JD Welsh Cup Final
Sunday 6th May (2:45p.m Kick Off) Aberystwyth Town v Connah's Quay Nomads Aberystwyth Town will look to create history on Sunday afternoon as they seek to win their first JD Welsh Cup title since the year 1900. Aber will clash with Connah’s Quay Nomads in the JD Welsh Cup Final at Newtown’s Latham Park – the home of their last cup victory over a century ago. Aber’s path to the final has been far from straightforward and the seasiders have certainly earned their place in Sunday’s final on merit. The first hurdle for Town to clear came back in November, when they thumped current cup holders Bala Town 4-0 in the third round tie at Park Avenue thanks to goals from Declan Walker, John Owen, Joe Phillips and Luke Borrelli. Following that victory came another difficult looking fourth round tie away at Cardiff Met in January, but the black and greens dug in and ground out a brilliant 1-0 win thanks to Malcolm Melvin’s deft header. Next it was west-Wales rivals Carmarthen Town in the quarterfinal tie at Richmond Park. On a cold Tuesday night, the odds looked to be stacked against Nev Powell’s side, but Aber ran out comfortable 3-1 victors thanks to goals from Joe Phillips, John Owen and Malcolm Melvin. Another derby game was to follow as Aber were drawn against mid-Wales rivals Newtown in a semi-final clash to be played at Bala’s Maes Tegid. In a Sunday lunchtime kick off, the Green Army of supporters assembled in force and roared their team on to the JD Welsh Cup final, as a brace from Declan Walker saw the seasiders go marching on to being 90 minutes away from lifting the silverware and booking their place in the Europa League. Aber enter Sunday’s final on an excellent run of form, unbeaten in their previous four games in all competitions, most recently a thrilling 5-3 victory over Newtown in the league’s final round of games last weekend. Sadly First Team Manager Seamus Heath, who is recovering after a lobectomy, will not be well enough to attend the Cup Final, however Town’s players will be full of confidence heading into Sunday’s game, and the entire squad will most certainly have their part to play at Latham Park if Aber are to reign victorious and lift the trophy. Sunday’s opponents Connah’s Quay Nomads enter the final having lost their last two games in succession - against Cefn Druids and The New Saints. However, Andy Morrison’s side will be well prepared for Sunday’s clash and will start the game as favourites after already booking their place in next season’s Europa League with a 3rd placed finish in the league table this season (Bangor finished 2nd but have been relegated to the Cymru Alliance league next year). One familiar face on the opposing side on Sunday will be Nomads defender Jonny Spittle, who captained the seasiders during the first half of this year’s campaign, before coming to the end of his contract with the club in January. In what is sure to be a monumental day in the history of the club, kick off at Latham Park is at 2:45p.m. Supporters will be unable to park outside the ground as they usually would for league fixtures, and are encouraged instead to park in the Primary School next to Latham Park instead – which has a postcode of SY16 1EJ. Supporters coaches will leave Park Avenue at 11:30 on Sunday, and Tea / Coffe and Bacon Rolls will be served at Phil & Ruth’s kitchen from 9:30a.m prior to departure. The Green Army of travelling fans have been immense all season, and we ask you to raise your voices one more time and cheer the side on to victory! Supporters are also reminded that Bari Morgan’s u19’s FAW South League Champions will contest the FAW Youth Championship Game at Latham Park at 6p.m on Monday evening, as they face off with The New Saints u19’s for the right to lift the trophy as FAW Development Champions. Get your Medals out"! That is the famous cry of retired footballers throughout the land when comparing achievements when looking back over their careers. Cup Finals are where many of these Medals are gained and a look into the recent archives shows that Aberystwyth Town's current Management Team and First Team Squad has no shortage of Cup Final experience and Medals, having been involved in each and every one of the past ten JD Welsh Cup Finals. Director of Football Neville Powell's three consecutive Final wins with Bangor City are of course legendary and widely known, while Ryan Wade's 71st minute appearance off the bench for Bala Town last season contributed to a dramatic late turnaround which saw the Lakesiders