Cirencester Town 0, Merthyr Town 2

 

Merthyr Town extended their unbeaten run to five Southern League matches – and set up a cracking  clash with promotion rivals Hitchin Town at Penydarren Park next Saturday (3pm).

The Martyrs are now third in the Premier Division, tucked in behind second-placed Hitchin, and a bumper attendance is expected for the clash.

Manager Gavin Williams and his Martyrs team have run into excellent form, keeping four clean sheets in their last five fixtures.

They were without suspended Curtis McDonald at Cirencester, but the defender has now completed his suspension and will be available to face Hitchin.

Goals from Kayne McLaggon (38 mins) and Ryan Prosser (45) earned Merthyr victory against Cirencester at the Corinium Stadium, completing a League double over their hosts having won 3-0 at Penydarren

Former Newport County striker Charlie Griffin is Cirencester’s manager, but he is facing a tough battle to ease them clear of relegation trouble and Merthyr made them struggle in front of their own fans..

Defeat against the Martyrs left Cirencester with only three wins in their last 21 league and cup fixtures, while they are now on a run of eight games without a win.

Former Swansea goalkeeper Ollie Davies was given the nod ahead of veteran ex-Cirencester goalie Glyn Garner for Merthyr and that proved the right decision by manager Gavin Williams.

Davies was safe and secure throughout the match and was rewarded with a clean sheet.

Merthyr have two of their next three League matches at home, playing Hitchin at Penydarren Park next Saturday and Kettering away the following weekend before Norfolk club King’s Lynn make the long trip to South Wales in midweek.

That fixtures is at Penydarren on Tuesday, January 24.

Merthyr Town: O Davies, S Barrow, J Wright, A Evans, S Tancock, A Davies, E Richards, K Reffell, C Jenkins, R Prosser, K McLaggon. Subs: G Garner (gk), G Jones, B Watkins, K Copp, I Traylor.