Merthyr Town Take On The Terras At Penydarren Park

Merthyr Town set out to complete a Southern League double against Weymouth when the Dorset club visit Penydarren Park on Saturday (3pm).

The Martyrs won 1-0 against old Southern League rivals Weymouth away in November and are now looking to build on their solid comeback against Biggleswade Town in the last fixture.

With Hitchin playing Slough at home in the Premier Division game of the day a win for Merthyr would see them climb one place in the table.

Weymouth might have expected to be higher in the league table than their current 12th place having finished seventh last season, missing a play-off place by four points.

However, they have spent most of the season in the lower half of the division and were placed 15th, 12 points behind Merthyr, at the time of the reverse fixture at the beginning of November.

A single goal by Kayne McLaggon was enough to earn the points that day in a result which confirmed Merthyr in fifth place, a position they now occupy again.

The Terras are now 22 points adrift of the play-offs, while there are also being 16 points clear of the relegation zone and have nothing but pride to play for.

Their away record is good with only two teams having drawn more than their seven on the road and they have the seventh best goalscoring record in the division with a similarly-ranked defence.

Weymouth are currently five games unbeaten, but that run includes a County Cup tie win and three draws.

Player-manager Jason Matthews adopted a change to a 3-5-2 formation which produced a 3-2 win against visitors Kettering thanks to a late goal scored by former Bournemouth central defender Stephane Zubar.

The 41-year-old Matthews is currently being kept out of the side by promising young goalkeeper Tom McHale, who is on loan from National League South side Truro City.

Also on loan from a club at the same level is Bath City’s experienced striker Stuart Fleetwood, who has been with Weymouth since October and is their leading scorer with 14 goals.

Team news for the Martyrs is that Scott Barrow is ruled out because of suspension, while player-manager  Gavin Williams will be missing the first of two games due to being dismissed from the sidelines during the match at Biggleswade.

Merthyr Town’s remaining fixtures this season

March

Saturday 11 v Weymouth (home, 3pm)

Saturday 18 v Chippenham Town (away, 3pm)

Saturday 25 v Cambridge City (home, 3pm)

April

Saturday 1 v Kings Stanley (away, 3pm)

Saturday 8 v St Neots Town (away, 3pm)

Saturday 15 v St Ives Town (3pm)

Monday 17 v Redditch United (away, 3pm)

Saturday 22 v Hayes and Yeading (home, 3pm)

Entry prices to Merthyr Town matches at Penydarren Park:  Adults £10; Senior Citizens (65 and over) plus Cardiff City/Swansea City season ticket holders £8; Students (16-18 years of age) £7; Under 16 £1; Under 6 free.

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