Media Watch - Wimborne Town

As new boss Steve Jenkins decides to place his faith in the core of last years team that almost won automatic promotion (we’ll forget about the Play-Off Final for the time being), plus the addition of five new faces, it is now quite possible that the Martyrs could prove to be an even better balanced team to challenge for honours than they were last season. The appointment of Merthyr born Jenkins has certainly kept the players on their toes in pre-season as he has set demanding standards, for each specific individual and as a collective unit, bringing a fresh focus on the challenges to be faced in the new season.

Although it can never be an indication of what lies ahead (older supporters will remember the Gerald Aplin prelude!) what we do know from the pre-season games is that this is a fit, robust squad and the additions that have been made should in theory improve it further. Perhaps the results are meaningless, but the overall performances have been encouraging. We will soon learn the reality of our prospects, although it’s far too early to be carried away with optimism and we need to be pragmatic, assessing the strengths of our rivals before we are able to make any rash predictions.

It will be interesting to see how the managers tactical plans will help to overcome the problems associated with playing ‘away’ from home on a range of different quality playing surfaces, which ultimately was the underlying factor in the club’s failure to make the final stride over the finishing line in May, after starting the season playing our ‘home’ games at The Causeway. There will need to be a willingness to adopt a flexible approach to solve this conundrum. It may not always be pretty but it will need to be effective.

Hopefully, the quality of football – the Jenkins way – will continue to be easy on the eye with the players encouraged to execute it without any fear. There were a few eyebrows raised by the decision to release Gary Colbourne during pre-season but with the encouraging performances of Jarrad Wright in central defence Jenkins had a natural ready-made replacement, but the manager will need all of his organisational skills and experience from playing in the Football League to focus on the defensive stability that will inevitably under-pin the results that we will need.  

We’ve seen the team move the ball about skilfully and at a high tempo in pre-season. Hopefully, they will continue to stretch the full width of the pitch when attacking and switch quickly to a more compact formation when the match situation dictates.

It will be intriguing to see how the Martyrs style develops as the season progresses. It must not be forgotten that this will essentially be a new team with players such as Dan Bradley, Ryan Green, Adam Davies and not to mention Jarrad Wright in a new role, still learning how to interact with one another. The younger players have gained an extra years experience while the older heads will add their ‘street-wise’ instinct to the managers armory.

If it’s unlikely that Steve Jenkins is able to guarantee Dan MacDonald an automatic place in the starting line-up, this could ultimately influence the players decision on whether to move from Monmouth Town, where he would inevitably enjoy regular first team football. We'll just have to wait and see how this final piece of the puzzle works out.

Whatever happens, we can all have cause to be optimistic that this Merthyr side will be better equipped than last season – let’s hope so anyway.

No big names for Wimborne Town but manager Steve Cuss remains confident
Bournemouth Echo

MANAGER Steve Cuss admits there will be no marquee signings at Wimborne Town this summer but remains confident his diminished squad can compete in Southern South & West.

Magpies revealed at the end of April that they would operate with a “significantly reduced” playing budget this season following chairman Paul Miller's decision to quit the board for personal reasons.

Having captured the likes of Mark Gamble and James Stokoe from Bashley 12 months ago, Miller targeted a play-off place but Wimborne rarely troubled the top five in a stop-start campaign and finished 13th.

Departing players were steadily replaced with the club's youngsters during the final few weeks of the season, a situation that Cuss conceded was unlikely to change this time round.

The Wimborne boss told the Daily Echo: “The club have to be realistic in terms of what they can afford. The budget had to be reduced and I fully accept that but from my point of view, things will continue in exactly the same way. Our priority was to get the senior players from last season signed and I was pleased to hold onto the 12 we finished the season with. Beyond that, we will be working with a much-reduced squad. As we have done before, we will scour the leagues below us and look to pick up players who fancy testing themselves at a higher level.

“We haven't set targets and I don't look that far ahead to be honest. Looking at next season as a whole, we just want to keep improving and that's what we will try to achieve week by week. I think we will need a little bit of luck along the way because we're going into it with only 12 players with real experience of this level. Three or four injuries will leave us stretched but if we can keep people fit and find a couple of others then we can be competitive.”

Asked whether there was any scope in the budget for a bigger name, Cuss said: “No there isn't. There won't be a major signing as such or anybody coming in from a higher level and that's just the situation we're in at the moment.”

Former Cherries youngster Brad Strickland, who finished last season with Bashley, ex-Hamworthy United defender Tom Biles, untried rookie Andy Powell and reserve midfielder Steve Moore are trying to work their way into Cuss's plans.

Cuss added: “We have got a couple of trialists who have impressed at various points so we will see how they develop over the next week. We're being patient with that and from their point of view, they're having a look at us as well so we'll see how it goes.”

