CardiffCity's Connor Davies is on loan at Wdeston-super-Mar. Pic: CCFC.

Martyrs Face Bluebirds Away In Crunch FA Cup Clash

Merthyr Town will face two Cardiff City players when they travel to play Southern League Premier rivals Weston-super-Mare later this month.

The Martyrs play Weston away in an Emirates FA Cup second qualifying round tie at the Optima Stadium in Somerset on Saturday, September 22.

Attacking right-back Connor Davies, aged 18, and 19-year-old left-back Dan Martin are both on loans with Weston from Cardiff.

Davies, from Cwmbach in Rhondda Cynon Taf, is a former Cwmbach Royal Stars and AFC Llwydcoed player who has made four competitive starting appearances for Seagulls to date from their six games.

Martin started his playing days with Maidstone United in Kent before joining Fulham as a schoolboy at under-8 level and stayed with the Cottagers for 10 years.

He established himself in the under-18 team at Fulham and made three appearances for the under-23s.

Martin left Fulham in 2018 and had a trial spell at Leeds United before signing for the Bluebirds.

Keenan Patten has joined Panybont FC on loan from. Cardiff City. Pic: CCFC.

Weston manager Scott Bartlett said: “Thanks to James McCarthy and Neil Warnock for trusting us with good young players from Cardiff City.”

Scott Laird rescued Weston when they visited Merthyr Town for a 1-1 BetVictor Southern Premier draw earlier this season.

Ian Traylor fired Merthyr ahead in the first minute and Weston equalised from a Laird penalty six minutes into second half injury time.

Merthyr are eighth in the Premier Division table, two points behind third-placed Weston and three adrift of leaders Poole Town.

Player-manager Gavin Williams and his Martyrs have two League fixtures before that cup clash, against Chesham United at home on Saturday and then Tiverton Town away on Wednesday, September 18.

Other young Bluebirds’ players out on loan:

Mark Harris

The 20-year-old Mark has joined Wrexham until the end of 2019-20.

He has played in eight league matches for Wrexham, scoring three goals.

Wales under-21 international Harris is a lively striker who is highly rated by Bluebirds manager Neil Warnock.

Bluebirds’ goalkeeper George Ratcliffe is on loan at Barry Town United. Pic: CCFC.

George Ratcliffe

Goalkeeper Ratcliffe, Cardiff City’s 2018-19 Academy player of the season, is with Cymru Premier team Barry Town United on a season-long loan.

The 18-year-old goalkeeper was named among Barry’s substitutes for both legs of the Europa League preliminary round ties against Cliftonville and made his debut against Haverfordwest County in a Nathaniel MG Cup second round which ended 1-1.

Cymru Championship club won on penalties.

Ratcliffe has been a regular in Cymru Premier matches since then, keeping one clean sheet from three wins and a draw – helping the Linnets top the table.

He is also in Paul Bodin’s Wales squad for their Uefa under-21 Championship qualifiers.

Daniel Griffiths and Keenan Patten

Both players have joined Cymru Premier club Penybont on season-long loans.

Griffiths and Patten, both aged 18, have been selected in the Wales under-19 squad

BetVictor Southern Premier South – Top 10

P W D L F A +/- Pts
1 Poole Town 6 4 1 1 13 5 +8 13
2 Truro City 6 4 0 2 9 4 +5 12
3 Weston-super-Mare 6 3 3 0 9 5 +4 12
4 Chesham United 6 4 0 2 12 9 +3 12
5 Tiverton Town 6 3 2 1 17 11 +6 11
6 Salisbury 6 3 2 1 13 10 +3 11
7 Harrow Borough 5 3 2 0 8 5 +3 11
8 Merthyr Town 6 3 1 2 7 5 +2 10
9 Taunton Town 6 3 1 2 10 11 -1 10
10 Blackfield & Langley 5 3 0 2 11 8 +3 9

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