Media Watch - Bridgwater Town

The magic and also the considerable financial reward of the FA Cup beckons for the Martyrs this weekend, as they travel to the West Country to face a resurgent Bridgwater Town side.

Currently unbeaten and lying in second place in the Calor League South and West Table, one place above the Martyrs on goal difference, Richard Fey equally will relish the opportunity of yet another tactical battle with Garry Shephard and Danny Carter.

The respective coaches sat In opposite dug-outs during the close encounters with Bitton in both the Western League and FA Cup just two short seasons ago.

After spending a year as assistant manager at Chippenham, Fey was appointed by the Board of Bridgwater Town in May making a number of additions to the squad that finished last season third from bottom of the league table following a horrendous backlog of fixtures in the second half of the campaign. Also joining Fey at Fairfax Park as his assistant is Geraint Bater.

Last season it was the Martyrs who completed a deserved league ‘double’ on their way to qualification for the end of season play-offs, with a 1-0 victory in Somerset. However, expect this weekend’s clash to be an extremely close encounter!

Fey has added a number of ex-Bitton players to his already impressive squad and following the ‘instability’ at Tiverton Town was also able to secure the signature of full-back Alex Faux.

A fiery encounter in the Preliminary Qualifying Round saw five players sent off in Bridgwater’s initial game against Taunton, as the depleted sides held on for a 1-1 draw before Bridgwater used the home advantage in the reply to progress with a narrow 2-1 victory.

Speaking after the 2-0 win at Fleet Town last weekend Fey told the Bridgwater Mercury that “Overall, a great three points and fully deserved. It was nice to keep a clean sheet as well for the first time this season. The pitch was shocking but we played well and got another good result.

“It’s a nice lead-in to next week’s big FA Cup game against Merthyr, which is going to be a very hard game. They are favourites to win our league and we have a couple suspended so we are going to enjoy the game and give it a good go. All the pressure is on Merthyr.”

A number of Merthyr Town players will be thankful for a complete week of rest and recuperation prior to the weekends’ clash, as they recover from minor knocks after the hectic opening weeks of the season.

Unbeaten Bridgwater Bring in Two
Pitchero Non-League News

Bridgwater Town, unbeaten in the Calor League Southern Division One South & West so far this season, have strengthened their squad with two new signings.

Manager Richard Fey has snapped up midfielder Toby Osman from his former club, Southern Premier Division Chippenham Town, while defender Tom Warren has been signed from league rivals Shortwood United. Both will be eligible to play in Saturday's FA Cup First Qualifying Round tie at home to Merthyr Town.

Fey explained: "We don't have a big squad and Bradley Middleton and Aaron Wilson are both suspended for the cup match." In addition, midfielder Jon Vance cannot commit himself to playing regularly for Bridgwater because of his work commitments as a self-employed hairdresser. Vance is in his second spell with Bridgwater, having rejoined the Somerset club from rivals Tiverton Town along with centre-back Chris McGrath.

Bridgwater are unbeaten in all types of matches, including pre-season games, since Fey took charge at Fairfax Park earlier this summer. He has signed a number of new players since taking over from Kevin Milsom, who is now with Toolstation Western League side Bristol Manor Farm.

Bridgwater are expecting a big gate for Saturday's tie, having knocked out neighbours Taunton Town 2-1 in a Preliminary Round replay last week.

Bushin fires Bridgwater into next round
Bridgwater Mercury

RICHARD Fey praised the winning mentality of his Bridgwater Town side after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over neighbours Taunton Town in the FA Cup preliminary round replay.

A Joe Bushin header three minutes from time was enough to send Fey’s side through, and he believes the Robins were worthy of the win.

He said: “It was a close game, but I think on chances created we probably just about deserved to win. We’re playing well at the moment and we’ve got to the point where we don’t know how to be beaten. Including pre-season, that’s our 14th win in 16 games. But credit to Taunton, they are a good side and they will be right up there come the end of the season. It was good cup tie, but we’re really pleased to be going through.”

After the drama of Saturday’s tie, in which five players were sent off, this game started in rather pedestrian fashion. Bridgwater’s Aaron Wilson registered the first shot on target midway through the first half, but his curling effort was easily pouched by Kyle Moore.

The Robins should have taken the lead just before the half hour mark when Bradley Middleton was left entirely unmarked from a James Pilling free-kick, but shunted his header high and wide. Bridgwater finally made the break-through on the stroke of half time; Daine O'Connor stooping to nod home a deep Alex Faux cross that was knocked back at the far post.

After the interval it was the home side who were generally on top, but the Peacocks levelled with a stunning individual goal from captain Jamie Price twenty minutes from time. For ten minutes or so Taunton enjoyed their first sustained spell of domination in the tie and looked the more likely winners, with Rodney Marsh and Owen Irish both going close.

But three minutes from time Joe Bushin got on the end of a teasing cross from the right and looped a perfectly placed header over Moore to secure Bridgwater's passage to the First Qualifying Round.

Expect them to employ same Bitton mentality in this match or "winning mentailty " as Fey calls it . It was against them we lost Tariq for the remainder of the season.

Dai Bando wrote:Expect them to employ same Bitton mentality in this match or "winning mentailty " as Fey calls it . It was against them we lost Tariq for the remainder of the season.

And ever since. Has anyone got any news of Tareq Khalil?

Should be a good day out looking forward to it  

Let's hope the lads get some protection from the winning mentality from the officials then...sounds like the pitch is bad too...but our boys like the fa cup especially playing away over the bridge....Kerry Morgan better wear a suit of armour for this one....Boz

Merthyr Imp wrote:

Dai Bando wrote:Expect them to employ same Bitton mentality in this match or "winning mentailty " as Fey calls it . It was against them we lost Tariq for the remainder of the season.

