Media Watch - Didcot Town

Emerging from the depths of those dark hours after dropping five points in the last seven days, it’s time to get back in the saddle and do the basic things that we have done so successfully for the last seven months.

The next four games are all likely to be difficult and it’s yet another crucial set of matches that will provide an indication of where we will eventually finish (how many times have we said that already this season!).

A repeat of last seasons result at the Draycott Engineering Loop Meadow Stadium would be welcome, but possibly not the score or how we eventually struggled to achieve it. They are on a poor run of form without a win in the last nine league games, conceding two goals or more in all nine games and experiencing home defeats already this season against Taunton, Stratford and Larkhall – all rivals for promotion. Didcot are currently in the bottom five of the majority of the form guides for our division although they still possess the Division’s leading goalscorer in John Mills, who has already plundered goals against us in the FA Trophy earlier in the season. Another player to impress was Andy Ballard who organises everything in mid-field for Didcot.

It’s now essential that we make the most of Gavin’s presence for the next few games before he starts to serve his suspension after being dismissed against Bridgwater last weekend. Perhaps ironically he will miss the return game against Bridgwater in a few weeks time.

Dan Summerfield has been receiving treatment for the injury that forced him to leave the game at half-time last weekend and will probably face a fitness test before the game, while Kris Leek may be unavailable because of work commitments.

Preparation and adequate recovery time has been an important element of this season for the players and coaching staff. However, with a Wednesday evening kick-off and only just over 48-hours after the visit to North Leigh including a long journey home from Oxfordshire, the recovery time before the Bridgwater game was probably too short. The loss of Gavin Williams so early in the game last weekend then became a double jeopardy.

The decision made by Steve Jenkins to withdraw Dan through injury and sacrifice Adam Davies at half time was essential if we harboured any ambition to get back on level terms, but unfortunately it also eventually became our Achilles Heel.

As it was we got a little bit of luck with our goal, perhaps deserved because we worked so hard in the second half. Matthew Harris must have pulled off a ‘doosra’ that turned into a ‘googly’ when the ball spun viciously off the confused goalkeeper’s chest.

That was something of a lifeline and perhaps one we should have held on to more firmly. I know we were at home, I know there was pressure to score a second, but in our eagerness to do that we left ourselves a little exposed to a counter-attack down our right flank and were a little bit disorganised defending the rare corner that we conceded. Normally we would have had five players with specific defensive roles at that particular set piece (I’m including Jarrad Wright who was playing in mid-field on Saturday), but after the substitutions and tactical re-shuffle we just had three dedicated defensive players set up for the corner. Adam would have been at or near the back post and potentially would have been able to perform his defensive duties that would have possibly prevented the second goal.

At the end of the day it is still very much in our own hands, everyone knows what our ultimate target is.

There will certainly be more ups and downs before the end of the season but that’s all part of the life cycle of a football club, and also applies to our positive role in supporting our very special club. As many people will tell you, as downs go this isn’t even close as some we’ve experienced, but the frustration comes not simply because of recent circumstances, but because of the pressure given our current stature.

Didcot upbeat despite winless streak
Oxfordshire Guardian

Didcot Town joint manager Ian Concannon said he is confident his side’s poor run of form will soon come to an end. The Railwaymen’s winless run stretched to nine matches with a 2-2 draw at home to Tiverton Town.

Didcot were on top for most of the match but found themselves behind twice to two goals from Jamie Mudge. Lance Williams levelled the first time, but the hosts needed the intervention of substitute Ryan Brooks to prevent another defeat as the striker headed home a 92nd-minute equaliser.

Concannon hailed his side’s spirit to keep pushing to the end of the match.

He said: “It shows we will keep going right until the death. Unfortunately, Saturday actually felt more like we’d been beaten because we were the totally dominant team. We class it as more of a defeat, because we should have won the game.

Concannon continued: “Everyone was really disappointed after the game and there were some heated exchanges, but that’s what we want to see from our players because it shows we care.”

Town entertain Southern League Division 1 South & West leaders Merthyr Town on Saturday.

