Former Newport County striker Andy Sandell is slowly choking off Merthyr Town hopes of earning automatic promotion to National League football.
Sandell is top scorer in the Southern League Premier Division with 27 goals and he is leading the Bluebirds on a charge which makes them hot favourites to be crowned champions.
Merthyr are fourth, 10 points behind leaders Chippenham, and their hopes of claiming the lone automatic promotion place available look slim.
Manager Gavin Williams and his Martyrs still have to play Chippenham away, but Welsh club’s best hopes of promotion are via the play-offs.
Their next match is against Biggleswade Town away this Saturday, while Chippenham play Dunstable Town at home.
They are seven points clear at the top, unbeaten in 17 matches and have netted 100 goals in all competitions this season.
Chippenham hit the century mark in a 2-1 win against Basingstoke Town when Sandell and Matt Smith were the marksmen.
Manager Mark Collier’s team have scored a league best 76 goals – experienced duo Sandell (27) and David Pratt (17) have fired 44 of those between them.
Collier, though, insists his team don’t rely entirely on those two for goals, saying: “We’ve scored goals from all over the pitch. Will Richards has eight or nine from centre-back and he could have got a couple more.
“We have good attacking players who have the desire to get forward, run into the channels and make things happen.
“There is a desire within the team for players to get on the end of crosses, work hard and make chances. When we’ve done that, we’ve scored. Scoring 100 goals in all competitions is a decent record.”
While Chippenham close in on the title, Merthyr must ensure they earn enough points from their remaining nine fixtures to ensure they finish in the top five. The teams finishing runners-up to fifth go into the play-offs.
EvoStik Southern League
Premier Division – top six only
All teams play 46 fixtures
Pl GD Pts
1 Chippenham Town 37 +35 79
2 Hitchin Town 35 +33 72
3 Slough Town 35 +29 70
4 Merthyr Town 37 +36 69
5 Leamington 34 +33 69
6 Banbury United 36 +22 61
Merthyr Town’s remaining fixtures this season
March
Saturday 4 v Biggleswade Town (away, 3pm)
Saturday 11 v Weymouth (home, 3pm)
Saturday 18 v Chippenham Town (away, 3pm)
Saturday 25 v Cambridge City (home, 3pm)
April
Saturday 1 v Kings Stanley (away, 3pm)
Saturday 8 v St Neots Town (away, 3pm)
Saturday 15 v St Ives Town (3pm)
Monday 17 v Redditch United (away, 3pm)
Saturday 22 v Hayes and Yeading (home, 3pm)
Entry prices to Merthyr Town matches at Penydarren Park: Adults £10; Senior Citizens (65 and over) plus Cardiff City/Swansea City season ticket holders £8; Students (16-18 years of age) £7; Under 16 £1; Under 6 Free.
