Media Watch - Larkhall Athletic

As thoughts wander towards the months ahead and the prospects for next season, with plans for away-days similar to the type of support that we took to Lodge Road last weekend, we still have to concentrate on the job at hand and complete our remaining two league fixtures starting with the clash against play-off qualifiers Larkhall Athletic.

In their first season at Southern League level after securing promotion from the Western League, this is another amazing achievement by Wayne Thorne’s men and perhaps the success story hasn’t finished there. After their 1-0 win at Penydarren Park earlier this season in the FA Cup which followed an earlier 3-1 victory in Wales during our final season in the Western League, we certainly have some vanquished pride to restore in this particular game.

In Tyler Sibbick and Joseph Tumelty they have two extremely dangerous players who have both scored frequently this season, including four league hat-tricks between them. Sibbick scored almost 50 goals last season and has already found the back of the net 30 times in the league alone this season. Teenager Tumelty, who joined the Larks from Cinderford, has plenty of pace and has scored 14 league goals so far this season.

For Larkhall to climb to finish in 4th position they effectively need to win a third game on our home ‘soil’ and perhaps the law of averages will be able to play a part in that scenario, but it would be interesting to see what the bookmakers odds are for this particular outcome? On Larkhall’s behalf it may be appropriate to peek over the fence and take a look at the other play-off contenders. There are still many forks in the road between now and the end of the season with the lottery of the play-offs to encounter. As we all know now only to well!

Stratford, currently sit in second place and play Clevedon on Saturday and then travel to South Wales for the last game of the season. Ironically, Poole play Corby on the last day of the season in another battle between 1st and 2nd in the Premier Division. By then, you would suspect that the four play-off teams will know their particular fate. Assuming that Evesham are still in touch after this weekend, you have to think that Stratford’s final game will be pivotal to decide who finishes runner-up.

After spending most of the season in the top two places, the wheels have come off for Taunton at the worst possible time, with only one win in their last four games, they go into the play-offs looking to restore some momentum in the next two weeks. It seems likely that Taunton will now travel North to face an away game in the play-off semi-final.

At the other end of the table it looks increasingly likely that the bottom five clubs will all concede over one hundred goals each. Wantage have already let in 99 and Fleet have conceded 96. While Clevedon, Bishops Cleeve and Bashley have a goals against column of 380 spread between them. Although we scored heavily against four of the teams, we could only manage narrow 2-1 win’s both home and away against Fleet.

Whatever happens elsewhere we can expect a difficult afternoon against the Larks.

Wandering wrote:
For Larkhall to climb to finish in 4th position they effectively need to win a third game on our home ‘soil’ and perhaps the law of averages will be able to play a part in that scenario, but it would be interesting to see what the bookmakers odds are for this particular outcome?

To find out, don't miss Jon Caple's 'Want to Bet' column in Saturday's match programme.

Merthyr Town's Southern League home match against Larkhall Athletic part of a nationwide celebration by fans
Wales On Line

Merthyr Town are part of a nationwide campaign celebrating ownership of football and rugby league clubs by supporters. The Martyrs have been run by fans over the last five years, earning a third promotion in that time when they clinched the EvoStik Southern League South and West title this season.

Other key matches which are part of the celebration this week are Wycombe Wanderers -v- Exeter City and 1874 Northwich -v- Congleton played earlier this week plus AFC Wimbledon -v- Wycombe on Saturday.

The campaign has been organised by Supporters Direct, the organisation which helps supporters become involved in the ownership of their clubs. There are around 60 matches involving supporter-owned clubs this week.

Merthyr Town have three matches remaining this season, including two Southern League clashes. They are at Penydarren Park against Larkhall Athletic this Saturday and Stratford Town a week later (both 3pm).

Then the Martyrs aim to finish on a high when they aim to win a second title. They are South and West champions in the Southern League and will be presented with the trophy at the home match against Stratford on Saturday, April 25.

Merthyr will then play Kettering Town in the annual Southern League championship play-off match. Kettering have won the Central Division and both clubs will be promoted to the Premier Division for 2015-16.

They clash in a one-off match between the champions with the team earning most points over their season having home advantage. Both clubs have two league games left and it looks likely the game will be at Penydarren Park on Saturday, May 2 (3pm). Merthyr are on 95 points with two home fixtures left, while Kettering are on 91 points. They still have to play Bedworth (home) and Chalfont St Peter (away).

The biggest home attendance for Merthyr this season is 1,534, while their average is 589, and they will hope for big crowds at all three games.

Manager Steve Jenkins have a first pre-season fixture arranged (against Hereford FC) at the Cigg-E Stadium for Saturday, July 18. The clubs have agreed that gate receipts will be shared.

Merthyr have a strong connection with Hereford. Manager Steve Jenkins was assistant manager in 2013-14, while assistant manager Gavin Williams and club captain Ryan Green have both played for Hereford.

“The match will be one of Hereford FC’s first games as a newly-formed club,” said Merthyr football secretary Jamie Mack.

Wandering wrote:Merthyr Town's Southern League home match against Larkhall Athletic part of a nationwide celebration by fans
Wales On Line
Merthyr are on 95 points with two home fixtures left,

We're on 96 points, of course. he should have phoned to check the details.