And ever since.  Has anyone got any news of Tareq Khalil?

A while back I read a tweet of his to the effect of he wasn't playing football anymore and if he did it would be with Merthyr. That was quite a while back though.

Merthyr Town looking for £3,000 payday as well as FA Cup progression at Bridgwater Town
Wales On Line

Merthyr Town will earn a £3,000 bonus if they beat fellow Southern League club Bridgwater Town at Fairfax Park in Somerset tomorrow (3pm). That’s the prize money on offer for the winners of an FA Cup first round qualifying tie between two clubs, who are among four who are level on points at the top of the South and South West Division.

Now the club, whose last big FA Cup day out, in their previous form, was against Walsall in front of the TV cameras in November 2005, are aiming to do it all again.

But former Bitton manager Richard Fey is now Bridgwater’s manager and he insists the pressure is on the club with the FA Cup pedigree in tomorrow’s clash. “Merthyr are favourites to win our League and we have a couple of players suspended tomorrow,” says Fey. “We can enjoy the match and give it a good go. All the pressure is on Merthyr.”

Fey is a former Bristol Rovers and Clevedon player who was Chippenham assistant manager before taking charge at Bridgwater. He has added Chippenham striker Toby Osman to the Bridgwater squad, but they will be without suspended pair Aaron Wilson and captain Bradley Middleton, an ex-Cardiff City trainee. Both were dismissed in Bridgwater’s 1-1 draw against Taunton, who had three of their own players sent off in that FA Cup preliminary round tie.

Bridgwater, still unbeaten in the League, won the replay 2-1, while the Martyrs defeated Bridport 3-2 away in their preliminary round match.

Merthyr have scored three goals in each of their last six fixtures, winning five and drawing 3-3 against Tiverton.

Central defender Andrew Thomas has recovered from a shoulder injury and is available for the match at Bridgwater, but Kris Leek is doubtful with an ankle injury. Alun Griffiths is not fit and still a couple of weeks from being ready.

Merthyr are scheduled to play Shortwood United in a League home fixture next Tuesday, but that would affected if either clubs are involved in a replay. If the Martyrs draw against Bridgwater the teams would meet again at the Causeway Stadium, Cinderford, where Merthyr are playing home fixtures while a new 3G synthetic pitch is laid at their Penydarren Park home.

Shortwood travel to Aylesbury tomorrow and would also replay next week if that game ends in a draw. If both ties are decided first time then Merthyr would play the last of their four scheduled home fixtures in Cinderford next Tuesday (v Shortwood, 7.45pm).

Merthyr would be back at Penydarren Park and on their new pitch for the first time with Fleet Town the visitors on Saturday, September 28.

Dai Bando wrote:Expect them to employ same Bitton mentality in this match or "winning mentailty " as Fey calls it . It was against them we lost Tariq for the remainder of the season.

Looking back on the reports of our cup game in Bitton when Taz suffered his horrendous injury it was not caused by a Bitton player as possibly suggested above.  Taz seemed to catch his foot in the pitch and twisted his leg awkwardly.  I agree about the "winning mentality" point as far as Fey is concerned but we don't want to start casting aspersions towards other teams as a certain side on the south coast does.

Yes, that was also my recollection of the incident involving Taz. Purely accidental, no blame on any opposition player even if that wasn't what was originally intended by the comment posted.

Recall Bitton being a very, erm, let's say "physical" side. But, I recall being informed at the time that Taz's injury was indeed an accident. Caught a divot and fell awkwardly I believe.

Fair comment on Tazs injury ,all the best for tomorrow lads

You read it here first. It's reported that Rewbury, Keddle, Marcus Griffiths and Newman are not playing tomorrow. Andrew Thomas may. Some youth team players may be drafted into the squad.Travelling Martyrs fans have booked a mini-bus.

Yes, and I think Willo, Log, Matty, Trayls, Jack, Zak, Morris and Pross are also being rested, which is why I am going to stay at home... 

Llewmorc wrote:Yes, and I think Willo, Log, Matty, Trayls, Jack, Zak, Morris and Pross are also being rested, which is why I am going to stay at home... 

And we're borrowing Badger to play in goal with Morris in midfield & Gilo up front. Whatever the team is I'm sure they'll give 100% and I'll be there with my dicky phone.

So whose playing....the woman who makes the tea?....Boz

Boz1964 wrote:So whose playing....the woman who makes the tea?....Boz

That person is Barrie and he'd be most upset to be called a woman. He's 70 but should be able to come on for the last 20.

Boz1964 wrote:So whose playing....the woman who makes the tea?....Boz

If they need some subs they can bring me on. Wrong side of 40 but showed the youngsters a few tricks at recent office tournament. One bloke said feck me hes as old as my dad but looks like giggs down the touchline. That later turned into his legs have gone as i got sin binned for hacking some chappie from opposing company down. I will be buoyed up by a few pints so we could expect a charged up appearance.  Up the town

He should have ' bags ' of energy (or NRG if from Merthyr) .....anyway....let's hope he's a whirlwind on the wing...goes down a storm in the box and a typhoo n in the tackle....then....Boz

Old Sod wrote:... I'll be there with my dicky phone.

Really don't think you should talk about the Club Sec like that! '#keepitinthefamily

Anyway, Bridgwater are going to be a few players short so I think a draw is on the cards. I am sure the Merthyr players will all do their best for the club- that's what counts.