Aberystwyth Town FC are delighted to announce the signing of Wales Under 19s International goalkeeper Callum Preston, to bolster Neville Powell’s squad ahead of their Welsh Cup Fourth Round match at home to Cardiff Met next Saturday.

23 year old Callum joins Aber after a brief break in his footballing career, after leaving Wrexham in the summer of 2018 to pursue a degree in professional sports writing and broadcasting.

Born in Stafford, England, he was brought up in Welshpool and was on the books of Liverpool and The New Saints before joining Birmingham City’s youth academy in 2008, taking up a scholarship in July 2012. In senior football Callum has played for Worcester City in the National League (North), made nine appearances for League Two Crawley Town in 2015, and has since played for Altrincham and Wrexham. He also won a cap for Wales under-19s  against Montenegro in April 2014.

Callum will wear the Number 12 shirt in the First Team squad and everyone at Aberystwyth Town welcomes him to Park Avenue.

With the JD Welsh Premier League taking a break following the conclusion of Phase 1, all eyes will be on the Nathaniel MG Cup Final this Saturday evening, as Cardiff Met take on Cambrian & Clydach at Jenner Park, Barry, live on S4C’s Sgorio programme, with a 7.30pm kick off.

Earlier in the day however Town’s free weekend will afford Black and Green supporters the opportunity to catch a local game.

While Ceredigion’s representatives in Tier Two and Three are facing tough away games at Flint, Caersws and Llanfair respectively, the county’s sides in Mid Wales Div 2 all play top three opposition, with League Leaders Montgomery hosting Borth, second placed Waterloo visiting Machynlleth and Hay St Marys travelling to Aberystwyth  University.

The main intrigue for Aber & District league Clubs comes in the Emrys Morgan Cup where Division One leaders Penparcau host mid table Padarn in a huge Town derby, and second placed Tregaron also face a local rival in Lampeter.  Llanilar will be confident of climbing to second in Division One meanwhile, as they host bottom placed Mach Reserves in a League match.

Huws Gray Alliance (KO 2.30pm)
Flint Town United v Penrhyncoch

MMP Mid Wales League Division One
Caersws v Bow Street (KO 2.30pm)
Llanfair United v Aberaeron (KO 2pm)

MMP Mid Wales Division Two (KO 2pm)
Aberystwyth University v Hay St Mary’s
Machynlleth v Waterloo Rovers
Montgomery v Borth United

J Emrys Morgan Cup Round Four (KO 2pm)
Bow Street Res v Llanrhaeadr Res
Penparcau v Padarn United
Talybont v Trefonen
Tregaron Turfs v Lampeter

Cambrian Tyres Aberystwyth & District League Division One (KO 2pm)
Llanilar v Machynlleth Res
Penrhyncoch Res v Bont

​Cambrian Tyres Aberystwyth & District League Division Two (KO 2pm)
Borth Res v Aberdyfi
Dolgellau Res v Llanilar Res
Penrhyncoch Thirds v Padarn Res

JD Welsh Premier League
Saturday 12th January
Barry Town United 2-1 Aberystwyth Town 

Aberystwyth Town's second half fightback was not enough to see them avoid their sixth successive JD Welsh Premier League defeat as they lost 2-1 to Barry Town United at Jenner Park on Saturday night. A Momodou Touray brace (2, 19) inside the opening 20 minutes put the hosts in firm control, but a sumptuous second half strike (65) by Rio Ahmadi gave Aber a lifeline in a much improved second half performance that fell just short of another epic comeback in South Wales. 