Mark Gamble could miss Wimborne Town's season opener - but Magpies sign up three new players
Blackmore Vale

Wimborne Town striker Mark Gamble could be a doubt for the Magpies’ league opener against Merthyr Town on Saturday – but Steve Cuss has added three players to his squad for next season.

Gamble, who scored 28 league goals for the Dorset side last season, has been struggling with an ankle injury and despite only being introduced for the last quarter of Wimborne’s game against Gillingham Town on Saturday – the Ulsterman was carried off injured after twisting his good ankle.

“He’s had ankle problems all through the pre-season so he’s really disappointed” explained Cuss. “We were really cautious with him and only gave him 25 minutes at the end, but he’s gone over on his good ankle so it’s a bit of a blow but we’ll have to see how he is.”

Patrick Wilson, who featured sporadically during the opening half of last season for the Cuthbury outfit has signed for next season – and put in an impressive display during Wimborne’s 2-0 victory over the Gills. The 28-year-old can play at centre back or in central midfield and Cuss believes Wilson will help sure up his side’s defence.

“He has fantastic defensive qualities and can play in a couple of different positions as well” he said. “He’s a useful addition to our squad and he knows us from a little period he had with us last year. We’re really delighted that we’ve got Pat. He lived on the Isle of Wight which caused problems in terms of getting over for training and matches but he’s moved to the Bournemouth area and he’s signed for us and we’re free to have him to play for us now.”

The Magpies have also signed striker Andy Powell after Cuss was impressed with him during a pre-season trial. Cuss believes he deserves the opportunity to show what he can do in the Southern League Division One South and West, despite having only played amateur football in the past.

“We’re delighted with him – he’s done very well over pre-season, scoring three goals” added Cuss. “It’s the first time he’s played at this level so we will see how he develops. He deserves to be signed and we will see how it goes.”

Former Hamworthy United defender Tom Biles has also signed a contract at Cuthbury after an impressive pre-season trial. Jamie Davidson, who has missed most of Wimborne’s pre-season will be available for his side’s trip to Merthyr on Saturday.

Wandering wrote:
Patrick Wilson... The 28-year-old can play at centre back or in central midfield and Cuss believes Wilson will help sure up his side’s defence.

 
Is he shore about that?

Wilson...I'm picking up good vibrations for three points against these Beach Buoys on Saturday....Boz

New look back five for Merthyr Town in Southern League opening match against Wimborne at Penydarren Park
IC Wales

MERTHYR Town will have a new look back five for the start of their Calor Southern League season against Dorset club Wimborne Town at Penydarren Park tomorrow (3pm).

Former Motherwell goalkeeper Tom Bradley, who has been signed from Aberdare Town, is favourite to start behind a back four which will include centre-backs Jarrad Wright and ex-Wales international Ryan Green plus left-back Adam Davies.

Manager Steve Jenkins will decide between Steve Williams and Dan Summerfield for the right-back slot as the Martyrs aim to start their campaign with a win. Wright and Green have been regular partners through the middle in pre-season.

Over the last four seasons, since Merthyr Town came under the close control of their supporters trust, the progress has been fast with back-to-back Western League titles lifting them into the Southern League. They have finished third and second over the last two South and South West Division seasons, but with only one automatic promotion place available they went into the play-offs each time and lost.

Joint managers Garry Shephard and Danny Carter stood down with former Cardiff City, Swansea City and Wales defender Jenkins taking charge for the new season. He has strengthened the squad there is a belief in the Merthyr camp that they can start the new season well, having been unbeaten in League matches at Penydarren Park throughout last season.

Goalkeeper Bradley, Green and Davies are all set to make their League debuts for Merthyr, who will be without suspended Adie Harris plus Jamie Rewbury and Kris Leek who are away on holiday. Rewbury arrives back next Tuesday, while Leek flies during the early hours of Saturday morning, but won’t be considered for the match against Wimborne.

Former Monmouth Town striker Dan McDonald has signed for Merthyr as expected, while Aaron Cornwall has left the club.

Jenkins is likely to start with a 4-3-3 formation against Wimborne with Kayne McLaggon, Kerry Morgan and Ian Traylor likely to lead the attack.

Visitors Wimborne signed three new players this week with Patrick Wilson, Tom Biles and Andy Powell joining the squad and manager Steve Cuss says: “Merthyr Town away is as tough as they come, but we are well prepared and looking forward to it.”

Merthyr Town have a second match in three days when they play Welsh League Barry Town United in a Football Association of Wales Word Cup tie at Jenner Park, Barry on Monday (7.45pm). The home team are likely to include former Merthyr player Ryan Dorrian in their team.

Wandering wrote:
Aaron Cornwall has left the club.
.

If that's correct, then I suppose he was always going to be the most likely to leave to make way for the likes of Corey Jenkins and Dan MacDonald.