pinch the Trophy from TNS at the death (see photo, left). Less well known may be the fact that Chris Mullock will be involved in his fourth Welsh Cup Final on Sunday, having performed so well for Cefn Druids in the 2012 Final that winners TNS immediately signed him. This allowed Chris to pick up two Winners Medals as an unused Sub for the Saints in 2015 and 2016. Geoff Kellaway has earned two Runners Up Medals in Black and Green from 2009 and 2014 (see right), while Damian Allen and John Owen (as an unused sub) were involved in Bangor City's 2013 Final defeat to Prestatyn Town. Aberystwyth Town FC Players and Management Team Welsh Cup Final roster 2008-17 2017 Winner Ryan Wade for Bala Town 2016 Winner Chris Mullock for TNS v Airbus 2015 Winner Chris Mullock for TNS v Newtown 2014 Runner Up Geoff Kellaway for Aber Town v TNS 2013 Runner Up Neville Powell for Bangor City v Prestatyn Town 2013 Runner Up Damian Allen for Bangor City v Prestatyn Town 2013 Runner Up John Owen for Bangor City v Prestatyn Town 2012 Runner Up Chris Mullock for Cefn Druids v TNS 2011 Runner Up Neville Powell Bangor City v Llanelli 2010 Winner Neville Powell Bangor City v Port Talbot Town 2009 Winner Neville Powell Bangor City v Aber Town 2009 Runner Up Geoff Kellaway Aber Town v Bangor City 2008 Winner Neville Powell Bangor City v Llanelli Here's hoping that the Squad's Cup Final experience can help them to a Wonderful Welsh Cup Win on Sunday! SWWGL Alun Evans Cup Final Penybont Ladies 0 Aberystwyth Town Ladies 3 Sunday 29th April 2018 (At Kymco Stadium, Penybont FC) Aber Town Ladies produced an excellent performance to beat fellow Welsh Women's League side Penybont and deservedly lift the SWWGL Alun Evans Cup Trophy, with Naomi Evans and Ffiona Evans (2) scoring the goals, writes Steven Brookes. After defeats in the Central Wales Cup Final and Welsh Women's League Cup Semi-Final, the Black and Greens were determined to put in a great performance and come home with a trophy and started the better of the two sides. Aber were having lots of possession in the opposition half and were winning a number of corners, but it took 19 minutes before the team in Green created a real clear-cut chance, as Ffiona Evans's left footed shot was superbly tipped over by Gemma Harris in the Penybont goal. Then a couple of minutes later an excellent Caroline Cooper free-kick from long range looked to be heading into the top corner but the Penybont keeper was able to get a hand to it to make another excellent save. Naomi Evans also had a chance a few minutes later but saw her effort hit the side netting. Aber were really dominating and after 40 minutes they finally got the goal they deserved when an excellent cross from Helen Evans was volleyed in by top scorer Naomi Evans for her 16th goal of the season. Five minutes later Aber Ladies got a second when the ball was played to Ffiona Evans in the box and the Captain's shot went past the keeper and into the far post to give her side a 2-0 half-time lead. Town started the second half full of confidence and nearly increased the lead in the opening ten minutes. Amy Jenkins pulled the ball back to Naomi Evans inside the box but her left footed effort was straight at the keeper. With 28 minutes remaining Aber did eventually get the third goal. The ball fell to Amy Jenkins on the edge of the area who knocked it past the keeper to an unmarked Ffiona Evans who saw her first-time effort hit the crossbar: but the midfielder reacted quickest to tap the ball into an empty net from barely a couple of yards out. The Black and Greens did have chances to increase their lead further with Jenkins' headed flick on putting Naomi Evans through but her shot went wide of the post. Jenkins later had a low long-range effort go narrowly wide. With eleven minutes left Penybont had a big chance to pull a goal back when forward Briony Demott was put through one on one but was unable to find the back of the net with her shot. Aber came incredibly close to scoring a fourth in the final few minutes when Amy Jenkins's excellent strike hit the inside of the post before rolling across the box. The match ended 3-0 and after a fantastic performance the Ceredigion based side were delighted to receive their first piece of silverware this season, and Club captain Ffiona Evans lifted the trophy for Aberystwyth Town Ladies. |
Gem Nesaf
|
Ebost / Email: AberTownFC@live.co.uk
|
© 2023 Aberystwyth Town Football Club. All Rights Reserved
|
Cyfeiriad / Address: ATFC Ltd, Park Avenue, Aberystwyth, SY23 1PG.
|