Tom Meechan fired the winner for Merthyr Town in their EvoStik Southern League home match against Basingstoke Town.
The Martyrs won 1-0 at the MetCoaches Stadium and are sixth in the EvoStik Southern League, just outside the play-off places.
Meechan struck after 76 minutes when he netted from an Ian Traylor cross.
New signings Jay Foulston, on loan from Newport County and making his home debut, and Jamie Veale, signed from Cardiff City’s under-23 team, both started, while winger Ben Swallow was sent on after 68 minutes.
Top 5 attendances in yesterday's @SouthernLeague1 Premier South were;
727 at @theterras v @KLFCofficial
614 at @TauntonTownFC v @GosportBFC
427 at @MerthyrTownFC v @Basingstoke_FC
378 at @HartleyFC v @SalisburyFC
290 at @cheshamutdfc v @DorchTownFC pic.twitter.com/l45n3pyUNs— The Pitching In Southern Football League (@SouthernLeague1) January 20, 2019
Swallow has joined Merthyr on loan from Vanarama National League South strugglers Weston-super-Mare.
He had seven years playing for Cardiff City’s youth teams for seven years and later moved to Bristol Rovers.
Veale’s cross was headed over by Foulston from close range after 25 minutes and that was the best chance of the first half.
Jarrad Wright headed down from a Traylor corner, but Basingstoke cleared and then Owain Jones saw his shot saved.
Meechan’s goal handed the Martyrs all three points and young goalkeeper Lewis Webb played his part by keeping a clean sheet
The next test for Merthyr is at Tiverton Town next Saturday, while they are at home against Dorchester Town on Saturday, February 2.
https://twitter.com/LewWebb1/status/1086670959560544258
Merthyr Town: Lewis Webb, Jay Foulston, Jarrad Wright, Matthew Harris, Connor Young (Ben Swallow 68), Jamie Veale (Tom Meechan 68), Ashley Evans, Lee Lucas,Kieran Lewis Ryan Prosser (Owain Jones 56), Ian Traylor. Subs not used: Craig Reddy, Adam Davies.
Attendance: 427.
Merthyr Town fixtures
EvoStik Southern League (all 3pm)
Saturday 26 v Tiverton Town (away)
February
Saturday 2 v Dorchester Town (home)
PREMIER DIVISION SOUTH LEAGUE TABLE
| P | PTS | GD | |
| Taunton Town | 26 | 55 | 30 |
| Metropolitan Police | 24 | 49 | 19 |
| Salisbury | 24 | 48 | 21 |
| Weymouth | 23 | 46 | 22 |
| Harrow Borough | 26 | 43 | 12 |
| Merthyr Town | 26 | 41 | 5 |
| Swindon Supermarine | 27 | 39 | 12 |
| Beaconsfield Town | 27 | 39 | 5 |
| Kings Langley | 24 | 38 | 0 |
| Farnborough | 27 | 38 | -5 |
| Poole Town | 23 | 33 | 10 |
| Wimborne Town | 26 | 33 | -1 |
| Hartley Wintney | 26 | 33 | -1 |
| Tiverton Town | 26 | 32 | 0 |
| Walton Casuals | 25 | 32 | -4 |
| Hendon | 26 | 32 | -5 |
| Dorchester Town | 26 | 31 | -17 |
| Chesham United | 25 | 30 | -18 |
| Gosport Borough | 26 | 29 | -11 |
| Basingstoke Town | 24 | 28 | -6 |
| Frome Town | 26 | 24 | -16 |
| Staines Town | 27 | 9 | -52 |