Media Watch - North Leigh

As we move into October the next couple of weeks will be extremely busy and provide a particularly testing period. It’s far too early in the season to even contemplate any specific outcomes but by the end of the month, as the days and nights start drawing in with the imminent turning back of the clocks that truly heralds the longer, darker winter months and a return to the winter jackets, we will have a far better indication of what we can expect in the second half of the season.

We will need to learn quickly how to grind out results even if sometimes we don’t exactly make sweet, never-ending love with the ball. Hopefully, we can learn lessons from last season’s disappointments. We have some big engagements ahead too. We start a tough run of games including Larkhall (a), Taunton (a), Bridgwater (a) [potential cup replays permitting], AFC Totton (h) then Yate (h).

How we emerge from this particular spell will tell us much about the Martyrs prospects. After a dozen games the season starts to take shape and we will need to be on top of our game over the next five weeks.

But first of all we face difficult opposition in North Leigh, who have only been beaten once away from home in the league so far this season and are just one place below us in the table.

So far, for all but the last three minutes of last Tuesday’s game, we have been able to considerably improve our defensive shape while maintaining our attacking flair. For large sections of the league games that we have played, we have been well organised and been in good form as a unit able to keep our opponents at arm’s length, often happy to see them shoot from long range.

Then, like an adder hidden in the long grass, we can strike suddenly. The thrilling attacking play is facilitated largely by the twin thrust from wide and midfield. For a very short period on Tuesday the glue that has held this approach together became unstuck.

We now need to start to be at our most dangerous when we don’t have the ball, because sometimes a team can just attack for too long.

Most teams concede possession to us, so we’ve never really had an issue dominating for long periods. We are also used to performing well during the key moments of games and that’s always encouraging. But often we see plenty of the ball without hurting the opposition. The short, sharp, shock treatment left us reeling in midweek after observing the basics for most of the 90 minutes, but the closing scenes were like witnessing a performance from a Terantino movie.

“Our two late goals sum up the spirit in this squad and go some way in repaying the late goals Merthyr have inflicted on us over the last few years” were the overjoyed words from John Evans, the Shortwood manager, after the amazing finish his team inflicted on us.

Shortwood had looked a well-beaten side but a long speculative clearance, a fatal mistake from a defender and Jake Lee was able to lob Tom Bradley for what should have been a late consolation goal. The equaliser was similar to the final goal scored by Cinderford on Boxing Day. A hopeful ball through the ‘corridor of uncertainty’ that we failed to deal with and an unmarked Phil Veal is able to score at the far post.

We saw off the aerial threat of Lewis Sommers but in some way his substitution caused us more problems, as we lost that concentration possibly because we thought that the game had been won.

The two potential obstacles Steve Jenkins will now have to address both relate to our confidence. Firstly, he must guard against a lack of confidence. He must ensure that they continue to observe the basics, even if they think psychologically that the game is over. The game must never be allowed to become easy.

It’s a delicate balance. Because the other hurdle they’ll have to watch for is how they react to the inevitable criticism of dropping the two points from a game that we dominated. Gavin Williams commented after the game "That’s football". Sometimes, when you’re at your most confident, you’re also at your most fragile. Dented pride has hurt our prospects in the past.

It was always going to be difficult against a Shortwood side who were rightly full of beans after beating Conference North side Oxford City in the FA Cup at the weekend. We played exceptionally well for 88 minutes although it’s probably a testament to how things can quickly unravel that dropping two points at home feels a bit disappointing.

I think what we saw on Tuesday was a group of players who had done brilliantly for 98% of the game finally succumb to a very late lapse of concentration in the face of a team that just didn’t give up on getting an unlikely result, plus a diluted bench made it a close call for everyone. But Shortwood showed tremendous character to pull back the two goal deficit.

So, in the end it was only a point. Lets put things into perspective. It’s not what we wanted but it’s not exactly a defeat either. Now we go into the weekend looking to put that disappointment firmly behind us.

And Merthyr will be without Kerry Morgan for the next three games. So one assumes Corey Jenkins will be in the starting line-up.

Tim Drummond wrote:And Merthyr will be without Kerry Morgan for the next three games. So one assumes Corey Jenkins will be in the starting line-up.

Not necessarily - how about 2 upfront with Traylor in the hole?

Old Sod wrote:......how about 2 upfront with Traylor in the hole?

Kris Leek didn't play on Tuesday and if available he could also come into the team.

Steve Jenkins and his Merthyr Town team need quick return to winning ways in quest for Southern League promotion
Wales On Line

Free-scoring Merthyr Town aim for a return to winning form when Oxfordshire club North Leigh visit Penydarren Park on Saturday (3pm).

The Martyrs have fired 24 goals in seven matches, conceding only five, and stand eight points behind leaders Stratford Town with three games in hand. They badly need a home win against Leigh after failing to earn a victory in their last three league and cup matches.

Two late goals, the equaliser scored with virtually the last kick of the match, rocked manager Steve Jenkins and his Merthyr team in a 2-2 draw against Shortwood United last Saturday and they badly need to regain momentum.

Winger Kerry Morgan is ruled out as he starts a three-match suspension and Corey Jenkins may be the player Jenkins turns to take over. The former Monmouth Town player took over from Morgan during the Shortwood match.

