Owain’s Late Strike Ties Things Up For Martyrs

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Owain Jones scored a last gasp equaliser for Merthyr Town in their 3-3 draw against Banbury United in Oxfordshire.

More than 500 spectators were at the Community Stadium for a match played with spirit and freedom.

The Martyrs went ahead from a first half penalty converted by Ian Traylor, while Banbury twice took the lead before Corey Jenkins and Jones earned the visitors a draw.

Former Cardiff City captain Mike Ford is in charge of the Banbury team and he was bitterly disappointed his team failed to earn all three points.

“I’m not sure we did enough to win, but when you score three goals in front of 500 spectators then you should find ways to see it through,” said Ford.

“We were a goal down to what was a clumsy penalty at half-time, scored three times in the second half and let it slip.”

Traylor’s first half penalty, scored in the 39th minute after Jones was fouled, gave Merthyr a half-time lead before substitute Leam Howards hit back with two goals for Banbury.

Howards equalised after 50 minutes and fired United ahead with 21 minutes left after goalkeeper Ed Lewiston saved the initial shot but the ball ran loose.

Corey Jenkins hit back to make it 2-2 (73 mins), Elliot Sandy netted Banbury’s third goal two minutes later and then Jones struck to earn a point for the Martyrs.

Banbury United: Jack Harding, Jordy Ngathe, Tom Bradbury, George Nash, Charlie Wise, Luke Carnell, Jack Self, Jack Finch, Elliot Sandy, Sam Humphreys, Anthony Wright. Subs: Paul Stonehouse, Amer Awadh, Tom Winters, Leam Howards, Ricky Johnson.

Merthyr Town: Ed Hewitson, Harry Franklin, Scott Tancock, Ashley Evans, Matthew Harris, Kyle Patten (Craig Reddy), Corey Jenkins, Jarrad Wright, Owain Jones, Kerry Morgan (Lee Price), Ian Traylor. Subs: Miles John, Jaye Bowen, Ashley Thomas.

Hereford FC have won the Premier League title and will be promoted to National League football next season. Their team includes former Merthyr players Keyon Reffell, Ryan Green, Elliot Richards and Cameron Pring, while ex-Martyrs manager Steve Jenkins is assistant to Peter Beadle.

Taunton Town have won Southern League West and will return to the Premier Division for 2018-19.

Merthyr Town’s two remaining fixtures 2017-18

April

Tues 24 v Bishops Stortford A

Sat 28 v Redditch United H

Premier Table

 

# Team Pl HW HD HL AW AD AL W D L F A Diff Pts
1. Hereford 44 19 1 3 15 4 2 34 5 5 106 33 73 107
2. King’s Lynn Town 45 16 6 1 13 4 5 29 10 6 96 38 58 97
3. Kettering Town 44 18 2 1 11 5 7 29 7 8 114 51 63 94
4. Weymouth 45 15 4 3 14 3 6 29 7 9 100 48 52 94
5. Slough Town 44 14 5 3 14 4 4 28 9 7 105 48 57 93
6. Royston Town 44 16 2 4 8 3 11 24 5 15 83 59 24 77
7. Tiverton Town 44 14 3 5 9 2 11 23 5 16 75 67 8 74
8. Chesham United 44 11 6 5 9 5 8 20 11 13 82 58 24 71
9. Banbury United 44 8 8 7 10 6 5 18 14 12 88 59 29 68
10. Basingstoke Town 44 16 3 3 4 4 14 20 7 17 86 67 19 67
11. Hitchin Town 43 11 4 6 8 4 10 19 8 16 67 60 7 65
12. St Neots Town 45 11 5 6 6 8 9 17 13 15 79 75 4 64
13. Frome Town 44 7 4 10 10 3 10 17 7 20 75 94 -19 58
14. Redditch United 45 11 7 5 4 2 16 15 9 21 71 71 0 54
15. Stratford Town 45 7 6 10 8 3 11 15 9 21 67 80 -13 54
16. Biggleswade Town 44 9 5 7 5 5 13 14 10 20 51 60 -9 52
17. Merthyr Town 44 9 5 8 4 8 10 13 13 18 74 92 -18 52
18. Farnborough 45 9 2 12 6 4 12 15 6 24 80 114 -34 51
19. Dorchester Town 44 11 2 10 2 8 11 13 10 21 61 82 -21 49
20. Bishop’s Stortford 44 8 4 9 5 5 13 13 9 22 69 78 -9 48
21. Kings Langley 45 5 9 9 3 5 14 8 14 23 60 94 -34 38
22. St Ives Town 43 3 4 13 5 4 14 8 8 27 52 99 -47 32
23. Gosport Borough 44 2 4 17 1 1 19 3 5 36 35 142 -107 14
24. Dunstable Town 43 2 2 18 1 3 17 3 5 35 25 132 -107 14

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