Media Watch - Yate Town

Yate come to town at the weekend in what looks like another tricky fixture. They arrive with genuine play-off aspirations themselves. They’re just 4 points behind Paulton and 2 behind Shortwood, and to have any chance of playing at a higher level next season they will need the three points on Saturday.

While they’ve always been extremely difficult opponents, it would be fair to say that in the past they haven’t always come to our place needing to win. Having said that their record (on grass) at Penydarren Park is excellent. However, on current form they have only managed to win once in their last six away games. At the very least it should make for an expansive game of football as three points are also very much on our menu too.

With a difficult midweek fixture lurking on the horizon, it’s crucial that we take three points this weekend, especially after Cirencester travelled to Shortwood on Tuesday night and closed the gap at the top.

The manager has a choice to make between retaining Aaron Cornwall or bringing Ryan Newman back into the mid-field from the start, while Kayne McLaggon may not be fit enough to play. It may be too much of a risk to bring him back against Yate but there isn’t a manager out there who, at this stage of the season, doesn’t take a risk or two with players he really needs. Although Matthew Harris has indicated that his ankle feels good on the road to recovery he may not be fit enough to play this weekend. If Steve Williams is not fir enough to play expect Dan Summerfield will continue at right back.

There was a certain amount of cohesion in the team last week and none of these changes – on paper at least – should damage that in any way.

As for the game itself, it’s going to be tough. Yate will work hard as they always do, and in Lewis Haldane (who has scored 29 goals in the League and Red Insure Cup this season) they have an extremely dangerous player that we will need to watch closely. This late in the season it’s all about getting the points on the board.

There’s not a great deal to say about how we approach it. We’ve won all but one of our League games at Penydarren Park this season and we do look confident at home.

The players must be hugely determined to retain top spot and of course we know exactly what we have to do now. But let’s start by being completely pragmatic, just focus on the first one and continue to play the way we played last week.

Just keep doing what we do best, and if we do it successfully, we make their lives more difficult.

Merthyr Town marathon man Garry Shephard aiming for Southern League glory - and running for charity
Wales On Line

GARRY Shephard’s Southern League marathon with Merthyr Town FC is coming to an end - and he sets out on a personal mission this Sunday.

The Martyrs manager is working to ensure his team take another step towards the South and West title when they play Yate Town at Penydarren Park on Saturday before running the London Marathon in aid of charity the following morning.

Merthyr have five fixtures left in their quest for a third promotion in four seasons, starting against Yate, and are on course to win the title and claim the one automatic promotion place available.

Closest challengers Cirencester Town are five points behind and also have five matches left, while Tiverton Town have six games left and are 11 points drift of the leaders.

Shephard and fellow joint manager Danny Carter know their team still have a lot to achieve if they are to stay out in front and their 5-1 win against Stratford Town extended Merthyr’s unbeaten home record this season - and they have two fixtures left in their quest to maintain that momentum.

Merthyr are at home against Yate Town this Saturday, a match which will start at 3.07pm in memory of the Hillsbrough disaster, and then travel to play Taunton Town next Tuesday.
Ian Traylor celebrates after completing his hat-trick for Merthyr Town

Between those fixtures, Shephard heads off for his marathon challenge and will pound the streets of London on Sunday.

Ian Traylor’s four-goal haul against Stratford, including Merthyr’s 100th League strike of the season, took his tally for the season to 21, while substitute Ryan Prosser netted Merthyr’s other goal and he, too, is on 21 goals. Kerry Morgan and Kayne McLaggon are both on 14 for the season.McLaggon is out injured and was replaced in attack by Marcus Griffiths against Stratford, while Aaron Cornwall came into midfield in place of Ryan Newman.

Merthyr Town’s remaining fixtures: this Saturday v Yate Town (home, 3.07pm), next Tuesday v Taunton Town (away, 7.45pm), Saturday, April 19 v Swindon Supermarine (away, 3.07pm), Monday, April 21 v Evesham United (home, 3pm), Saturday, April 26 v Thatcham Town (away, 3pm).

The Martyrs are holding a reunion day for former players at Penydarren Park on Bank Holiday Monday, April 21. Any former players or managers of Merthyr Tydfil FC and Merthyr Town FC are welcome to attend from 1pm before the match against Evesham United (3pm kick-off).

