Redditch United 0, Merthyr Town 1
Captain Ashley Evans earned Merthyr Town a hard-fought win against Redditch United away.
The victory is a massive boost to Merthyr’s Southern League promotion hopes.
They are now third in the Premier Division table and a home win against Hayes and Yeading next Saturday will ensure their play-off semi-final fixture is at home.
Chippenham Town have already won the title and secured the lone automatic promotion place available, while the next four clubs will qualify for the play-offs.
The Martyrs were, without doubt, the better team against Redditch, dominated possession and should have scored more than one goal.
The home team are managed by former Jamaica Aston Villa and Millwall striker Darren Byfield and they are a big, strong and athletic team.
Merthyr defended solidly and goalkeeper Oliver Davies only had one big save to make and that came from a Khaellem Bailey-Nicholls free-kick. His shot was right in the top corner and Davies was at full stretch when he saved one-handed to push the ball away for a corner.
Striker Josh Bull was a lively striker for Merthyr, while Kayne McLaggon dropped deep to try and find the space to create.
Merthyr were rocked when Scott Tancock was the victim of an ill-judged first half tackle. He tried to play on, but was limping badly after being taken off at half-time.
Kyle Patten took over and Merthyr still looked well organised and solid at the back.
Manager Gavin Williams sent on Ryan Prosser for McLaggon just after the hour and the big striker played a key role in the winning goal a couple of minutes later.
Keyon Reffell drove at the Redditch defence and whipped in a cross from the right which flew beyond Prosser. The centre-forward chased the ball out to the left wing and slipped a pass back for Scott Barrow, who fired it back into the penalty box.
Redditch could only half clear and Davies controlled before firing low and hard into the corner from 20 yards.
This was a huge team effort by Merthyr, who had the vast majority of possession.
They were without injured players Curtis McDonald and Ian Traylor, while Tancock’s ankle injury is another worry.
Unless McDonald or Tancock are available for next Saturday’s final League match against Hayes and Yeading, Merthyr will only have one regular central defender available. Jarrad Wright would then play, possibly alongside Kyle Patten.
Merthyr Town: O Davies, A Davies, S Barrow, A Evans (capt), J Wright, S Tancock (K Patten 46), C Jenkins, E Richards, K McLaggon (R Prosser 62), K Reffell, J Bull. Subs not used: J Boswen, K Copp.
Bank Holiday Monday fixtures involving the leading clubs: Chesham 1, Slough 1; Frome 0, Chippenham 1; Hitchin 1, Biggleswade 1; Leamington 1, Banbury 0; Redditch 0, Merthyr 1.
Final Premier Division fixtures on Saturday, April 22: Banbury v Kettering, Basingstoke v Hitchin, Chippenham v St Ives, Merthyr Town v Hayes and Yeading, Slough v Redditch, Weymouth v Leamington.
Southern League
Premier Division – all teams play 46 fixtures
Top six only
Champions promoted automatically, next four qualify for play-offs
Pl GD Pts
1 Chippenham Town 45 +45 100
2 Leamington 45 +46 92
3 Merthyr Town 45 +46 86
4 Hitchin Town 45 +34 85
5 Slough Town 45 +28 84
6 Banbury United 45 +28 80
