JD Welsh Premier League
Saturday 20th April
Cardiff Met 1 Aberystwyth Town 0

Aberystwyth Town’s dreams of European football were dashed this afternoon at Cardiff Met, as a 1-0 defeat which came as a result of an unfortunate own goal by Declan Walker confirmed the Students’ seventh placed finish, with the Black and Greens now certain to finish a commendable eighth. Matthew Bishop’s men tried their hardest on a hot afternoon in the capital but failed to find the net and with Town keeper Terry McCormick on top form Met were worthy winners on the day.

On a beautiful afternoon the hosts almost made the perfect start as Chris Baker broke through and hit the post within the first minute. With Aber set up to sit back and hit Met on the break, and the hot weather slowing the pace of the game down, chances were at a premium in the early stages. Met’s Elliot Evans sent a free kick narrowly over the bar, and at the other end Walker’s free kick feel nicely for Will Fuller in the home goal. Ash Ruane then made a super dash down the right wing and his cut back gave Geoff Kellaway a chance, but his header was saved. Aber’s tactics seemed to be working well but then a spot of bad fortune proved crucial when Kyle McCarthy’s left wing cross deflected into Aber’s net off Walker’s heel, and 27 minutes in it was 1-0. Kellaway released Ruane, whose shot was saved and then McCormick pulled off a superb stop to deny Adam Roscrow in a one on one. Kellaway curled a good effort wide before McCormick denied Roscrow again. Aber’s super stopper then pulled off another tremendous save to deny Will Evans from point black range and once Marc Williams had headed Wes Baynes’ free kick wide for the visitors, the half ended at 1-0.
​
In truth Aber needed to do more in the second half to earn the win they craved and Matthew Jones moved into midfield to push the team forward. Paolo Mendes made a last ditch tackle to deny Met and then Kellaway burst down the left released by Marc Williams, but his low drive was saved. With Town getting some useful balls into the box they were looking more threatening, but Cardiff Met were also dangerous, with Will Evans sliding the ball inches past the post at the other end. McCormick did well yet again to deny the selfsame Evans another strike, before Baynes’ dangerous ball in just evaded Ruane at the back post. Elliot Evans brought another save from MCormick with a free kick and a Baynes corner lead to a scramble in Met’s box which was cleared. It was a tough day to be chasing the game and try though they might, Aber could not find the vital opening. Roscrow fired inches wide for Met giving Aber another let off, and although Walker was sent forward, Met cleared a late Baynes free kick to hold on for that all important three points.

It has to be said that for all Aber’s laudable efforts, Met were the better side at Cyncoed this afternoon, and deserved their win and the resultant shot at a UEFA Europa League Play Off. After a transitional pre-season the Seasiders have done very well to maintain a push for Europe until the penultimate hurdle, and Friday’s last WPL match of the season at Carmarthen will give the Black and Greens the chance to end a season of highs and lows on a positive note. See you there! 

Photo courtesy of Colin Ewart

JD Welsh Premier League
Saturday 20th April (ko 2.30pm)
Cardiff Met v Aberystwyth Town

​Aberystwyth Town head for the capital on Saturday looking to repeat November’s 3-2 victory at Cardiff Met in order to recover their place at the top of the Play Off Conference, with one further match to play next week. A seventh place finish at the top of the Conference will guarantee a UEFA Europa League Play Off spot for either Met or Aber in May, and with two games remaining it is all to play for.

The Black and Greens relinquished pole position on Saturday after their 0-0 home draw with Cefn Druids was bettered by Met’s 2-1 win at Llandudno, but a win on Saturday would repair the damage. Met have 45 points to Aber’s 44, and with a better goal difference and a strong home record seem clear favourites to earn the Play Off spot. Looking closer however, the Seasiders however have an excellent record at Cyncoed Campus, having won on their last two visits, including that unforgettable, momentous victory in November when Town came from 2-0 down to win 3-2 with Ashley Ruane’s injury time winner causing delirium amongst the massed Green Army. Great memories!

