By Terry Phillips
Merthyr Town suffered in Cambridge against a revitalised home team on Saturday – going down to a 1-0 defeat.
The appointment of Robbie Nightingale, a former club mascot, player and captain, less than a week ago gave the struggling EvoStik Southern League club a massive boost.
Nightingale left Soham Town Rangers to take charge at Cambridge City and four players, Jordan Gent, Ryan Sharman Ross Paterson and Salim Relizani, made the switch with him. The home team also signed Nathan Mavila from Maidstone United on Saturday morning.
They made a big impact and the promotion-chasing Martyrs found themselves in a fiercely contested match.
“I have been associated with this club for more than 20 years either as a fan or a player and I know what it’s all about,” said Nightingale. “Cambridge City is a big club and we shouldn’t be in our current position.”
Merthyr were without Jarrad Wright, who served a one match suspension after being booked five times this season, while Scott Tancock and Ryan Prosser were both unavailable.
New signing Adam Davies was able to start after the international clearance on his move from Hereford United was granted on Friday.
Cambridge earned their first home victory of the season thanks to a Charlie Woolfe goal scored in the second half, ended a run of 15 matches without a win.
Former Swansea and Kilmarnock goalkeeper Oliver Davies, aged 21, was in goal for Merthyr, taking over from former Wales international Glyn Garner.
Eliot Richards went close for the Martyrs with a shot which flew just over the bar, but Cambridge scored the only goal when Woolfe fired home after 68 minutes.
Williams went close from a free-kick on the edge of City’s penalty area and the visitors pressed forward in search of an equaliser.
Cambridge held on to take the three points and the visitors made an unhappy 200 miles-plus trip home by coach.
Player-manager Gavin Williams and his Merthyr players will now aim to bounce back with a home win against King’s Langley next Saturday (3pm).
Merthyr Town: O Davies, C McDonald, G Jones, R Baggridge, S Barrow, A Evans (G Williams 68), E Richards, B Watkins, A Davies, K McLaggon, I Traylor.
