Media Watch - Didcot Town

The lingering scratch of the Wimborne game has been, at least temporarily, flicked away by a duo of extremely convincing victories. It now leaves us in remarkably good shape for the visit of Didcot. Looking at their results so far this season they appear to be a dangerous mixture of 'Jekyll and Hyde’ both winning comfortably and losing convincingly in equal measures!

The team has started to pick itself in the last few games and it would be no surprise if we remain unchanged at least for Saturday’s game, if not for the Bank Holiday trip to Cinderford. That means Ryan Prosser, Marcus Griffiths, Giles Cutlan, Andrew Thomas and Adie Harris still waiting patiently for their opportunity. With two cup games on the horizon the need to rotate the playing personnel will present a chance to stake a claim for a place in the starting line-up as the competition will keep everyone on their toes. A rather nice problem for the management team to have!

Didcot brought in a number of impressive signings in the close season as they look to build on last term’s form and joint manager Ian Concannon is targeting a play-off challenge.

The Railwaymen include goal-machine Ryan Brooks, from Ardley United, midfielders Matt Clark (ex-North Leigh) and Luke Abrahart from Thatcham Town, plus defender Adam Learoyd from Oxford City. They also signed Jack Bernasconi from Abingdon United and Liam Palfreeman from Oxford City Nomads Development

“We want to carry on the momentum from last season,” said Concannon. “We had a good run in and didn’t want the season to end. When we were safe from relegation, we were determined not to let the season fizzle out. People were either playing to stay in the team or trying to get into the team. This time we want to be right up there, pushing for the play-offs.”

If the Martyr’s results have started to set a welcoming redemption theme, then there have been a few individual performers playing the tune of a soul song. Not least our strike force, who’s confidence is once again obvious.

This will be another vital game as we strive to keep in touch with the early pace-setters who have played a game more than the Martyrs. We also play 48-hours later on Monday so it’s very important that we maintain the energy, dynamism and focus of the last two matches.

The partnership between Matthew Harris, Ryan Newman and Gavin Williams needs to click into gear once again, but I suspect that Didcot’s midfield will provide more of a challenge than the hypnotized unit that we faced in mid-week.

We now have a good core of 20 plus playing personnel with an exceptional strong substitutes bench. Supplementing the new arrivals at the club we also have a core of six experience players who have all completed over 100 appearances for the club. Fitness permitting, by October 2014 we will have a good picture of where the current crop could possibly stand.

I think that the players have the supporters complete faith and there is also total faith in those who are running the club, which provides a very heady concoction.

Merthyr Town fire 11 goals in two matches
IC Wales On-line

Merthyr Town have smashed 11 goals in their last two Southern League fixtures and aim to maintain the same attacking style when they play two matches in three days over the Bank Holiday weekend.

The Martyrs entertain Didcot Town at Penydarren Park on Saturday and then travel to play Cinderford Town in the Forest of Dean on Monday afternoon (both 3pm kick-off).

Ian Traylor has scored five goals in Merthyr’s three matches played so far, including a hat-trick during the 7-0 destruction of Clevedon in midweek, while Kayne McLaggon has netted three. Matthew Harris and Corey Jenkins were their other scorers against Clevedon.

That came four days after a 4-1 win at Bashley and manager Steve Jenkins was delighted with the passing football being played by his team.

Jenkins selected an unchanged matchday 16 for the win against Clevedon, but still has Ryan Prosser, Marcus Griffiths and Adie Harris pressing to break into that group. Central defender Jamie Rewbury will also be back in the squad next month after starting the season on loan at AFC Porth to help regain match fitness. All three may be needed over the two Bank Holiday weekend matches.

Merthyr are sixth in the League table, but have a game in hand on all the clubs above them because their scheduled match against Bridgwater Town was postponed because it clashed with a Football Association of Wales Word Cup tie against Barry Town United.

That trip to Barry was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch and has yet to be rearranged.

Ian Traylor has scored five goals in Merthyr’s three matches played so far, including a hat-trick during the 7-0 destruction of Clevedon in midweek.

I thought that I saw Traylor only score two against Clevedon on Tuesday.

Wandering wrote:

Ian Traylor has scored five goals in Merthyr’s three matches played so far, including a hat-trick during the 7-0 destruction of Clevedon in midweek.

I thought that I saw Traylor only score two against Clevedon on Tuesday.

I only saw him score two on Tuesday as well. Wales On Line strike again!

4mad.anubis wrote:

Wandering wrote:

Ian Traylor has scored five goals in Merthyr’s three matches played so far, including a hat-trick during the 7-0 destruction of Clevedon in midweek.

I thought that I saw Traylor only score two against Clevedon on Tuesday.

I only saw him score two on Tuesday as well. Wales On Line strike again!

Yes, there was no way in which he could have claimed credit for the own goal, which they didn't mention.

Didcot outclassed and fall to defeat
Oxford Mail

Striker Ryan Brooks could return for Didcot Town’s trip to Merthyr Town following a hamstring injury, but James Organ is on holiday.

Didcot lost 3-0 at home to Larkhall Athletic on Tuesday, and joint manager Ian Concannon said: “It was probably the worst performance since we took over. If we make changes no-one can question us.”

The Railwaymen produced a disappointing display which saw them trail to goals from Tyler Sibbick and Luke Bryan at the break.

The scoreline could have been worse had Town keeper James Foster not made a number of fine saves. Sibbick scored a penalty in the second half to make it 3-0 and complete a miserable night for the hosts.

Looking at the goals we have scored so far this season we seem to be able to score from various positions/situations.

We've had a stunning free kick from Ryan Newman, 2 headed goals from Kayne & Trayls from excellent flighted crosses and then from another from a low, hard cross resulting in an og in Bashley.  There followed an excellently placed shot by Trayls from just inside the area.  On Tuesday we saw another 2 goals from crosses from Kayne & Trayls (again) plus a similar og from a low cross by Corey Jenkins.  We also had a carefully placed shot from Trayls from the edge of the area, a cracking shot from Kayne from about 18 yards, a thunderbolt from Matthew from 20 odd yards and another hard hit shot from Corey from about 18 yards.  To add to that we've only conceded 2 goals.

Kerry and Gavin have yet to get off the mark and we have not yet needed any goals from defenders from set pieces so those are yet to come.  In addition the likes of Pross & Marcus have yet to get a game - except from Pross's cameo against Wimborne when he looked sharp.

We will need to score goals from all areas as we face more challenging sides in the weeks to come, who will come to us with packed defences and we, as supporters, will need to show patience as we all know that we are capable of scoring against any team from any position on the pitch.