Town have also scored more points since the split than their weekend hosts, with 17 points from 8 games compared to Met’s 15, and they beat the Students 3-2 in their last meeting at Park Avenue so Matthew Bishop’s men will travel fully confident that they are capable of getting the result they need. A traditional large and vocal following will surely attend as the capital’s Aberystwyth diaspora come along to cheer on the Black and Greens.

Bishop told the Welshpremier.com website earlier today: ”Aberystwyth have been doing very well so I haven’t really had to come in and do very much straight away, I haven’t had to change anything. Nev and Gav have been doing a very good job, and the players have really stepped up. The squad has been on a great run since Christmas and we’re looking to end the season strongly to carry on that good form.”

Kick off for the game is at 2.30pm and supporters are requested to enter the Campus from the Western, Cyncoed Road entrance, turn left before the barriers and follow the road around to the Parking area. Admission will cost £6 for Adults and £3 Concessions, and the campus is listed as CF23 6XD. Your team needs you – see you at Cyncoed on Saturday!

Welsh Women's League
Sunday 14th April 2019
Aberystwyth Town Ladies 2 (N. Evans 12', Wylde 90+2')
Splott Albion Ladies 1 (Ford 36')

Tania Wylde's injury time strike secured a deserved three points for the Black and Greens who now just need one more win to be crowned champions and gain promotion to the Welsh Premier Womens League, writes Steven Brookes.

Following on from last week's hard-fought victory over League Cup finalists Caldicot Town, the mid-Wales side were back playing in Ceredigion and hoping to make it 14 consecutive league victories with third place Splott Albion the opposition. On the University's 3G pitch it was the home team who were looking the brighter of the two sides in the early stages creating numerous shooting opportunities in the opening ten minutes, Tania Wylde coming the closest when her effort came back off the crossbar. Twelve minutes in Aber got the goal they thoroughly deserved when Naomi Evans was able to find the corner of the net with a left footed shot, after some quick build-up play from Team Green. A few minutes later Aberystwyth's keeper Ffion Ashman was forced into a good save at her near post to deny the visitors, but with nine minutes of the half remaining the Cardiff-based side were level. An outstanding free-kick from Sophie Ford flew into the corner of the net giving Ashman little chance of saving.

Into the second half and as in the first, Aber were getting plenty of shooting opportunities but not enough were really testing the visiting goalkeeper. Caroline Cooper, Ella Ramseyer-Bache and Wylde saw efforts go over the cross bar whilst Kelly Thomas had a header cleared off the line. With time ticking on it was beginning to feel like it wasn't going to be Aber's day and it was very nearly Splott who grabbed the game's third goal:  Ashman making another good save to deny them. With just minutes remaining, after using her strength well to win possession back from a defender and keep the ball in play, the clubs top scorer Tania Wylde created a good opportunity, but the midfielder was unable to keep her strike on target. The long-range specialist was to have the final say though! Two minutes into added time Wylde's effort from outside the area ended up in the back of the net as the Town finally got the goal they deserved with Tania scoring her 24th goal in 21 games. Aber had to wait another five minutes until the final whistle but it was the home side who secured another massive three points.

Aber's hard work, hunger and determination was on show yet again in their most recent victory which keeps them eight points clear at the top of the table with three matches remaining. Could Sunday 21st April 2019 be the day promotion is secured? Come down to Park Avenue to watch Aberystwyth Town Ladies' fixture against in-form Cascade YC to find out. Kick off will be at 2pm.

JD Welsh Premier League
Friday 12th April
Aberystwyth Town 0 Cefn Druids 0

A large crowd of 495 responded to Aber Town's "Footy for a Fiva" initiative to watch the Black and Greens maintain their charge to a UEFA Europa League Play Off sport with a valuable point, gained from an engrossing goal less draw with their bogey side Cefn Druds. In a match of remarkably few clear cut chances defences were on top. Geoff Kellaway and Ryan Wollacott went closest for Town and despite a late power cut both teams held out for an honourable draw.

