Bitton Media Watch

Based on the weather forecast for the next few days and in the unlikely event that the game takes place this week end............

Martyrs prepare for promotion dogfight
Celtic Sport

BOSSES Gary Shephard and Danny Carter take their Martyrs side to top-of-the-table Bitton on Saturday as the battle for top spot hots up this winter. The sides have met three times this season and the Bristol team will be all out to get their first win over Merthyr. They drew 2-2 at Penydarren Park in a FA Cup preliminary round in August before losing 2-1 in the replay when Merthyr midfield ace Tareq Khalil suffered an ankle and leg injury which ruled him out for the rest of this campaign. In the league encounter at the Park in September, Bitton proved tough opponents but the Martyrs came through to win 2-0.

There is sure to be a big crowd of Merthyr fans at Saturday’s eagerly-awaited clash. Bitton have 46 points from 22 games with 14 wins, four draws and four losses. They have smashed in 48 goals, one fewer than Merthyr but two less than the league’s top marksmen Bristol Manor Farm. The Martyrs are six points behind, in fifth place, but with two matches in hand.

With only Merthyr and Hallen, sixth place, having applied for promotion, a win for Shephard’s flock will be a big boost. There is only one promotion place and clubs have to finish top or second.

Bitton are now recognised as a major club in the area. They haven’t applied for promotion to Step Four this season but their intention of reaching the Southern League in the near future is evident. The club was established in 1892 but didn’t reach the Toolstation Western League until 1997, they were promoted to the Premier Division in 2004 and were the champions in 2008-09.

Manager Richard Fey has built up a useful squad since taking over in March 2010 after impressing at rivals Cadbury Heath.

Bitton’s game at home to Bishop Sutton was a victim of the weather on Saturday as was every fixture in the league. Merthyr’s clash with Radstock Town was postponed after a morning pitch inspection due to a frozen ground. And after Bitton’s exit from The FA Vase the previous weekend when they were beaten at home 3-1 by West Town Auckland, they will be eager to do well against the Martyrs in the title battle.

The Bristol-based club have some experienced players who have plied their trade at higher levels.

Tricky winger Guy Cocks, 29, has played for Mangotsfield. Striker Mark Salter, now 31, has worn the colours of Frome Town, Southend and Bath City. The defence includes Rob Scott, 29, who has been with Clevedon Town and Mangotsfield. Midfielder Matt Tilley has also played for Mangotsfield and Western League outfit Welton Rovers. Front runner Luke Clarke is a former Bristol Manor Farm player. He has also had experience in the Southern League with Tiverton Town. Midfield player Jack Durrant counts Didcot, Weston, Mangotsfield, Bridgwater and Cheltenham among his old clubs.

It’s from top to bottom for Merthyr when they travel to struggling Corsham Town next Wednesday.

They are third from the bottom with four wins, three draws and 16 defeats and will be battling to avoid relegation. The clubs have yet to meet this season. In 1997 they applied for a step up to the Western League and achieved their aim by winning the Wiltshire League.

Merthyr enthusiast David Powell, a former steward of the now disused Strikers club at Penydarren Park, is taking the plunge to help boost the Merthyr club’s Pitch Fund.On April 28 he will take part in a Skydiving event at Swansea Airfield. The Institute of Groundsmanship, in an audit from the Welsh FA, inspected the Park with a view of using it for some international matches. They were impressed by the work already done by groundsman Ronnie Walton and efforts are being made to raise cash to further improve the pitch. Anyone interested in supporting David can make a payment by Paypal, hand in money on match days or send a cheque to Steve Lloyd, business development manager, at the club.

New Arrivals at Bitton
Bristol Evening Post

Bitton had hoped to make progress in the FA Vase following the arrival of two notable former Southern League performers. Ex-Yate Town and Almondsbury Town striker Aaron Blakemore is aboard, having been snapped up from a prolific spell at Shepton Mallet.

Right-back Neil Arndale, a one-time Bristol Rovers prospect and England Youth international, who quit Mangotsfield United earlier this month citing a busy work schedule, has also joined, albeit on a short-term arrangement.

Boss Richard Fey has acted quickly to provide much-needed cover ahead of Bitton’s recent FA Vase tie, having this week lost the services of winger Kyle Tooze to former club Frome Town, and centre-forward Rob Smart, who is “taking a break” from football.

Both Blakemore and Arndale are in the current squad, to the delight of Fey who said: “Aaron has scored 16 times in 15 games for Shepton Mallet this season and he is a proven goalscorer at a higher level, while Neil is an established defender whose experience will be invaluable to our younger players. Work commitments mean Neil’s not available every Saturday, but, hopefully, he’ll be able to team up with us on the odd occasion going forward.”

Merthyr Town in a crunch clash at Premier leaders Bitton
South Wales Echo

MERTHYR Town are aiming to hit the half century mark when they travel to play Western League Premier Division leaders Bitton in Gloucestershire tomorrow (3pm).

The Martyrs, who have fired 49 league goals so far, are fifth in the league and will go third with a win against Bitton, jumping above Larkhall Athletic, who are on FA Trophy duty against Herne Bay, and Bishop Sutton, who are without a match.

This is a crunch clash for Merthyr, who, along with Hallen, are one of only two clubs who have applied for promotion to the Southern League football. They must finish champions or runners-up to keep promotion hopes alive.

Merthyr Town have already played Bitton three times this season – and the Welsh club have won two of them. The teams drew 2-2 at Penydarren Park before Merthyr won the replay 2-1 in the match which saw midfield player Tareq Khalil suffer ankle and leg injuries which ruled him out for the rest of this season. In the league encounter at Penydarren Park in September the Martyrs came through to win 2-0.

Bitton manager Richard Fey has built a useful squad since taking over in March 2010 after impressing at rivals Cadbury Heath.

'Finishing above Welsh giants is huge task' – Fey
Bristol Evening Post

RICHARD Fey says leaders Bitton face a major challenge to finish above league 'giants' Merthyr Town in the Premier Division title race.

The sides meet for the fourth time this term tomorrow, at the Rapid Solicitors Ground, with the Welsh club yet to lose any of the clashes. Though Merthyr trail Bitton by six points, they have two games in hand and are still expected by most pundits to come out on top and regain their Southern League status.

Manager Fey said: "They're a huge club at this level with average gates of around 400 to 500 and, as a result, their expectation levels are extremely high. We'll have to be at our best to win tomorrow and finish the season above them, but if we do play to our potential I'm sure we'll give them a good game."

Bitton have centre-forward Mark Salter available again.

Salter will be handy if there is any snow or ice on the ground!

Yes lets hope he dissolves in the wet.