Welsh Women's League
Sunday 13th January 2019
Cascade YC 0 Aberystwyth Town Ladies 2

Aber Town Ladies moved to the top of the Welsh Women's League thanks to two first half goals along side a draw between Caldicot and Barry Town United, Pippa Richards and Tania Wylde with the goals for the Black and Greens writes Steven Brookes.

Five weeks on from their previous match, Aber travelled to South Wales to face Cascade YC. In the cold and wet conditions the visitors got off to a great start. Six minutes in, 16 year-old Richards' attempted cross beat the goalkeeper and found the back of the net: a first goal in Black and Green colours for the youngster. It was very nearly two when Naomi Evans' effort came back off the post, but the second did eventually come thanks to the team's current top scorer, Tania Wylde, her shot dipping at the perfect time before hitting the inside of the post, the keeper and crossing the line. Caroline Cooper nearly got the third with a fantastic long-range free kick which was tipped wide by Cascade's Hollie Williams before Wylde saw another long-range effort was tipped wide.

The South Wales side started the second half brightly and caused Aber a few problems which included a one on one chance going over Ffion Ashman's crossbar and a low shot going narrowly wide of the post. Despite the hosts now arguably looking the more likely to score, Aber created some chances and Gwenllian Thomas had an effort pushed wide by Williams whilst Wylde's low effort was comfortably saved.

The Black and Greens returned home with a big three points and are now top of the Welsh Women's League.

December was a quiet month for Aber Town Ladies playing just one game - a very important 2-1 victory against promotion hopefuls Barry Town United Ladies. With this being the only match there will be just two possible options for December's Goal of the Month.

Tania Wylde vs Ffiona Evans

Voting will close at 7pm on Wednesday 23rd January 2019

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)