Media Watch - Bridgwater Town

Perry may be the man who stops the Martyrs’ charge
Celtic Sport

THE goalkeeper who played a part in Merthyr Town’s return to the Southern League may have a role in halting their further promotion progress – as they face two vital home games in four days. Joe Perry, son of former Cardiff City favourite Jason Perry, has joined Clevedon Town on loan from Newport County and the Bristol-based team travel to Merthyr’s Penydarren Park next Wednesday (7.45pm).

Merthyr switch from their usual Tuesday night because of the Wales versus Croatia World Cup match at the Liberty Stadium, Swansea, the previous night, when lots of Merthyr fans will be present.

Perry, who turns 21 this month and was formerly with Cheltenham Town, signed for the Martyrs and played for them in the Toolstation Western League Division One at Taffs Well during their exile there two seasons ago and in the Premier Division last season back at Penydarren Park when the side fought their way up to The Evo-Stik Southern League Division One (South and West) after two successive promotions.

He didn’t train with Merthyr during the close season as former club goalkeeper Ashley Morris joined in sessions, and Gwent-based Giles Cutlan approached Merthyr for a trial. Morris, from Tredegar, then joined Bala Town, and Cutlan was taken on and has been an ever-present this campaign.

But Perry, born in Caerphilly, who joined the Gwent outfit at the start of this season, has been third choice at Newport’s Rodney Parade, behind the experienced Alan Julian and Lenny Pidgley. He has not figured in any Blue Square Premier League games. So he has been loaned to Clevedon to give him some action, seeing him face his former Merthyr colleagues next week.

He was frustrated at the weekend when Clevedon’s game at local rivals Mangotsfield was postponed, leaving only two games played in Merthyr’s division. A waterlogged pitch saw Merthyr’s game at Didcot called off just after 9am. Hungerford, second-placed, won 3-0 at home to Sholing, while Wimborne did The Martyrs a favour by thumping Yate Town, who are close behind Merthyr in the play-off battles, 5-1.

Before the midweek encounters this left Poole top with 74 points from 31 games, followed by Hungerford, 73 points from 35 games, Swindon Supermarine 64 from 29, Merthyr Town, fourth, with 59 points from 30 games. Yate, fifth, were four points behind Merthyr but having played two more fixtures.

Poole look likely to win the league. Unless there are any shocks, the other above mentioned sides look like making the play-offs, although Paulton Rovers still have hopes. Merthyr won 2-1 at Clevedon last October.

There have been many comings and goings at the club this season. Much-travelled striker Dave Stone has been with Daventry, Rugby Town, Banbury and Cirencester. But Micky Bell, manager, saw Clevedon lose 1-0 at home to Paulton recently after their 3-1 setback at Cinderford. Perry played in goal for both matches.

The Merthyr trip to Didcot will now be on April 9 and Taunton will visit Merthyr on April 16. But, before Merthyr face Clevedon and Perry, they host another west country club on Saturday – Bridgwater (3pm).

Merthyr, under managers Garry Shephard and Danny Carter, are battling to finish second or third as that will mean they will be home in the play-offs. The top team will be promoted and then also the winner of the play-offs. Merthyr snatched a 1-0 victory at Bridgwater in January.

Bridgwater are third from the bottom, recently losing 2-1 at Yate Town, 5-0 at home to Shortwood and 4-1 when hosting North Leigh. Their Saturday home clash with Evesham was washed out but they were due at Sholing on Monday with Merthyr at Taunton last night (Wednesday) and Clevedon hosting top team Poole Town on the same night.

Under boss Kevin Milsom, Bridgwater signed no fewer than five players from Taunton last summer, including midfield or forward player Graham Merceica. The club saw a mass exodus of personnel in 2010, one of the few staying being defender Matt Pitcher, who has had experience with Yeovil Town.

Merthyr will be looking to hot-shot Ryan Prosser to keep up his good work while midfielder Nathan Davies should be available after suspension and work commitments keeping him out of last week’s Tuesday 0-0 clash at Cinderford.

A ballot was held to elect members to the Merthyr Town board. Colin Bodenham and Derek Dowling were both re-elected, joined by newcomers Matthew George and Phil Mack. They join the other nine members. Geoff Chinnock, a former chairman, and Les Howells were unsuccessful.

The annual meeting of The Merthyr Town FC Society will be held tonight at 7pm at the Candac Suite. Merthyr Town’s Under-19s defender Matthew Hollingshead gained an international cap after coming on as a substitute when Wales Under-18s beat the Republic of Ireland 2-0 at Bangor

On Sunday March 24 Merthyr Town host the FAW Youth Cup Semi-Final between West End and Cambrian and Clydach (2pm) at Penydarren Park. Admission £3, concessions £1.

Merthyr in the dark over a replay date
Terry Phillips, South Wales Echo

THE lights went out on Merthyr Town in Somerset – and left joint managers Garry Shephard and Danny Carter with an increasing problem. The Martyrs now have a serious fixtures backlog as they chase promotion from EvoStik Southern League South and South West via the play-offs.

Their match at Taunton Town was called off because of floodlight failure after the Martyrs team had arrived at the Wordsworth Drive ground. That was a real blow after the scheduled fixture at Didcot Town was postponed last Saturday and slotted into a new date on Tuesday, April 9.

Now there are no Tuesday dates left to fit in an extra fixture and Merthyr will probably have to play on a Thursday at some stage before the final day of the league season on April 27.

They still have 12 games to fit in including Taunton home and away. Merthyr play six of their remaining games at Penydarren Park with the other half away, while there are now likely to be nine fixtures to play during April.

The next two matches are at Penydarren Park, against Bridgwater Town tomorrow and then Clevedon Town next Wednesday.

Bridgwater Town face prospect of playing four times a week
Western Daily Press

Bridgwater’s joint manager Kevin Milsom explained last night: “We’ve had so many games called off I haven’t got a clue what the team will be.

“We’re facing the prospect of playing four times a week. It’s very difficult for some of the lads to get off work for one midweek game, let alone two or three.”

Bridgwater Town fixture congestion is taking its toll, boss says
Bridgwater Mercury

BRIDGWATER Town joint boss Kevin Milsom said a disjointed second half of the season has taken its toll on the team. Town were well placed before Christmas in the top half of the season but after numerous postponements, they now languish in the bottom three.

But Milsom said there were positives to come out of a public meeting held at the club last week to discuss its future. He said: “Everyone knows where we are going and to make sure people are all shooting with the right foot. There were things that needed to be said but I think people now realise that the aspirations they have against the budget available is not going to be. We always said it would be a struggle once games started being called off - because we have such a small squad and it has taken its toll.”

Town were due to take on Sholing in the league last night (Monday) but club secretary Roger Palmer said the game was a doubt as the Mercury went to press.

League officials have told the club that they must fulfil all 17 league games remaining by the deadline of April 27 - to include their Somerset Premier Cup match against Taunton Town.

They now have a re-arranged match at Mangotsfield tomorrow night (Wednesday) ahead of Saturday's clash at Merthyr Town.