Contact Mark Evans on 07900 671937 for further information.

Yate Town hope to become first team to beat Merthyr Town away in the Southern League this season


From the Bristol Gazette

MANAGER Rob Cousins insist Yate Town will give everything in their final four league games of the season to try and sneak into the end of season play-offs.

The Bluebells are threatening to make a late charge in Division One South & West of the Southern League after stretching their unbeaten run to five games with a 1-0 win over Mangotsfield United in the local derby at Lodge Road last Saturday, but midweek results saw them drop to eighth with fifth-placed Paulton Rovers opening up a four-point gap on them having played a game less.  Cousins admits Yate will have to pick up a maximum return from their remaining fixtures to have any chance of finishing in the top five, which would mean becoming the first side to win away to leaders Merthyr Town in the league this season on Saturday.
However, Yate drew 0-0 against them in an FA Trophy clash in October, which was Merthyr’s last home game at Cinderford, and only went out on penalties after their Red Insure Cup tie on the new 3G surface at the Cigg-E stadium in January finished 1-1.

When Yate beat Mangotsfield 2-1 in the reverse fixture earlier this season, they followed it up with a 1-0 victory at then-leaders Cirencester Town a week later and Cousins believes they can repeat history at Merthyr.  He said: “It’s a perfect opportunity. We’ll go there with no fear.”
“What we’ve got to do is go there and have a bit of pride and just give it our all, but I’ll be disappointed if we come away and don’t give it a go.  “If you look at the teams above us, we’re all fighting for that last (play-off) spot.  “Other teams have got games on us, but if we can string a run together and pick up four wins we could get in the back door.”

Cousins dedicated the win over Mangotsfield to the fans.  He said: “It does mean something to them and it should mean something to the players representing this club and that’s what we tried to emphasise, that we were playing for the supporters as much as ourselves.”
Captain Mike Bryant will be suspended for the trip to Merthyr and next Tuesday night’s GFA Senior Challenge Cup semi-final against Mangotsfield United at Cossham Street (7.45pm).
Mitch Tippins will be assessed after going off with a hip injury against Mangotsfield, while Yate will continue to manage an ongoing groin problem which saw Jake Cox start on the bench, but James Harmer will return to the squad after missing out due to work commitments.

Cirencester Town seek a county clean sweep in derby clash
Gloucestershire Echo

BUOYED by back-to-back derby victories, Cirencester Town will be gunning for a county clean sweep on Saturday. After victories against both Bishop’s Cleeve and Shortwood United, the Centurions can make it a Gloucestershire grand slam with three points against Cinderford Town.

In form and firing ahead of the run-in to the Calor League Division One South and West season, Cirencester boss Brian Hughes knows another derby success could hold added significance.

Cirencester moved to within two points of top spot with Tuesday’s 2-1 win at Shortwood and could go top tomorrow if results go their way.

“We don’t pay much attention to the table, because we want to concentrate on the job we have to do,” Hughes said. “But that said it is nice to be putting some pressure back on Merthyr at the top, because it means we are playing well. Whatever happens at the end of the season, we know we need to keep wining games. Whether that’s to try and catch Merthyr or to be in top form for when the play-offs roll around, getting on a winning run will be key.”

Hughes was delighted with another fine performance in ending Shortwood’s five-month unbeaten home record, reserving particular praise for his livewire front three. Lee Smith banged home his 30th league goal of the term and his 36th in all competitions at Meadowbank and his partnership with Steve Davies and Aiden Bennett caught the eye.

“I was speaking to my old mate Andy Hoskins who is on the staff at Shortwood at half-time and his words were that the three of them were on fire,” Hughes said. “They were terrific on the night and when they click they make us a very difficult side to face. Lee has got a lot of goals this season and he’s deserved them, but Steve and Aiden have done their bit to help him out. They sometimes lack a little for consistency – but if they had that they wouldn’t be playing at this level. The way we play is about hitting teams with pace, and whatever level you play at, teams don’t like defending raw pace.”

Tomorrow’s visit of Cinderford means that John Brough will be making his second trip to the Corinium Stadium in the past week. Brough was in charge of Bishop’s Cleeve for their 2-0 defeat at Cirencester last week, but left the Mitres to take charge of the Foresters on Tuesday night.