Kick off was preceded with a presentation as Aber Town Under 19s side received their Welsh Premier Development League (South) Trophy and medals, and the Black and Greens named an unchanged outfield eleven for the fifth consecutive game. Druids took the initiative from the start and home keeper Terry McCormick was out well to deny Jack Kenny early on. With the Druids buzzing around Town were mostly threatening on the break and Mattie Jones made a lung bursting run down the left before pulling out a super cross, but Druids’ Neil Ashton dived in to deny Kellaway a tap in. Jones picked out Kellaway again minutes later but the striker was called offside. Kenny then fired wide from a great position, set up by Rittenberg, but in general it was the holding players who were shining, with Paolo Mendes and Declan Walker prominent in Town’s good defensive shape. Marc Williams lobbed just over for Aber, then Jamie Davies brought a save out of McCormick. Wes Baynes set up half chances for Walker and Ashley Ruane with free kicks, and Mendes headed over from Jones’ corner. Kellaway curled a shot wide and Kenny headed over for the Druids and with shots on target at a premium the half ended at 0-0.

Into the second half, and Williams curled a header just wide from Baynes’ free kick, and McCormick again did well to deny Kenny and Davies. Steff Edwards saw a rare effort drop just over the bar and home supporters in the Dias Stand started to make themselves heard with some super singing, echoed back by the tifosi on Narks’ corner. The two in form sides were defending solidly and chances were at a premium. Another Baynes free kick whistled past the far post, and then a Ryan Wollacott header brought Druids keeper Michael Jones into action with a smart save. A ball from Walker almost picked out Ruane and then with two minutes to go … the floodlights dramatically cut out! After five minutes of darkness, to cheers from the supporters, the lights mercifully came back on, and in injury time sub Niall Coleridge almost got his head on a Jones cross, Ryan Kershaw fired over the bar for the visitors and the game ended in a fair and honourable draw.

The result guarantees Aber an improved eighth placed finish this season, and the Black and Greens’ UEFA Europa League Play Off destiny remains in their hands as they now find themselves two points clear of Cardiff Met in seventh position, though the Students have a game in hand, which they play this afternoon at Llandudno. Next Saturday’s match between the two sides at the Cyncoed Campus is a huge game and every single Aber supporter is needed to cheer the boys on to a dream end to the season!

JD Welsh Premier League
Friday 12th April (ko 7.45pm)
Aberystwyth Town v Cefn Druids

Aberystwyth Town look to take another giant step towards the UEFA Europa League Play Offs as they host Cefn Druids at Park Avenue on Friday night, in their final home JD Welsh Premier League match of 2018/9. As a gesture of goodwill to its supporters the Club has reduced admission prices to just £5 for Adults, a free for Under 16s.
 
Despite it's heart stopping nature last Friday's 3-2 victory over Llanelli, thanks to Wes Baynes' Goal of the Week Contender, Ash Ruane and Marc Williams, had huge and positive implications for the Black and Greens once rivals Cardiff Met had been defeated at Cefn Druids the following day.

The results leave Aber in pole position of seventh place, a point ahead of Met with three games to play. With their destiny in their own hands an exciting end to the season is guaranteed and the Seasiders are bang in form, on a run of four consecutive wins and five victories from six since early February.

Opponents Cefn Druids have been somewhat of a bogey side for Town this season,​ with three wins out of three WPL matches between the two sides. Huw Griffiths' famously well organised side, having secured their WPL status, are expected to provide a huge test for the Black and Greens and an intriguing contest is guaranteed.

Prior to kick off Aber Town's triumphant Black and Green Under 19s side will be presented with the Welsh Premier Development League (South) Trophy they won on Monday evening at Haverfordwest, and their opponents in the National Final at Newtown on 6th May will be none other than Northern Champions Cefn Druids!

Come down on Friday to support the Black and Greens as they continue to chase an incredible European dream. Kick off at Park Avenue is at 7:45 pm, and admission costs £5 for Adults, and is free for Under 16s. Friday Footy For A Fiva? Bargain!!