Merthyr Town paid tribute to the victims of Aberfan 52 years ago.
“They will never be forgotten,” said a Martyrs tweet before their EvoStik Southern League match against Beaconsfield Town.
On the 21st October 1966, 116 children and 28 adults lost their lives in Aberfan. It took only five minutes for the coal tip to engulf the school.
The gesture by Merthyr Town made the match almost insignificant in terms of that tragedy, but it has to be recorded that Beaconsfield emerged 1-0 winners.
It could easily be argued that the Martyrs were the better team, played by far the better football. But my mind can only think of the Aberfan families.
There is no doubt Merthyr are in the right track and that manager Gavin Williams has a plan which will see them progress over the next few seasons.
Today we remember the 116 children and 28 adults that lost their lives in the Aberfan disaster and pay tribute to all the emergency services who risked their lives to help the victims and the community. They will never be forgotten 🕯 RH #RememberAberfan https://t.co/iL1CmuDY7s
— South Wales Police (@swpolice) October 21, 2018
Beaconsfield’s goalkeeper, Ravan Constable, was man of the match and that says it all.
Brendan Matthew scored their winner after 78 minutes, but Merthyr had plenty of opportunities before that.
Ryan Prosser, Tom Meechan and Ian Traylor went close, while Beaconsfield went home relieved to have held on.
The Martyrs have deserved far more from their last two fixtures, losing 2-0 at Salisbury after having two players sent off and slipping up 1-0 against Beaconsfield at home after dominating the match.
The next test for manager Williams and his team is a Buildbase FA Trophy action at Farnborough next Saturday.
Merthyr Town: Joe Perry, Adam Davie (Matthew Harris), Craig McDonnell, Jarrad Wright, Connor Young (Gavin Williams), Kieran Lewis, Lee Lucas, Ashley Evans, Kerry Morgan (Ryan Prosser), Tom Meechan, Ian Traylor.
Beaconsfield Town: Constable, Webb (capt), Balogun, Yorke, Ajanlekoko, Daly, Lasasso, Brown, Cathline (Matthew), Mendy, Pashaj (Vassell). Subs: Vassell, Peters, Stead, Costa, Matthew.
52 years ago – we will never forget pic.twitter.com/0g2MzuDRIH
— The Martyrs (@MerthyrTownFC) October 21, 2018
EVOSTIK SOUTHERN LEAGUE PREMIER
| Club | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | -Pts | Pts | |
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Weymouth | 12 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 32 | 15 | 17 | – | 27 |
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Hendon | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 22 | 13 | 9 | – | 23 |
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Salisbury | 11 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 26 | 14 | 12 | – | 21 |
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Taunton Town | 11 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 23 | 13 | 10 | – | 20 |
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Tiverton Town | 11 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 23 | 14 | 9 | – | 19 |
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Beaconsfield Town | 11 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 22 | 14 | 8 | – | 19 |
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Harrow Borough | 11 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 29 | 20 | 9 | – | 18 |
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Merthyr Town | 11 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 23 | 16 | 7 | – | 18 |
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Basingstoke Town | 11 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 24 | 20 | 4 | – | 18 |
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Hartley Wintney | 12 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 24 | 20 | 4 | – | 18 |
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Poole Town | 10 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 20 | 13 | 7 | – | 16 |
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Gosport Borough | 12 | 5 | – | 7 | 22 | 27 | -5 | – | 15 |
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Walton Casuals | 12 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 22 | 27 | -5 | – | 15 |
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Farnborough | 12 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 19 | 26 | -7 | – | 14 |
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Metropolitan Police | 9 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 19 | 19 | 0 | – | 13 |
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Frome Town | 12 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 18 | 23 | -5 | – | 13 |
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Dorchester Town | 12 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 15 | 27 | -12 | – | 12 |
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Wimborne Town | 11 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 21 | 25 | -4 | – | 10 |
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Swindon Supermarine | 9 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 15 | 16 | -1 | – | 9 |
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Kings Langley | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 14 | 22 | -8 | – | 9 |
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Staines Town | 12 | 2 | – | 10 | 15 | 35 | -20 | – | 6 |
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Chesham United | 12 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 5 | 34 | -29 | – | 5 |