There were three changes to the Aber starting eleven after last weekend's defeat to Connah's Quay, with Steff Edwards, Joe Phillips and Ash Ruane replacing Jack Rimmer, ad suspended duo Mathew Jones and Declan Walker. Despite their attacking line-up, Aber started on the back foot and were behind within 2 minutes as Macauley Southam-Hales surged down the right flank before crossing for Mo Touray to slot home the opening goal and make it 1-0. It was yet another early goal conceded by the Seasiders who faced an uphill battle to get themselves back into the game. The hosts took control of the game after scoring the opener, without creating many clear cut opportunities, but on 19 minutes they doubled their lead as Southam-Hales again broke free on the right flank and found Touray once more who slotted home his second of the game to make it 2-0. It looked set to be another dismal night for the Black and Greens, as they struggled to cope with Barry's fluent passing and movement. Indeed, despite a few corner kicks, Aber's first meaningful effort didn't arrive until the 36th minute as Joe Phillips dribbled inside before firing a right footed effort over Mike Lewis' goal. The hosts entered the break with a two goal advantage, after a first half that saw Aber lacking in urgency and creativity. 

Despite their poor first half showing, the visitors slowly edged their way back into the game after the break with Ash Ruane testing Lewis with a right footed effort on 57 minutes. Lee Jenkins replaced Steff Edwards on the stroke of the hour as Aber opted for a change of shape, and they began to create better openings in the final third. On 65 minutes, Ruane was fouled on the edge of the penalty area setting up a free kick in an inviting position. Rio Ahmadi duly stepped up and curled a sublime right footed effort into the top corner to reduce the deficit and make it 2-1. Suddenly, Aber's supporters sensed there was a glimmer of hope, and just five minutes later they almost witnessed an equaliser as Joe Phillips cut inside and struck a low effort against the base of the post. The hosts appeared to lose a yard of pace and sharpness from their first half performance, as Aber pressed further up the field, and on 75 minutes the Seasiders fashioned another opportunity as Ahmadi swivelled in the box and fired an effort inches over the crossbar. On 81 minutes Nash Blake replaced Geoff Kellaway in Town's final throw of the dice, and with just minutes remaining Blake earned another free kick in a dangerous position on the edge of the penalty area. Ahmadi stepped up once more but this time dragged his right footed effort wide of Lewis' far post and it looked like that might be that. As the game entered stoppage time, Alan Goodall was given his marching orders after picking up his second yellow card,  appearing to block Southam-Hales' marauding run down the right flank, and Aber would leave Jenner Park empty handed despite their second half efforts. 

It's been a difficult end to the first phase for the Seasiders, who will now play their final 10 league games in the bottom half of the table. Nevertheless, Town can be proud of their second half efforts against the league leaders at Jenner Park on Saturday night, and must rally for a strong finish to the season now as they look to fight for the lucrative 7th placed spot in the league table and aim to make it back to back JD Welsh Cup Final appearances. The Seasiders face a two week break from action now, before facing Cardiff Met in the JD Welsh Cup Fourth Round at Park Avenue on Saturday 26th January. 

Teams:
Barry Town United: Lewis, Southam-Hales, Cooper, Watkins, Hugh, Greening, Patton, Fry (89), McLaggon, Gerrard, Touray. Subs: Fahiya, Morgan, Kendall, Hood, Press (89), Baker.

Aberystwyth Town: McCormick, Baynes, Goodall, Wollacott, S Edwards (58), Mendes, R Edwards, Phillips, Kellaway (80), Ruane, Ahmadi. Subs: Rowe, Blake (80), Berner, Jenkins (58)

JD Welsh Premier League 
Saturday 12th January (7:30p.m Kick Off) 
Barry Town United v Aberystwyth Town 

Aberystwyth Town will look to end the first phase of their JD Welsh Premier League season on a high, as they travel to face in-form Barry Town United at Jenner Park on Saturday evening. Aber are on a poor run of form, having lost five consecutive league games, and need to get themselves back on track if they are to push for a seventh placed Europa League play off spot at the end of the season. 

Manager Nev Powell was critical of his side's final 15 minutes against Connah's Quay Nomads last weekend, where the Seasiders conceded three goals in the closing stages to fall to a a heavy defeat against the league leaders. Nevertheless, some credit must go to his side for continuing to press for a way back into the game as they aimed to push their top six hopes right to the wire despite being 3-1 down to Andy Morrison's side on Friday evening. 

