Merthyr Town are aiming for a Bank Holiday Bonanza when they play two Southern League Premier fixtures in three days.
The Martyrs travel to play Farnborough on Saturday before entertaining Frome Town at the MetCoaches Stadium on Monday (both 3pm).
Manager Gavin Williams and his team are third in the table after three fixtures, unbeaten and two points behind joint leaders Tiverton Town and Hartley Wintney.
Farnborough are one point behind Merthyr in sixth place and have strengthened their team with three new signings.
They have added midfield player Brendan Murphy-McVey from Staines Town, Jay Gasson, who is dual-registered with Kingstonian, and free agent Ibby Akanbi.
The former Crystal Palace youth forward is now aged 21 and Farnborough manager Spencer Day says: “Ibby has come to try and earn a deal. He’s an exciting winger or striker and will be a good boost to the squad.
“We have had a decent start to the season, but injuries and unavailability meant we needed to act.”
“Brendan Murphy-McVey has joined from Staines Town after a 7-day approach and subject to paperwork.
Farnborough are without injured Zach Fagan, while Connor Cullen is away this weekend, Bradley Simms is unavailable for a couple of weeks and Jack Barton has left the club.
Frome Town, who visit Penydarren Park on Monday, have signed a teenage goalkeeper to help them out.
James Carey, aged 18, has joined Frome on a youth loan from Bristol City because Darren Bechet is injured and Polish ‘keeper Seb Tylek is awaiting international clearance.
Our next home game us Monday at the @metcoaches stadium. Thanks to @AnnaArtwork for our new matchday images. pic.twitter.com/Vl8DB4mj0M
— The Martyrs (@MerthyrTownFC) August 23, 2018
Tyler was playing in Poland’s Second Division before moving to England in the summer and signed for Frome after a trial.
The Wiltshire club also signed 23-year-old former USA under-20 international Kris Scott from Weston-Super-Mare. Midfield player Scott played for Stoke, Swansea, Leicester and Nuneaton at junior levels before signing for Weston.
Frome also added 18-year-old England Colleges international defender Charlie Saunders, who has been playing for Bath City’s youth team.
Ashley Evans will again captain the Merthyr team, while hit-man Ian Traylor is aiming to score his 159th goal for the Martyrs – and join fellow striker Ryan Prosser on that total.
The prolific Traylor is currently on 158 goals in 344 appearances, while Prosser has 159 in 312.
Merthyr’s next highest scorers in the current team are Kerry Morgan on 37, Matthew Harris (32), Jarrad Wright (29) and Corey Jenkins (25).
Merthyr Town: Joe Perry, Adam Davies, Joe Hunt, Ashley Evans (capt), Keenan Patten, Connor Young, Jarrad Wright, Corey Jenkins, Lee Price, Kieran Lewis, Tom Meechan, Kerry Morgan, Matty Harris, Ian Traylor, Miles John, Craig Reddy, Ryan Prosser.
Merthyr Town’s early results and fixtures 2018-19 (Southern League Premier unless stated)
August
Saturday 11 v Chesham United (away) Merthyr won 3-0
Tuesday 14 v Swindon Supermarine (home) 2-2
Saturday 18 v Gosport Borough Merthyr won 4-2
Saturday 25 v Farnborough (away)
Monday 27 Frome Town (home)
September
Saturday 1 v Walton Casuals (away)
Wednesday 5 League Cup prelim (to be drawn)
Saturday 8 Emirates FA Cup first qualifying round
Saturday 15 Metropolitan Police (home)
Saturday 22: Emirates FA Cup second qualifying round
Saturday 29 Hartley Wintney (away)
Evo-stik League South Premier Division South
| Club | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | -Pts | Pts | |
 |
Tiverton Town | 3 | 3 | – | – | 9 | 2 | 7 | – | 9 |
 |
Hartley Wintney | 3 | 3 | – | – | 6 | 2 | 4 | – | 9 |
 |
Merthyr Town | 3 | 2 | 1 | – | 9 | 4 | 5 | – | 7 |
 |
Hendon | 3 | 2 | 1 | – | 6 | 2 | 4 | – | 7 |
 |
Weymouth | 3 | 2 | 1 | – | 6 | 4 | 2 | – | 7 |
 |
Farnborough | 3 | 2 | – | 1 | 7 | 3 | 4 | – | 6 |
 |
Taunton Town | 3 | 2 | – | 1 | 7 | 3 | 4 | – | 6 |
 |
Poole Town | 3 | 2 | – | 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 | – | 6 |
 |
Metropolitan Police | 3 | 2 | – | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | – | 6 |
 |
Salisbury | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 2 | – | 4 |
 |
Swindon Supermarine | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | – | 4 |
 |
Basingstoke Town | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 0 | – | 4 |
 |
Harrow Borough | 3 | 1 | – | 2 | 9 | 10 | -1 | – | 3 |
 |
Wimborne Town | 3 | 1 | – | 2 | 8 | 10 | -2 | – | 3 |
 |
Gosport Borough | 3 | 1 | – | 2 | 5 | 7 | -2 | – | 3 |
 |
Dorchester Town | 3 | 1 | – | 2 | 4 | 6 | -2 | – | 3 |
 |
Staines Town | 3 | 1 | – | 2 | 3 | 8 | -5 | – | 3 |
 |
Beaconsfield Town | 3 | – | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | -1 | – | 2 |
 |
Frome Town | 3 | – | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | -3 | – | 1 |
 |
Walton Casuals | 3 | – | 1 | 2 | 4 | 11 | -7 | – | 1 |
 |
Kings Langley | 3 | – | – | 3 | 5 | 9 | -4 | – | 0 |
 |
Chesham United | 3 | – | – | 3 | 1 | 7 | -6 | – | 0 |