The visitors are coming off the back of a 2-1 loss to Bridgwater Town – just their third league defeat of the season – and Concannon is expecting a big performance from his side at the weekend.

“If we are to get anything from the game on Saturday we know we’ll have to be at our very best,” he said. “If we’re going to get our season back on track, we need to do it this weekend. On our day we can beat anybody in this league, but equally if we don’t perform we can be beaten by anyone.”

Oxford Mail

Didcot Town will look to overcome the odds as they seek to end a nine-match winless streak at home to league leaders Merthyr Town.

However, despite their dreadful run of form, which has seen them drop out of the play-off positions, joint boss Ian Concannon feels the Railwaymen have been playing better than their results might suggest.

“Performance-wise I think we’re playing well enough to win games,” he said. “I’m disappointed we haven’t turned draws into wins and that we’ve lost games we should have taken at least a point from.”

Midfielder Josh Dutton-Black is absent due to work commitments, while striker Jimmy Deabill faces a fitness test.

Merthyr Town playmaker Gavin Williams aiming to sign off in style, starting against the Diddymen in Oxfordshire
Wales On Line

Gavin Williams will aim to sign off in style when Merthyr Town start a run of EvoStik Southern League away-days at Didcot Town in Oxfordshire tomorrow (3pm). The former Wales international was sent off as the Martyrs lost 2-1 at North Leigh and is facing a suspension which starts on Saturday week.

It’s crucial they bounce back at Didcot, where they lost in the FA Trophy earlier this season.

Merthyr's trip to face the Diddy Men is the first of four successive South and West Division away matches for Merthyr, who are seven points clear at the top.

They travel to Didcot, Swindon Supermarine next Tuesday, AFC Totton on Saturday, March 7 and Bridgwater Town the following Tuesday before returning home. The next Martyrs’ home match is against Tiverton Town on Saturday, March 14.

Manager Steve Jenkins and his Merthyr Town team have 12 matches left in their quest to win the title and are keen for a quick return to winning form.

There is only one automatic promotion place available and Merthyr’s motivation is to finish top. They have been easily the best team in their division this season, scoring 87 goals and conceding 25 in their 30 fixtures so far.

Williams is a crucial playmaker in Merthyr’s midfield and he is available at Didcot and Swindon Supermarine before starting a three-match suspension.

Dan Summerfield and Corey Jenkins have both been having treatment on minute injuries this week, but Merthyr do have strong options. Steve Williams could play at right-back if Summerfield was ruled out, while Jenkins could also select Richard Evans at left-back with Adam Davies moving to the right. Kerry Morgan would be an experienced replacement if winger Jenkins was ruled out. The Martyrs, though, remain hopeful Summerfield and Jenkins will be available.

Defeat at North Leigh was Merthyr’s first in 2015 and they must bounce back fast.

Merthyr have only one home game this month - against Tiverton - while four of their five fixtures in April will be at Penydarren Park.

The teams who still have to visit Merthyr this season are Tiverton on Saturday, March 17, Mangotsfield United (Saturday, April 4), Bishop’s Cleeve (Monday, April 6), Larkhall Athletic (Saturday, April 18) and Stratford Town (Saturday, April 25).

Wandering wrote:Wales On Line
The former Wales international was sent off as the Martyrs lost 2-1 at North Leigh and is facing a suspension which starts on Saturday week.

Defeat at North Leigh was Merthyr’s first in 2015 and they must bounce back fast.

We drew 1-1 at North Leigh. Our first defeat in 2015 was when we lost 2-1 at home against Bridgwater.

Wandering wrote:Merthyr Town playmaker Gavin Williams aiming to sign off in style, starting against the Diddymen in Oxfordshire
Wales On Line
Jenkins could also select Richard Evans at left-back with Adam Davies moving to the right.

Or Jarrad Wright could play at left back.

Good luck to everyone involved today, let's get back to winning ways and ensure we remain at least 7 points clear of Taunton this evening, thus putting the pressure on them to keep winning (surely they have got to slip up before long, fingers crossed!!)

Second that!