Larkhall Athletic boss Wayne Thorne toasts "famous day" as play-off spot is secured
Bath Chronicle

Larkhall Athletic manager Wayne Thorne called it a "famous day for the club" as his side beat Tiverton Town 5-0 to book their spot in the Evo-Stik League Division 1 South & West play-offs at the first time of asking.

With all of the other top-five hopefuls falling short on Saturday, Larkhall's big win has given them an unassailable eight-point lead ahead of their nearest challengers with two matches remaining. "We finally got there in the end, having been favourites to make the play-offs for the last few weeks," said the manager.

Saturday's win was their 23rd of the league season, and was in no doubt from early on in the match. Thorne said: "We were great for the first 20 minutes to go three up, and from then we ran the game. Both the performance and the result were brilliant."

Larkhall's early three-goal lead was handed to them by top scorer Tyler Sibbick, Dean Griffiths and Joe Tumelty, who slotted home a free-kick from 25 yards. The second-half saw Larkhall continue their dominance, thanks to further goals by Dan Jones and Matt Thorne, with results elsewhere confirming their place in the top five.

Manager Thorne was full of admiration for his side, who won the Toolstation Premier Division title a year ago. "We've never played at this level, and my target was to compete and challenge for the play-offs," he said. "The club have never done back-to-back promotions before, but I know what the players are capable of and we'll definitely be confident against any side, we don't fear anyone."

That includes likely playoff opponents Stratford Town and Evesham United, who Larkhall failed to beat in their four meetings this season. "We know that it's not always the best team that gets out of the play-offs, it's a lottery," he added.

Larks travel to champions Merthyr Town on Saturday before rounding off the regular season at home to Sholing on April 25.

Thorne said: "We've got a few tired bodies, so I may rest a few during the final two league games. Hopefully we'll put in a couple of good performances as we want to go into the play-offs full of confidence."

Paul Collicutt sets his sights on second for Evesham United
Evesham Journal

MANAGER Paul Collicutt has ordered one final push from his Evesham United players in their bid to finish second in Evo-Stik Southern League Division One South and West.

Last Saturday’s 5-1 victory at Didcot Town guaranteed the Robins at least third place and ensured they will be at home in the play-off semi-final. But they are just one point behind second-placed Stratford Town and intent on putting the pressure on with success in the penultimate league match of the season against Tiverton Town at the Spiers and Hartwell Jubilee Stadium on Saturday (3pm).

Collicutt said: “We are in the play-offs and have got home advantage in the semi-finals, which is brilliant, but I want to push the lads on to see if we can get second spot. We have got two games now to try to finish second. With the way it’s going, it will go to the wire. We have got a difficult game against Tiverton. It’s another team who have beaten us in the league and their manager will get them up for the game. We have just got to concentrate on the match.”

Evesham, who lost 3-1 at Tiverton in November, have won their last eight games and not been beaten since a 1-0 defeat to champions Merthyr Town in January.

Collicutt felt victory at Didcot was one of their best this term, adding: “They are a good team but on the day I would say our first goal was as good as we have scored all season. It seemed to set the standard for the rest of the game and the team put in a top performance.”

Evesham hope for a large attendance to cheer them on this weekend ahead of their tilt at promotion via the play-offs. The United boss said: “Saturday is our final league game at home and we are hoping to get a good-sized crowd, which the players deserve. The win at Didcot has put us in good spirits.”

Stratford Town stumble past Fleet to stay second
Stratford Herald

STRATFORD Town will definitely have home advantage in the play-off semi-final, it was confirmed on Saturday, as they stumbled to their eighth win in a row against a battling ten-man Fleet side. The victory keeps Town second in the table with two games to go, one point above local rivals Evesham United, but guarantees them a top three finish.

With second hosting fifth, and third hosting fourth, a massive final between Stratford and Evesham for a place in the Southern League Premier division is looking increasingly likely.

“The reality is, if we want to go up we’ve got to beat Evesham,” said Town boss, Carl Adams after the Fleet game. “For me, at this moment in time, playing like we did today, it’s a big ask. But I can’t get carried away with a poor performance because two or three weeks ago we were outstanding.”

Although Town beat their lowly visitors from Hampshire, who are 19th in the league, it should’ve been much easier.

Town’s top goalscorer, Chris Sterling, fired in his 16th goal of the season from the edge of the box in the 15th minute before the visitors had Patrick Cox sent off for headbutting one of his own players. It looked like Stratford thought the game was already won, but then visiting captain, Simba Mlambo, lobbed Andy Kemp in the 66th minute to draw things level.

Luke Barlone curled in the winner, and his first goal for Town, seven minutes later, but Adams was disappointed.

“We just never turned up,” he said. “I think the first 20 minutes we could have been two or three up and that would have killed the game, but from the moment they had a player sent off we were poor.”

But it’s a measure of how high the standards are at the DCS Stadium, as Stratford — now unbeaten in 12 — go searching for their second promotion in three years.

“I’m a bit low today but I just want the lads to realise what an unbelievable opportunity they’ve got, and how hard they’ve worked for that all season.”