AFC Telford
vs
Merthyr Town
Match Preview
"Bucks looking to bounce back against the Martyrs"
Match Date : November 4th, 2025 7:45 pm
Competition : National League North
Ground : New Bucks Head
Kick Off : 19:45
The Bucks’ busy November will start to ramp up on Tuesday night, when Merthyr Town will be the visitors to the SEAH Stadium.
Formed in 2010 following the liquidation of the old Merthyr Tydfil AFC, Merthyr Town have won four league titles in 15 years to march their way back up the non-league pyramid. Town held off AFC Totton to claim last season’s Southern League Premier South title and with it a place at Step 2 for the first time in the new club’s history.
The Welsh side’s climb up the levels had taken a hit during Covid. With Wales under different lockdown rules, the Martyrs took the decision to mothball for the 2020-21, effectively disbanding their existing squad and management team. Having to start again virtually from scratch, Town finished second bottom in 2021-22, but they were reprieved from relegation after Walton Casuals went out of business. But that disappointing campaign led to the appointment of current manager Paul Michael at the end of April 2022, and the Martyrs have been on an upward curve ever since.
Michael has largely stuck with the same squad that not only earned Merthyr promotion but also recorded a 32-game unbeaten run along the way. The most notable summer addition was Lewys Twamley, who left for Yeovil Town in January but returned to Penydarren Park in July. Twamley is one of Town’s key men, and is joined in attack by the Martyrs’ goalgetter-in-chief, Ricardo Rees. The 25-year-old forward hit 33 league goals last season and already has 11 in 14 this year to head the National League North chart this year. At the back, centre half Matthew Harris captains the side and recently made his 450th appearance for Merthyr.
The Martyrs have made a good start to life at Step 2 and currently sit in 9th on 22 points. A small wobble at the end of September into October saw Town fall to three defeats from four, but subsequent wins over Chorley and Darlington have lifted Merthyr back up to the edge of the playoffs. Town have impressed on the road too, picking up 13 points from seven games, with only AFC Fylde picking up more points (21) away from home so far this season.
The Bucks may have bowed out of the FA Cup at Sutton on Saturday, but Kevin Wilkin’s men have been in good form in the league having picked up seven points from the last three games. With the games coming thick and fast in November, the Bucks will be looking to put their Cup disappointment behind them and get back to winning ways on Tuesday.
MATCHDAY INFORMATION
Tickets are available online in advance, or from the ticket office on matchday. Please note that a £1 admin charge applies for adults and concessions when buying on matchday.
