poole Town. They have six games in hand on the top club, while Poole must visit Merthyr’s Penydarren Park ground next weekend.

Abingdon have a different battle on their hands, lying third from bottom, needing a win to help their battle to escape the drop.

Hello Abingdon fan here, I won't be able to make the game today but I'm sure it'll be a cracker! Talking of media I usually do highlights of Abingdon's games and as I'm no there would it be possible for any of your fans to do highlights/videos from the game. Don't worry if you can't but thought I'd ask just incase! Good luck for the rest of the season too.

Southern League website say's game off.