One positive to come out of last weekend's defeat was the brilliant goal scored by striker Rio Ahmadi, who seems to have relished playing in the central striker role in recent weeks, netting three goals in Aber's last six games in all competitions. With the Seasiders' place confirmed in the bottom six for the second half of the season, Town will look for more goals from Ahmadi and co. as they push for a seventh placed finish that would see them earn a Europa League play-off game away from home to the sixth placed side in the table. 

Saturday's hosts Barry Town United are flying high at the moment, lying second in the JD Welsh Premier League and pushing leaders Connah's Quay Nomads and current champions The New Saints in the race for the title. Gavin Chesterfield's side have lost just once at home this season, and have lost just one game in their last seven in all competitions.

The Black and Greens face a difficult task in seeking a result at Jenner Park on Saturday, but they are unbeaten in all three league games they've played in South Wales so far this season. Please note kick off is at 7:30 p.m on Saturday evening, and Barry Town's postcode is listed as CF62 9BG. We call on the South Wales contingent of supporters to convene once more as Aber look to turn their form around and push for that Europa League play off spot! 

JD Welsh Premier League
Friday 4th January
Aberystwyth Town 1 Connah's Quay Nomads 6

A disastrous last ten minutes at Park Avenue turned a competitive match into an embarrassing defeat for the Black and Greens at home to League leaders Connah's Quay. Quay had gone ahead through Callum Morris (pen 8 mins) and Andy Owens (32'), but Porya Ahmadi's cultured finish six minutes later saw Aber threaten a spirited comeback. Michael Wilde restored Quay's two goal lead after 66 minutes and then late strikes from Michael Bakare (79), Michael Parker (90+1) and Rob Hughes (90+3) saw the Deesiders home safely.

On a crisp and clear night at Park Avenue the visitors started at a high tempo. Owens blasted over twice in the first few minutes but at the other end Geoff Kellaway's pace looked a good outlet for the hosts. Nomads then enjoyed a bit of good fortune as a penalty was awarded after Owens entangled himself with Ryan Wollacott, and Morris scored the opener off the far post. Aber responded instantly as Wollacott side footed a great opening into John Danby's hands, before Ahmadi also had a shot saved before being brought down in the box: and the Leaders had enjoyed two huge let offs. Wilde headed wide for Quay before Owens added a scrappy second past Terry McCormick who had done well to parry two previous efforts. Ryan Wignall hit the post but then a tactical switch paid dividends for Aber when Ahmadi scored with a sumptuous finish from the edge of the area, after a cute move spearheaded by Kellaway's gutsy run down the right. Kellaway then set up Ryan Edwards who curled a shot just wide of the far post. Jack Rimmer do well to clear Ryan Wignall's effort off the line but then a strong finish to the half from Aber, including a strike from Wes Baynes, saw the visitors pegged back and glad to go in a goal to the good at the break. 

The impact of Aber's response was evident after the break as Connah's Quay changed their tactics to sit very deep, thus allowing the hosts to control the ball. Matthew Jones' dangerous ball in from the left was taken off Kellaway's head by a visiting defender, but otherwise chances were few and far between. Quay threatened occasionally on the break with Owens lobbing over from distance, but then just as the hosts were dreaming of a heroic recovery a long throw from Quay landed at the feet of Wilde who turned and lashed home the third from five yards. Sub Joe Phillips fired over for Aber but all hopes of a comeback were dashed when Bakare's deflected low shot made it four. Wollacott sent a ball in that Paolo Mendes fired wide, and then two further Nomads goals in injury time from Parker and Hughes rubbed salt into the wounds for Aber Town.

This was certainly a sobering night for the Black and Greens as Connah's Quay's clinical finishing gave the scoreline a rather flattering look: but Nev Powell's men will certainly need to defend better if they are to end the first phase of the season with a positive result at Jenner Park, Barry next Saturday evening (Kick Off 7.30pm).