Last year Aberystwyth Town made the national news after a good hearted twitter jibe about European Qualification aimed at Manchester United went viral. This evening a Black and Greens Supporter could deliver a much more telling blow to the Red Devils. At the heart of Wolfsburg’s defence in tonight’s Champions League decider against United at the Volkswagen Arena is likely to be Brazilian World Cup Semi Finalist Dante Bonfim, who was recently photographed (left) beaming with delight at the receipt of an Aberystwyth Town Replica Shirt purchased directly from Steve Moore’s Legendary Club Shop. 32 year old Dante, with his unmistakable afro hairstyle, played with Lille, Charleroi and Standard Liege, with whom he won the Belgian Pro League. He came to international prominence from 2009 onwards playing for Borussia Monchengladbach and Bayern Munich, for whom he won an incredible quintuple of 2013 medals made up of the Champions League, Super Cup, World Club Cup, Bundesliga and Pokal. He repeated his domestic double in 2014 and earned a third Bundesliga Winners medal in 2015. Dante moved to German Cup Pokal holders Wolfsburg last summer, and is also a Brazilian international who has won 14 caps for his country, including appearances in the 2014 World Cup. The link came via Aberystwyth Town Supporter Garry Davies, who met Dante on a visit to Brazil, and atfc.org.uk will bring you the full story very soon. Aberystwyth Town Replica shirts, identical to the one held by Dante, are available from the Club’s Online Store here. Hughsey: “We’ve learned today and we’ll make those things better ahead of next week’s game”6/12/2015
Aberystwyth Town’s dreams of lifting the Welsh Cup ended on a windy, cold and wet evening in Oswestry, writes Matthew Wallace. The Saints, the reigning league and cup champions, enjoyed large spells of dominance with the ball but were only able to force chances from distance thanks to some stalwart defending from Aber’s back four. But despite the resolute effort in defence from the entire side, Town were on the wrong end of a 3-0 score line.
"It’s tough enough having to play against TNS but having to play against TNS and the wind, it’s doubly difficult" Manager Ian Hughes told Club Marketing Officer Mart Smith in an interview for Aber Town's Youtube Channel after the game. The Seasiders went into the break 2-0 down thanks to two rather fortunate goals, first directly from a corner and the second off the boot of a Town defender. "Momentum’s massive in the game. For the first twenty minutes of the second half we were on top. Chris Venables has a great chance at 2-0, if that goes in then we’d have the momentum and we could have perhaps forced an equaliser and taken the game to extra time," said Hughes. But it was the holders that progressed when a third goal put the game to bed at the midway point the second half. However, Town don’t have time to lick their wounds as they travel to the same opposition this Friday. “We’ve learned today and we’ll make those things better ahead of next week’s game." Watch Mart Smith's post match interview with Manager Ian Hughes on Aber Town's Youtube Channel here. JD Welsh Cup Third Round
Saturday 5th December The New Saints 3 Aberystwyth Town 0 Facing the League Champions away with four key players unavailable through injury, suspension and ineligibility and illness was always going to be a momentous challenge for the Black and Greens, and so it was that The New Saints dominated Saturday's JD Welsh Cup Third Round tie, and progressed to the next round thanks to goals from Chris Marriott, Scott Quigley and Matty Williams. Without Geoff Kellaway, Lee Surman, Jamie Reed and Jack Rimmer Manager Ian Hughes' options were severely limited, but his side did start in a disciplined manner. TNS' ninth minute opener was assisted by the strong wind blowing across the Park Hall pitch as Marriott's corner was gusted onto the crossbar before bouncing in off keeper Mike Lewis' shoulder. With the weather conditions strongly in their favour the hosts went on to dominate the opening half and Lewis made a spectacular save to deny Chris Seargeant's crisp volley soon after. Having defended stoutly Aber were again cursing their luck in the 26th minute when Seargeant's low shot deflected off Quigley to wrong foot Lewis in the goal and double the lead. Adrian Ciesliewicz and Quigley saw shots blocked, while at the other end Cledan Davies sent in two testing crosses which Aber could not convert. The Black and Greens were glad to see Matty Williams' goal chalked off for offside, and then Stuart Jones' goalbound header from an Antonio Corbisiero free kick was gathered by Paul Harrison, before the half time whistle went with the scoreboard at 2-0. The visitors of course enjoyed more of the ball after the break and almost got themselves right back into it. Ross Stephens worked hard