The Beard is back and banging in the goals.
Centre-forward Ryan Prosser – #FearTheBeard – scored twice in Merthyr Town’s 4-1 home win against Kings Langley from Hertfordshire.
Prosser has only made 18 first team appearances during a season disrupted by a back injury, but the big striker is a potent force in EvoStik Southern League football when he is fit.
Welshman Prosser, who celebrates his 29th birthday later this month, first signed for the Martyrs in 2010, moving from Welsh League Second Division leaders Ton Pentre to Penydarren Park.
He has scored 157 goals for Merthyr in 310 appearances and he was outstanding against Kings Langley.
Prosser netted Merthyr Town’s second and third goals just before half-time, while he went close to a hat-trick when his header from Ian Traylor’s cross flew wide.
The partnership between Traylor, a former Hirwaun, Pontypridd Town and Cwmaman Institute player, and Prosser has been prolific for the Martyrs over the last seven seasons.
They have scored more than 150 goals each – a total of 312 in 650 appearances combined – and they have played significant roles in keeping Merthyr Town in the Premier Division this season.
More than 400 spectators watched the Martyrs win 4-1 against Kings Langley thanks to goals from Prosser (2), Ashley Evans and Jarrad Wright.
Merthyr went ahead in the first minute when Evans scored, while young goalkeeper Ed Hewitson saved a Steve Ward penalty after 35 minutes.
Prosser scored twice in four minutes just before half-time, scoring from a Traylor pass (40) and then netting after good play between Traylor and Harry Franklin set up the chance.
Kerry Morgan netted only for the effort to be ruled out for offside, while Mitchy Weiss pulled a goal back for Kings Langley after 73 minutes, his 19th goal of the season.
Powerful midfield player Wright then scored Merthyr’s fourth goal, heading in from a Corey Jenkins cross to the far post.
Merthyr Town FC: Ed Hewitson, Harry Franklin, Matthew Harris, Kyle Patten, Adam Davies (Scott Tancock 60), Ashley Evans, Jarrad Wright, Owain Jones, Kerry Morgan, Ryan Prosser (Corey Jenkins 77), Ian Traylor. Subs: Craig Reddy, Jaye Bowen, Liam Price.
Kings Langley: Martin Bennett, Steve Ward, Jorell Johnson, Callum Adebiyi, Jacob Cook, Gareth Price, Kieran Turner, Josh Coldicot-Stevens, Aidan Collins, Louie Collier, Mitchell Weiss. Subs used: Eduard Toiny-Pendred, Lewis Hodgins.
Attendance: 402.
Merthyr Town’s three remaining fixtures 2017-18
April
Sat 21 v Banbury United A
Tues 24 v Bishops Stortford A
Sat 28 v Redditch United H
Premier Division Table
| # | Team | Pl | HW | HD | HL | AW | AD | AL | W | D | L | F | A | Diff | Pts |
| 1. | Hereford | 42 | 18 | 1 | 3 | 14 | 4 | 2 | 32 | 5 | 5 | 101 | 32 | 69 | 101 |
| 2. | King’s Lynn Town | 44 | 16 | 5 | 1 | 13 | 4 | 5 | 29 | 9 | 6 | 95 | 37 | 58 | 96 |
| 3. | Weymouth | 43 | 15 | 4 | 3 | 13 | 3 | 5 | 28 | 7 | 8 | 97 | 44 | 53 | 91 |
| 4. | Kettering Town | 41 | 17 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 5 | 6 | 27 | 7 | 7 | 104 | 47 | 57 | 88 |
| 5. | Slough Town | 42 | 14 | 5 | 3 | 12 | 4 | 4 | 26 | 9 | 7 | 103 | 48 | 55 | 87 |
| 6. | Royston Town | 43 | 15 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 3 | 11 | 23 | 5 | 15 | 79 | 59 | 20 | 74 |
| 7. | Chesham United | 43 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 20 | 11 | 12 | 82 | 56 | 26 | 71 |
| 8. | Tiverton Town | 41 | 13 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 2 | 10 | 22 | 4 | 15 | 70 | 63 | 7 | 70 |
| 9. | Banbury United | 42 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 18 | 13 | 11 | 85 | 53 | 32 | 67 |
| 10. | Hitchin Town | 41 | 10 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 4 | 10 | 18 | 8 | 15 | 66 | 59 | 7 | 62 |
| 11. | Basingstoke Town | 42 | 15 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 14 | 18 | 7 | 17 | 82 | 65 | 17 | 61 |
| 12. | St Neots Town | 43 | 10 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 16 | 12 | 15 | 75 | 74 | 1 | 60 |
| 13. | Frome Town | 43 | 7 | 4 | 10 | 10 | 3 | 9 | 17 | 7 | 19 | 75 | 87 | -12 | 58 |
| 14. | Biggleswade Town | 41 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 11 | 14 | 10 | 17 | 50 | 52 | -2 | 52 |
| 15. | Redditch United | 43 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 15 | 14 | 9 | 20 | 68 | 68 | 0 | 51 |
| 16. | Stratford Town | 43 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 7 | 3 | 11 | 14 | 9 | 20 | 61 | 77 | -16 | 51 |
| 17. | Merthyr Town | 43 | 9 | 5 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 13 | 12 | 18 | 71 | 89 | -18 | 51 |
| 18. | Bishop’s Stortford | 42 | 8 | 4 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 11 | 13 | 9 | 20 | 67 | 74 | -7 | 48 |
| 19. | Dorchester Town | 42 | 11 | 2 | 9 | 2 | 7 | 11 | 13 | 9 | 20 | 61 | 81 | -20 | 48 |
| 20. | Farnborough | 44 | 8 | 2 | 12 | 6 | 4 | 12 | 14 | 6 | 24 | 78 | 114 | -36 | 48 |
| 21. | Kings Langley | 44 | 5 | 9 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 14 | 8 | 14 | 22 | 58 | 91 | -33 | 38 |
| 22. | St Ives Town | 40 | 2 | 4 | 12 | 5 | 3 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 26 | 49 | 93 | -44 | 28 |
| 23. | Dunstable Town | 42 | 2 | 1 | 18 | 1 | 3 | 17 | 3 | 4 | 35 | 25 | 132 | -107 | 13 |
| 24. | Gosport Borough | 42 | 1 | 4 | 16 | 1 | 1 | 19 | 2 | 5 | 35 | 28 | 135 | -107 | 11 |