North Leigh have earned five draws in five away matches this season and pose Merthyr a challenge. They have also signed striker Jamie Cook from Oxford City and he is set for a second appearance after making his debut in the 2-1 home win against Yate Town.

Jamie Rewbury is back in the Merthyr squad and was a substitute against Shortwood with captain Ryan Green and Jarrad Wright taking the centre-half roles. Morgan and Kayne McLaggon scored for the Martyrs against Shortwood, who dominated the match without being able to earn all three points.

The match against North Leigh is Merthyr’s last home match before they have four successive trips. They are against Larkhall Athletic next Wednesday (7.45pm), Taunton Town next Saturday and then again a week later in the FA Trophy plus Bridgwater on Tuesday, October 21. Merthyr then finish their October fixtures by playing AFC Totton and Yate Town at home.

Wandering wrote:Steve Jenkins and his Merthyr Town team need quick return to winning ways in quest for Southern League promotion
Wales On Line

Free-scoring Merthyr Town aim for a return to winning form when Oxfordshire club North Leigh visit Penydarren Park on Saturday (3pm).

The Martyrs have fired 24 goals in seven matches, conceding only five, and stand eight points behind leaders Stratford Town with three games in hand. They badly need a home win against Leigh after failing to earn a victory in their last three league and cup matches.

Two late goals, the equaliser scored with virtually the last kick of the match, rocked manager Steve Jenkins and his Merthyr team in a 2-2 draw against Shortwood United last Saturday and they badly need to regain momentum.

Winger Kerry Morgan is ruled out as he starts a three-match suspension and Corey Jenkins may be the player Jenkins turns to take over. The former Monmouth Town player took over from Morgan during the Shortwood match.

North Leigh have earned five draws in five away matches this season and pose Merthyr a challenge. They have also signed striker Jamie Cook from Oxford City and he is set for a second appearance after making his debut in the 2-1 home win against Yate Town.

Jamie Rewbury is back in the Merthyr squad and was a substitute against Shortwood with captain Ryan Green and Jarrad Wright taking the centre-half roles. Morgan and Kayne McLaggon scored for the Martyrs against Shortwood, who dominated the match without being able to earn all three points.

The match against North Leigh is Merthyr’s last home match before they have four successive trips. They are against Larkhall Athletic next Wednesday (7.45pm), Taunton Town next Saturday and then again a week later in the FA Trophy plus Bridgwater on Tuesday, October 21. Merthyr then finish their October fixtures by playing AFC Totton and Yate Town at home.

Wales Online strike again! it was Tuesday we played Shortwood and they have drawn 4 and lost 1 away so far this season!!!

That's why we have a Media Watch here- to watch the Media!!!!

Oxford Mail

North Leigh manager Mark Gee was looking for a change in luck, after the Millers were denied a last-minute 3-2 win against Evesham recently after Callum McNish’s shot hit the inside of a post. He said: “We’re playing really well, but our performances aren’t being reflected in our league position (eighth). We just need to go on a bit of a run.”

Gee then give a debut to new signing Jamie Cook against Yate last week, and the Millers boss believes that fans need to be patience. The capture from Oxford City, made his debut in the 2-1 win, before being replaced on 66 minutes and Gee says it will take time before they see Cook at his best.

But it was substitute Conor Ingram who struck the late winner at Eynsham Park.

The Millers had just seen Stuart Hole’s opener cancelled out when former Oxford United forward Lewis Haldane glanced a header past Matt Bulman from close range in the 82nd minute. Both teams then threw caution to the wind, and it was North Leigh who profited with defender Michael Hopkins firing in a hard low centre for Ingram to gleefully clip it past a helpless Horsell and seal a 2-1 victory.

Ingram had earlier replaced recent signing Jamie Cook, who showed some deft touches after featuring in the starting line-up.

“He didn’t look as sharp as he has done in training, but that was his first game for several months,” said Gee. “There is nothing like playing, so there’s more to come from Jamie.”

Earlier North Leigh had opened the scoring when Hole curled a free-kick over the wall into the top corner after Callum McNish was fouled just outside the Yate penalty area.

North Leigh will be without Elliott Osborne-Ricketts (suspended) and Zak Westlake (away), but Brian Bowles returns to the squad for the visit to Penydarren Park this weekend.

North Leigh (v Merthyr Town, away): from Bulman, Else, Hopkins, Turk, Gunn, Hole, Caton, McNish, Ingram, Williams, A Woodley, Sanders, M Woodley, Seacole, Hughes, Gee, Eadle, Bowles.

Looking forward with anticipation to hopefully a good, competitive game and 3 points to keep us in touch with the top of the League as we have a tough few weeks ahead.

Good luck to SJ and all of the squad tomorrow.

I am sure we will bounce back but North Leigh are a useful side.

Looking forward to the match...I normally don't do things by halves...but I have to leave at Half Time for a wedding....I hope we are three up by then ...just in case....Boz...

Boz1964 wrote:Looking forward to the match...I normally don't do things by halves...but I have to leave at Half  Time for a wedding....I hope we are three up by then ...just in case....Boz...

Does this mean you'll be attending in Top Hat & Tails or even worse a kilt?  Looking forward to seeing Mrs Boz's hat.

Good call Imp....I would rather have the embarrassment of the vicar asking 'any lawful impediment etc...' And me shouting out ...yes...7 to 1 ...Boz

Prosser would be the one to replace Morgan for me.