to earn a free kick, and Craig Williams picked out Chris Venables, whose glancing header was sneaking into the far post, only for Harrison to pull out an astonishing finger tip save to deny the two time WPL Golden Boot Holder. Ciesliewicz was again denied by Lewis but then the outcome was settled on 67 minutes when Simon Spender's ball in from the right was nodded home by Williams to give TNS a three goal cushion. Quigley was flagged offside before hitting the net with a low strike, and Aeron Edwards drew an excellent save from Lewis before Ciesliewicz again shot wide, and the game was done. Although the Black and Greens defended stoutly for long periods and created a couple of good opportunities, on the balance of play it has to be said that TNS deserved their three goal victory yesterday, and Aber will certainly be hoping for better fortunes when they revisit Park Hall on Friday night for a Dafabet Welsh Premier League Clash (ko 7.45pm). The FAW, S4C and TV production company Rondo, have mutually decided to switch Saturday’s live televised JD Welsh Cup match from Holyhead to TNS, due to the high winds forecast on Saturday. “The match between Holyhead Hotspur and Bangor City was picked to be the televised match and would have been the first ever live football match on Anglesey, so it’s disappointing that the elements have defeated us,” said FAW Head of Competitions, Andrew Howard. “We have monitored the weather forecast all week and with the winds scheduled to be consistently over 40mph on Saturday in Holyhead, regrettably it’s not safe to broadcast the game from the temporary gantry.” Heavy rain is also forecast throughout the night, so a pitch inspection will be held at the New Stadium at 11:00am on Saturday morning. The kick-off for the match will remain at 17:15. If the match goes ahead, a single camera will still be at the match to take highlights, which will be shown on Clwb on Sunday afternoon. The live outside broadcast will now take place at TNS’s Park Hall Stadium as the current holders host Aberystwyth Town in a repeat of the 2014 Final. This match will now kick off at 17:15. The decision was taken on Friday morning in consultation with all four clubs and the FAW and S4C would like to thank all clubs concerned for their cooperation and understanding, which should hopefully ensure that a live match can be broadcast on Saturday. JD Welsh Cup Round 3 Holyhead Hotspur v Bangor City (17:15) The New Saints v Aberystwyth (17:15) – Live on S4C. All other fixture information can be found here - http://www.faw.org.uk/domestic-competitions Article courtesy of www.faw.org.uk JD Welsh Cup Third Round Saturday 5th December (kick off 5.15pm) The New Saints v Aberystwyth Town Aberystwyth Town will be looking for Welsh Cup Revenge on Saturday as they bid to make amends for their narrow 2014 Cup Final defeat to The New Saints, away at Park Hall. At the Racecourse Ground, Wrexham in May of last year Aber were 2-0 up inside just 12 minutes thanks to Chris Venables' early volley and coolly-taken penalty. Town held the lead until the 72nd minute when Greg Draper scored from the spot before quickly following up with a close-range header to equalise. Saints top scorer Mike Wilde completed the turnaround with an 84th-minute winner. The Black and Greens couldn't have asked for a tougher task when the JD Welsh Cup Third Round draw was made, as they were nominated to visit a team who are Top of the League yet again, enjoyed a convincing win at Park Avenue in October and have not lost a domestic game at home for over three years. However, Aber have shown they can run TNS close, and even get results against them in the recent past, so they will travel safe in the knowledge that a shock is possible. Last Season the Black and Greens held TNS twice, 1-1 at Park Avenue in August, and 3-3 at Park Hall in April. Manager Ian Hughes was in defiant mood this week, telling atfc.org.uk: "We know we can get a result". Aber will be missing Lee Surman whose suspension for a sending off at Airbus carries over to Satudary's game. Geoff Kellaway is a long term absentee, but other than those two players Ian Hughes will have a full squad to choose from. The say that revenge is a dish best served cold, so who's to say Aber can't put a Winter Chill down the backs of the Champions on Saturday? There's only one way to find out ... the Coach leaves Park Avenue at 10.45am, and a return to Park Hall will cost £10 for Adults and £5 Concessions. Welsh Cup 2014 Photos Courtesy of Chris Howells Atfc.org.uk can confirm that the Black and Greens' Dafabet Welsh Premier League game at home to Carmarthen Town has been rearranged for Tuesday, 15th December, with a 7.45pm kick off.
The match was postponed at Park Avenue on its original date last Friday due to a waterlogged pitch. |
Gem Nesaf
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