Media Watch - Wimborne Town

With all of our main rivals enjoying a night off, the Martyrs know that a win against Wimborne on Tuesday evening will see them jump into second place in the league table. However, as the Imp pointed out recently anyone with the league’s joint top scorer in their side will be a significant threat, as their recent 1-0 away victory at North Leigh proved (Wimborne did subsequently lose 7-0 at Paulton Rovers!).

Expect Wimborne to be a far more expansive and varied outfit than recent opposition at Penydarren Park. With 8-1 wins against Guildford, 6-0 against Evesham 5-2 against Didcot they are capable of scoring heavily. The other leading contenders have already beaten Wimborne (Cirencester won 4-3, Swindon Supermarine won 2-0 and Mangotsfield 1-0).

The injury news ahead of Tuesday is that there’s no real new news unless Rewbs illness doesn’t improve in the next 48 hours. In the absence of Jack Howe and while Alun Griffiths is on loan at AFC Porth, Steve Williams will probably continue at left back while Dan Summerfield is able to continue his development at right back.

If Godalming and Bridgwater didn’t exactly pose any major threat then this week could prove far more testing for the young kid on the block. To be fair to Dan, when he arrived the formidable presence of Steve Williams stood in his way, but a groin injury for Steve early in the season and the need to re-shuffle the line-up due to injuries has provided Summerfield with his opportunity and he has proceeded to grab it with both hands. With a run of games to prove himself he has been able to demonstrate that he is a consistent and capable performer, apart from the torrid dismissal at Cirencester! He can continue to improve any shortcomings in his all-round game but he has certainly been a bonus this season.

The one thing the team always seem to get out of him is a willingness to work hard and do his best, and if he can focus on his continued development, then there’s no reason why his game can’t take yet another leap forward.

Unfortunately, for the opposition our threat doesn’t end with the starting eleven. When you look at the substitute’s bench it’s not hard to see what I mean. The quality that we can use from the dugout provides exactly the kind of depth that we will need over the next month.

Both Kerry Morgan and Marcus Griffiths have been used from the start of a game and also as a substitute which can cause all manner of problems because of their pace. Ryan Prosser often changes the dynamics of a game whether he is brought on in the second half or if he is selected from the start – his height offers a different set of problems for the defenders to solve. Just when you think that we may run out of alternatives Aaron Cornwall and Kayne McLaggon can potentially join the party with their close ball control and silky skills.

We are starting to see a squad that possess more all-round skill ‘than the Pandy Clock has faces’.

quite agree on dan when i seen him at liswerry u could see he was a competent player and one new newport ? let go..

There is a doubt about Jamie Davidson but he is included in a 16-man Wimborne squad. The manager feels Merthyr's new pitch will suit his side although it will be their first competitive game on an artificial surface.

Cuss welcomes Wimborne's chance to play on 3G pitch in Wales
Bournemouth Echo

Magpies make the long journey to South Wales tomorrow to play promotion rivals Merthyr Town (7.45pm) – their first competitive outing on the Martyrs’ new state-of-the-art 3G pitch at Penydarren Park.

The Welsh side have put together a five-game winning streak and provide the sternest of tests to Magpies’ own promotion credentials.

Following their 1-0 victory at Stratford on Saturday, Merthyr currently sit fourth in Southern South & West, nine points ahead of Cuss’s side who returned to winning ways with a 2-1 league success over Fleet Town.

But although the Welsh outfit are yet to lose at home this season, Cuss believes the 3G surface could hand his side the advantage.

“Playing on an artificial pitch will be a first for us and should help our passing game,” he said.

Jamie Davidson is still a doubt after missing the Fleet match through injury.

Steve Cuss 'desperately disappointed' with late Fleet Town goal but praises Magpies for getting back on track

WIMBORNE Town manager Steve Cuss was ‘desperately disappointed’ his side couldn’t keep a clean sheet against Fleet Town – but praised the Magpies for returning to winning ways.

The Dorset side put last weekend’s 7-0 thumping at Paulton Rovers behind them with a 2-1 win over the Southern League Division One South and West strugglers – thanks to goals from Mark Gamble and Aidan Sainsbury. Partick Cox’s late strike denied Wimborne a clean sheet after conceding ten goals in their last two games.

“I was desperately disappointed” explained Cuss. “We have been working hard to stop conceding goals. Up to last week, we hadn’t conceded from a corner all season, and now we’ve let in two in our last three games. It is something we will continue to work on and will try to get better – but fortunately we had enough going forward to get the points.”

Wimborne struggled to dominate the first half against Fleet Town, but strung to life after the break with two fantastic goals. Gamble ran half the length of the pitch before finishing calmly on 49 minutes, before Sainsbury doubled the Magpies’ advantage on the hour mark with a powerful drive. For the second one, Aidan’s corner was a poor delivery” added Cuss.

“Once it came back to him, it was a great touch and strike for him to score the goal – so I’m delighted that Aidan got on the score sheet as well.”

Wimborne are in sixth place in the Southern League Division One South and West – ahead of tomorrow night’s away trip to Merthyr Town.

Merthyr Town aiming for sixth successive Southern League win to move second in the table
Wales On Line

Merthyr Town are aiming to fire up their promotion hopes with a sixth successive Calor Southern League victory at their Cigg-E Stadium home tonight.

The Martyrs goalkeeper Craig Morris has kept four consecutive clean sheet, the latest in their 1-0 win at Stratford Town, and will be looking to extend that run of form when Dorset club Wimborne Town are visitors tonight (Tuesday, 7.45pm).

A win against Wimborne would lift Merthyr above North Leigh and Paulton with a game in hand on leaders Cirencester.

Joint managers Garry Shephard and Danny Carter are delighted with a run of form which has seen their team power back into the promotion chase. They have scored 14 goals and conceded three in their last five fixtures and now take on a Wimborne team who are only four points behind them.

There is one automatic promotion place available, while the next four teams quality for the play-offs. Merthyr, though, having missed out in the play-off final last season, are intent on maintaining a strong challenge for the title.

Gary Colborne is likely to be ruled out tonight by an injury, but hopes to be back for Saturday’s home clash with Berkshire club Thatcham, while Kris Leek faces a late fitness test on a shin injury.

Merthyr have used 23 players in all competitions so far this season and Leek is the only one ever present, while the top scorer is Ian Traylor on 17. Striker Ryan Charles scored his second goal for Merthyr when he netted their winner at Stratford four minutes into second half injury time, earning a 1-0 win which kept Merthyr pushing hard near the top.

The Martyrs still have six matches to play the end of this year, starting against Wimborne this evening.

They are then at home against Thatcham on Saturday (3pm), while their remaining fixtures in 2013 are Clevedon Town away on Monday, December 16 (7.30pm) followed Mangotsfield United away on Saturday, December 21.

Cinderford Town are visitors to Pendarren Park on Boxing Day (1pm), while Merthyr travel to Tiverton Town on Saturday, December 28 (3pm).

* Merthyr Town supporters are invited to attend an open meeting in the Candac Suite at Penydarren Park this Thursday (December 12, 7.30pm). Club officials will outlined recent and future developments for the club.