Street Media Watch

Merthyr invitation to Bluebirds fans
South Wales Echo

MERTHYR Town are inviting Cardiff City fans to pay them a visit at Penydarren Park tomorrow week. The Bluebirds are without a match on Saturday, January 28, when the promotion-chasing Martyrs are at home against Wells City in a Western League match.

“We’d love to see Cardiff City fans come to Penydarren and support a Welsh club pressing for promotion,” says Merthyr Town secretary Jamie Mack. “Anybody who can show their Cardiff City season ticket or a match day ticket stub for tomorrow’s Championship match against Portsmouth will be admitted for £5 with children aged under-16 free. Our Candac Suite bar will be open from noon and we’d love to see a big turn-out for what is a huge match for Merthyr Town.”

The Martyrs are also at home in the Premier Division tomorrow, against Street, before turning to the match against Wells City. Both have a 3pm kick-off.

They are unbeaten at home in the league this season and out to maintain momentum after earning promotion last season and starting well in the new campaign.

Merthyr are fifth in the table with games in hand on teams above them and player-manager Garry Shephard is hoping to have a near full-strength squad for tomorrow’s clash with Somerset club Street.

Midfield playmaker Tareq Khalil remains sidelined after a serious knee injury, but Shephard hopes to have Matty Harris and Kris Leek available. Harris is on the mend from an ankle injury, while Leek’s calf strain will be assessed today.

Merthyr are also at home on Saturday, February 4 when Radstock Town re visit to Penydarren Park.

Willand’s woe sparks Martyrs league hopes
Celtic Sport

NEWS that Toolstation Western League Premier Division leaders Willand Town dropped two points on Saturday boosted Merthyr Town’s promotion bid. While Merthyr were without a fixture, the Devon side could only draw 1-1 at Longwell Green.

And recent news that only Merthyr and Hallen have applied for the step-up to Level Four of the English pyramid means that a second spot at the end of the campaign may be enough. But doubtless under boss Gary Shephard, Merthyr will be aiming for top place anyway.

After Saturday, the Martyrs were 10 points behind Willand with three matches in hand, nine points behind second side Bitton, also with three game in hand, and four points below Larkhall (third) and Bishop Sutton (fourth). Merthyr have played two fewer games than Bishop Sutton but the same number as Bath side Larkhall, who were last season’s champions.

The Town will be anxious for maximum points on Saturday when they are at home to Wells City at Penydarren Park (3pm). And they will be hoping for a repeat performance of November when they dumped Wells out of The Les Phillips Cup with a 3-0 success.

Matthew Harris, who turned on an ankle in training, and Kris Leek (calf muscle injury) were being assessed this week to see if they are likely to be fit.

But the side know that they need to show an improvement from their last game when they were held 1-1 at home by Bishop Sutton after a disappointing performance.

After that setback Shephard commented: “We have two further home games this month and need to take advantage to keep in touch with the top teams in the league as we are playing catch-up in terms of fixtures.” He added that there was a long way to go (with 16 matches left) and felt that they would be “there or thereabouts at the end of the season”.

Co-manager Danny Carter had been disappointed that Merthyr’s passing was not at its best.

The Martyrs have yet to play Willand or Larkhall at home.

I thought that we were playing Street tomorrow!?

Celtic Sport couldn't name the correct opponents!!

Wandering wrote:Willand’s woe sparks Martyrs league hopes
Celtic Sport

The Town will be anxious for maximum points on Saturday when they are at home to Wells City at Penydarren Park (3pm). And they will be hoping for a repeat performance of November when they dumped Wells out of The Les Phillips Cup with a 3-0 success.

In fact, of course, we're playing Street - the Wells City game is the following Saturday.