Your match previewer has been like a coiled spring in anticipation of this fabulous February fixture. Paul Michael’s men are a dream team for someone who loves his soccer stats. Here’s a couple for starters: Merthyr have gone 25 league games unbeaten; they’ve scored in every away league game; they’ve scored six in a game three times; they’ve kept four clean sheets in their last seven games; Ricardo Rees is the division’s leading scorer with 26; The Martyrs’ average home attendance is up 34% on last season to 1,114. And if those objective facts aren’t enough, in my opinion their fans are some of the friendliest you’ll meet in non-league football.

It’s a daunting task for Tim’s team as they face Michael’s men who are riding high at the top of the table. But, as always, when you dig a little deeper, you find some interesting stats. The Martyrs have played three games on their travels from South Wales in 2025: a 1-1 draw on Tiverton’s muddy field; and two 1-0 wins at Havant & Waterlooville, and then Marlow. But on their last visit to Dorset, almost exactly two months ago, they punished Poole with six second-half goals. At their wonderful Penydarren Park home, Merthyr have played six matches on their 3G this calendar year: Gloucester (2-2), Dorchester (0-0), Totton (1-1), a 2-0 win over Taunton when that man Rees scored a brace in time added-on, Basingstoke (1-1), and last Saturday, Plymouth Parkway (2-2). That leaves Merthyr top of the table with a W20 D8 L2 GF 79 GA 31 record; on their travels their record is W10 D2 L2 – those two defeats were both way back in August: 5-2 at Walton & Hersham, and 2-1 at Gloucester.

Apart from Ricardo Rees, should we keep our eyes on anyone else? We certainly should. Kane Simpson, transferred from Frome over the summer, has bagged 16, and Lewis Twamley 15. All three of those Martyrs’ strikers netted against us in the reverse fixture in September. They’re not a particularly physical side, but they’re excitingly quick and slick.

The Magpies have slipped down the table to hover just outside the relegation spots with a W8 D6 L13 GF 33 GA 45 record; at The Wyatt Homes Stadium it’s W6 D3 L5. Tim’s team have lost the last two home games 2-1: firstly against Bracknell, who reached last season’s play-offs, and on Tuesday against sixth-placed Havant & Waterlooville. On both occasions we more than matched the opposition in everything but the one statistic that matters – goals scored. Drew Eccott-Young looks in fine form following his long absence, and Harry Morgan bagged his first of the season with that sublime finish from Drew’s cross on Tuesday.

Can we learn anything from past encounters between Magpies and Martyrs in the Southern League – 2012-2015 in Division One, and 2018-2022 through the Covid seasons in the Premier Div? At home we’ve won two, drawn two, and lost two. I won’t depress you with our results at Penydarren Park, including that 6-0 loss at the end of September.

The scene is set for what could be a really entertaining tussle. Merthyr will be massive favourites, but “football’s a funny old game”. As the weather forecast is for it to be on the chilly side; your match previewer will forego fashion for warmth and comfort – it’ll be layers and long johns for me! So come on down to the Wyatt Homes Stadium for one of the highlights of the season. After all, it’s what Saturday afternoons were made for.

There’s reasonable parking at the ground in Ainsley Road BH21 2FU, but if you do decide to travel by car and park on the nearby streets, please do so respectfully to our neighbours.

The Morebus no.13 runs along Leigh Road from and to The Square in the town centre with stops at the bottom of Parmiter Road, a five-minute stroll from the ground.

There is a bike park to the left of the players’ entrance.

Admission: adults £14, concessions £8, U18s £5, U13s £2.

Average att: 629

A packed printed programme will be on sale.

Weather forecast: sunny intervals; 6oC; 20% chance of rain.