Merthyr Town 2, St Ives 0
Centre-forward Ryan Prosser kept the Martyrs on course for the Southern League play-offs.
Prosser – hailed by fans as #FearTheBeard – scored both Merthyr goals in a crucial Premier Division home win against St Ives at Penydarren Park.
Rivals Slough Town lost at home, while Banbury United drew 1-1 against Hitchin Town.
Merthyr now travel to play Redditch United away on Bank Holiday Monday. There are only two League fixtures left for all clubs and a win at 17th-placed Redditch would virtually clinch a top five finish because Merthyr have one of the best goal differences.
Prosser’s goals both came in the second half.
The big striker netted from a 56th minute penalty after Keyon Reffell had been brought down, while his second came from a header after 70 minutes.
Corey Jenkins was a near constant threat in wide areas for Merthyr, while Kayne McLaggon returned from injury and looked lively after going on as a substitute.
St Ives set up to defend and had to face heavy pressure at times with Merthyr pressing hard.
Premier leaders Chippenham have already clinched the title and secured the lone automatic promotion spot available, while the next four will qualify for the play-offs. Banbury United, in sixth place, could yet catch Slough, Merthyr or Hitchin.
Merthyr Town: O Davies, S Barrow, J Wright, A Evans, S Tancock, A Davies, K Reffell, E Richards, C Jenkins, R Prosser (K Copp), I Traylor (K McLaggon). Subs not used: J Bull, J Bowen, K Patten.
Attendance: 608.
Bank Holiday Monday fixtures involving the leading clubs: Chesham v Slough, Frome v Chippenham, Hitchin v Biggleswade, Leamington v Banbury, Redditch v Merthyr (all 3pm).
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 seven only
Champions promoted automatically, next four qualify for play-offs
Pl GD Pts
1 Chippenham Town 44 +44 97
2 Leamington 44 +45 89
3 Hitchin Town 44 +34 84
4 Merthyr Town 44 +45 83
5 Slough Town 44 +28 83
6 Banbury United 44 +29 80
7 Frome Town 44 +17 74
