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Welshman Owain’S Verdict On Martyrs’ Play Off Hopes

Welshman Owain’s Verdict On Martyrs’ Play-Off Hopes

Merthyr Town players celebrate. Pic: Peter Harman.

Merthyr Town 2, Farnborough Town 0 Former Wales under-21 international Owain Jones believes Merthyr Town can launch a big push to qualify for the BetVictor Southern League play-offs. The Martyrs are 12th in Premier South, 13 points behind Taunton Town in fifth place and have games in hand on most of the teams above them. […]

Merthyr Town 2, Farnborough Town 0

Former Wales under-21 international Owain Jones believes Merthyr Town can launch a big push to qualify for the BetVictor Southern League play-offs.

The Martyrs are 12th in Premier South, 13 points behind Taunton Town in fifth place and have games in hand on most of the teams above them.

Two goals in two minutes during the first half earned Merthyr their home win against Farnborough Town in front of more than 400 spectators at the MetCoaches Stadium.

Gethyn Hill scored the first after 26 minutes and Jones added the second soon after. Merthyr were awarded a penalty just after the hour, but Jones’ spot-kick was saved.

“We’ve been playing well lately,” said 23-year-old Jones. “We deserved to win against Farnborough, although we’ve played better at times this season.

https://twitter.com/MerthyrTownFC/status/1218627155611062273?s=20

“It’s the sign of a good team that we can win 2-0 when we are not quite at our best.

“There has been a big difference over the last month. The squad has come a lot closer and there is a lot less negativity. That shows on the pitch.

“Personally, I’m happy with with my own form. I’m playing good minutes, while the gaffer (Gavin Williams) and Clarkey (Dean Clarke) have been brilliant with me. I’m looking to repay them.

“We have a good run of games coming up and if we can put a run together and creep up the table we can push for the play-offs.

“This group are certainly capable of doing that.”

Swansea-born Jones, who has started his playing career with his home city club, has also played for Yeovil Town and Nuneaton Borough.

The Martyrs started strongly and Hill headed against the bar after a flowing counterattack. Ismail Yakubu then has a powerful header saved.

Man of the match Jamie Veale, a former Cardiff City youth player, set up Merthyr’s opening goal when he made a remarkable before squaring the ball for Hill to score.

Merthyr continued to play flowing football and Jones ended an outstanding passing move, firing into the roof of the net.

The referee waved away Merthyr penalty appeals after Hill was brought down on 52 minutes, while Ian Traylor had a fierce shot pushed over the bar by Farnborough’s goalkeeper.

https://twitter.com/MerthyrTownFC/status/1218624647392002049?s=20

Jones could have scored a third when Merthyr were awarded a penalty after Traylor was fouled, but the spot-kick was saved.

Hill then fired home in the closing minutes, but that was ruled out for offside.

Cardiff City: Alex Harris, Dan Summerfield, Adam Davies (capt), Ismail Yakubu, Jarrad Wright, Lee Lucas, Owain Jones (Corey Jenkins 86), Jamie Veale, Gethyn Hill, Ian Traylor (Ben Swallow 76). Subs: Ryan Prosser, Kyle Patten, Gavin Williams.

Attendance: 402

BetVictor Southern Premier South

Club	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	-Pts	Pts
Chesham United	24	17	1	6	55	32	23	–	52

Truro City	24	16	3	5	48	24	24	–	51
Tiverton Town	24	15	4	5	61	31	30	–	49
Swindon Supermarine	23	14	5	4	43	29	14	–	47
Taunton Town	23	13	4	6	49	35	14	–	43

Salisbury	22	11	6	5	42	31	11	–	39
Hayes & Yeading United	23	11	4	8	43	34	9	–	37
Poole Town	19	11	2	6	35	21	14	–	35
Weston-super-Mare	23	10	5	8	43	36	7	–	35
Gosport Borough	25	9	8	8	27	24	3	–	35
Farnborough	24	10	2	12	29	39	-10	–	32
Merthyr Town	21	8	6	7	27	24	3	–	30
Blackfield & Langley	25	8	6	11	31	38	-7	–	30
Harrow Borough	27	8	6	13	33	46	-13	–	30
Wimborne Town	25	8	5	12	32	40	-8	–	29
Metropolitan Police	24	8	4	12	33	41	-8	–	28
Hendon	24	7	6	11	35	40	-5	–	27
Walton Casuals	27	7	4	16	36	60	-24	–	25
Hartley Wintney	22	6	6	10	27	35	-8	–	24

Yate Town	24	6	4	14	30	44	-14	–	22
Beaconsfield Town	23	4	5	14	19	40	-21	–	17
Dorchester Town	26	3	6	17	34	68	-34	–	15