“I got wind from Broughy that there may be a move in the offing after last week’s game,” Hughes said. “He hasn’t had much time to make an impact at Cinderford but we know that when a new manager goes into a club there is often a reaction from the team. We have to make sure that we are aware of that and perform to our best.”

Interesting reading there hasn't been much between Merthyr Town and Cirencester all season but I do worry their secret is 'Wining' and Steve Williams is growing 'Fir' ....and i wondered why he was called Willo...let's hope he can keep us top of the tree come Saturday 5 pm....Boz

Danny's in charge of the team for tomorrow's game with Yate as Shep is in London for the weekend.

Merthyr Town FC manager Garry Shephard takes a weekend off - to run the London Marathon
Wales on Line

GARRY Shephard has a rare day off from his duties as Merthyr Town FC manager this weekend when he runs the London Marathon.

Garry and his brother, Mark, have been training for months and will be among more than 36,000 people setting off on the 26 miles course this Sunday and admits: “I’m a bit nervous - this is my first marathon.”

It’s been a long, hard road for Shep, who had to curtail his training after suffering a calf injury, but is determined to complete the course.

“Mark and I will be running together and my aim is to complete the course,” said Garry. “I was looking to finish in four hours or four and a half hours, but my calf strain meant I had to cut back on training. I have been back running again over the last few weeks and the only real target is to make sure I finish.”

Garry and Mark are raising funds for the Wooden Spoon charity, founded more than 30 years ago after England finished last in the Five Nations Championship and dedicated to helping children and young people who are disadvantaged physically, mentally or socially by using sport to improve their lives.

Garry, 38, is joint Merthyr Town FC manager with Danny Carter, who will take charge of the Martyrs in this Saturday’s Calor Southern League match against Yate Town at Penydarren Park.

“Mark and I are leaving for London early on Saturday morning, but I’ll be at first team training tonight (Thursday) and Danny will be in sole charge against Yate,” said Garry. “We work exceptionally well together and I’ll be thinking about how the boys are doing, but they are in great hands.”

Anybody who wants to donate to Garry’s fundraising effort can do that via this link http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/GarryShephard

Shane Krac calls for Tivvy to concentrate on play-offs following Red Insure Cup defeat
Exeter Express and Echo

Midfielder Shane Krac says Tiverton Town’s season is now ‘100 per cent about the play-offs’ after missing out on the Red Insure Cup. The Yellows, who have six league games remaining, visit Clevedon Town on Saturday before hosting Cinderford Town at Ladysmead on Tuesday.

Tiverton lost 1-0 at Southern League Premier Division side St Neots Town in the second leg of the Red Insure Cup final on Tuesday evening, meaning they missed out on the chance of securing a first piece of silverware since John Clarkson took over.

But Krac, who captained the side before coming off in the second half, backed his teammates to bounce back and secure a play-off berth. “It is 100 per cent about the play-offs now,” said the midfielder. “They were our focus even before the St Neots game. We wanted to win the cup obviously but now we want the play-offs and we want promotion. If we can get a play-off place then that would be an ideal way for us to end the season. I think we will be fine after this loss (against St Neots Town),” Krac continued.

“The dressing room is not a down place at all – it is full of character. We have got Clevedon away on Saturday, which is a tough game, but we just have to pick ourselves up and take a strong grip of our place in the play-offs.”

The Yellows currently occupy fourth spot with at least one game in hand over all of the sides above them, and they are five points clear of sixth-placed Shortwood United. But how they bounce back from Tuesday’s disappointment remains to be seen, particularly after expending a lot of energy chasing the game for precious little reward.

“To be fair, we couldn’t get anywhere near them in the first half. They managed to pass it around us and we were chasing shadows for a lot of it,” said Krac. “We really struggled to get near them a lot, although they didn’t do too much with it. In the second half, we came out, took the game to them and created a couple of half-chances. To be totally honest though, I think we huffed and puffed but never really did enough to win it. They had a lot of quality in their team to be fair to them. They were looking to catch us on the break in the second half and I thought they did very well. The lads all grafted. We put the effort in and you can’t ask for any more from the lads than that. At the same time though, we never really had enough class to get through them.”

It means back-to-back defeats for the Yellows following their 3-2 reverse at North Leigh on Saturday.

Or to put it another way...the Kracs are starting to show....Boz