Merthyr Town face another big test on Saturday when third-placed Dorset club Weymouth visit the Loadlok Community Stadium (3pm).
The Martyrs have shown they remain highly competitive in the EvoStik Southern League despite a financial crisis which effectively ended their promotion hopes.
A solid core of players have stayed loyal to Merthyr and manager Gavin Williams has worked tirelessly to maintain playing standards.
The clash with Weymouth is Merthyr’s third successive fixture against teams pressing hard for promotion.
In their last outing, the Martyrs lost 3-2 against Slough Town away after leading 2-1 and the winner was scored five minutes into second half injury time.
Merthyr’s Jarrad Wright and Craig Reddy are still suspended, while Matthew Harris and Kerry Morgan are injury doubts and will have late fitness tests.
Midfield player Kyle Patten is fit again and may feature after missing the last eight weeks due to an ankle operation.
Goalkeeper Cameron Clarke, who returned to the Martyrs during November 2017, has left the club.
The former Cardiff City youth player is keen to play regular first team football and Oliver Davies is Merthyr’s number one.
Manager Williams and his coaches did not want Clarke to leave, but said: “We understand Cameron’s desire to play first team football.”
Poole-born former Bournemouth youth player Brandon Goodship, 23, is Weymouth’s key player having scored 22 league goals this season.
Three of those came against Merthyr in the reverse fixture.
Weymouth are three points behind leaders Kings Lynn Town and won 2-1 at Royston Town in midweek when Goodship scored twice.
On the same evening Kings Lynn recovered groin 2-0 down against Hereford at home to win 3-2.
Weymouth also include Sierra Leone international Abdulai Baggie, who has five senior caps.
Merthyr follow their home match against Weymouth with a trip to play Gosport Borough next Saturday.
Borough are bottom of the Premier Division, four points behind Dunstable Town.
The Martyrs are intent on ensuring they retain Premier League status this season. There is a 26 points gap between Merthyr in 18th place and Gosport, who have four games in hand.
With only one club to be relegated the Martyrs’ fate is in their own hands and a win at Gosport would give them a major boost.
Williams and his players have stabilised things on the pitch and they go into Saturday’s match against Weymouth believing they can earn a positive result.
Merthyr Town squad: Oliver Davies, Ed Hewitson, Adam Davies, Miles John, Scott Tancock, Matthew Harris, Kyle Patten, Ashley Evans, Harry Franklin, Harrison Lewis, Jaye Bowen, Ian Traylor, Corey Jenkins, Kerry Morgan, Ryan Prosser, Cole Jarvis, Connor Hanford.
Admission prices: £10 adults, £8 over 65s, £1 under-16
Wales v Scotland rugby will be shown live on television in the Red Flag Martyrs Bar kickoff.
EvoStik Southern League Premier Division
| Team | Pl | HW | HD | HL | AW | AD | AL | W | D | L | F | A | Diff | Pts | ||
| 1. | King’s Lynn Town | 31 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 20 | 6 | 5 | 64 | 28 | 36 | 66 | |
| 2. | Kettering Town | 30 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 19 | 7 | 4 | 70 | 33 | 37 | 64 | |
| 3. | Weymouth | 32 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 19 | 6 | 7 | 69 | 38 | 31 | 63 | |
| 4. | Hereford | 27 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 19 | 5 | 3 | 68 | 24 | 44 | 62 | |
| 5. | Chesham United | 31 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 15 | 8 | 8 | 66 | 38 | 28 | 53 | |
| 6. | Slough Town | 24 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 15 | 6 | 3 | 65 | 29 | 36 | 51 | |
| 7. | Tiverton Town | 30 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 9 | 16 | 2 | 12 | 47 | 48 | -1 | 50 | |
| 8. | Royston Town | 28 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 15 | 4 | 9 | 50 | 37 | 13 | 49 | |
| 9. | Frome Town | 29 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 14 | 5 | 10 | 60 | 52 | 8 | 47 | |
| 10. | Banbury United | 31 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 13 | 7 | 11 | 62 | 45 | 17 | 46 | |
| 11. | Hitchin Town | 29 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 13 | 5 | 11 | 46 | 43 | 3 | 44 | |
| 12. | St Neots Town | 31 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 55 | 57 | -2 | 44 | |
| 13. | Biggleswade Town | 30 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 7 | 12 | 35 | 35 | 0 | 40 | |
| 14. | Stratford Town | 30 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 45 | 49 | -4 | 39 | |
| 15. | Basingstoke Town | 29 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 11 | 5 | 13 | 63 | 47 | 16 | 38 | |
| 16. | Redditch United | 30 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 12 | 51 | 45 | 6 | 38 | |
| 17. | Farnborough | 32 | 7 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 11 | 5 | 16 | 58 | 78 | -20 | 38 | |
| 18. | Merthyr Town | 31 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 13 | 51 | 67 | -16 | 34 | |
| 19. | Dorchester Town | 32 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 16 | 49 | 65 | -16 | 34 | |
| 20. | Bishop’s Stortford | 30 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 43 | 52 | -9 | 31 | |
| 21. | Kings Langley | 32 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 5 | 11 | 16 | 42 | 69 | -27 | 26 | |
| 22. | St Ives Town | 30 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 18 | 36 | 67 | -31 | 24 | |
| 23. | Dunstable Town | 31 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 25 | 19 | 96 | -77 | 12 | |
| 24. | Gosport Borough | 28 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 24 | 18 | 90 | -72 | 8 |
