Pre Season Friendly
Thursday 18th July
Gloucester City 4 Aberystwyth Town 0

A depleted Aberystwyth Town side fell to a comprehensive defeat away to National League (North) side Gloucester City in last night's Pre Season Friendly, played at Evesham United.

Missing six first team squad members, the Black and Greens competed well for the first hour of the game and Fabien Robert's 45th minute strike was the only difference between the sides at the break. However three goals in six minutes after the hour decided the match outcome in the hosts' favour, with Marlon Jackson (64), a trialist (68) and Joe Parker (70 mins) making the difference.

Matthew Bishop's Black and Greens will be hoping for a better outcome in their next match a week on Saturday, away to Crewe Alexandra Under 21s, behind closed doors (with an 11am kick off).

Gloucester City: Jeacock, Thomas, Smith, Hamilton, Avery, Knowles, J Jackson, Hanks, M Jackson, Robert, Kotwica. Subs: Unwin, Bremner, Handley, Richards, Spark, Parker, Turley.

Aberystwyth Town: Fairbrother, Kerr, S Edwards, Mendes, Baynes, Birch, Boss, R Edwards, Ahmadi, Phillips, A Trialist. Subs: Kellaway, A Trialist, Ricketts, Rees.

Pre Season Friendly
Thursday 18th July (KO 7.45pm)
Gloucester City v Aberystwyth Town (at Evesham United FC)

Aberystwyth Town head of off on a 116 mile voyage of discovery to the Cotswolds tomorrow evening, as their pre season schedule leads them along the A44 to the fair town of Evesham in Worcestershire, to face National League (North) side Gloucester City.

‘The Tigers’ have relocated to the Jubilee Ground while their home Stadium in Gloucester is being developed, but they play at a very good level and will be tough opponents to say the least. Playing in the National League (South) they finished 17th with 47 points from 42 matches last time round. Gloucester finished the season strongly with Frenchman Fabien Robert and Manager Mike Cook winning Player and Manager of the Month for April 2019 respectively, so they will be optimistic of an even more positive season in 2019/20. Due to the vagaries of the English pyramid system they have now been placed into the National League (North) alongside Non League giants such as Kidderminster Harriers, AFC Telford, Chester, Darlington, York City and Hereford. Find out more about Gloucester City on their excellent website here: http://www.gloucestercityafc.com/.  

Aber have looked good in parts in their two pre season openers at home to Llanidloes Town and Llantwit Major, with Rio Ahmadi, Richie Ricketts, Steff Edwards, Paolo Mendes and Joe Phillips all finding the net; however tomorrow’s task away from home will be a different kind of test and an intriguing challenge for Matthew Bishop’s men.

The match will be played at Evesham United FC, The Spiers and Hartwell Jubilee Stadium, Cheltenham Road, Evesham, WR11 2LZ and will kick off at 7.45pm. Don’t say we never take you anywhere new!!

David Henry Hides RIP (1939-2019)

Aberystwyth Town FC extends its deepest condolences to the family of Dai Hides, who sadly passed away over the weekend, to his widow Paula, his children Ollie, Chris and Charlotte and the whole of the wider Hides family.

Dai, with his great expertise in seeds gleaned from a long career at the Plant Breeding Station, was an Advisor to groundsman Bryan Pugh Jones for many years, and served as Club Director between August 2008 and July 2013. Dai's advice was crucial to maintaining the superb grass playing surface at Park Avenue which allowed the Club to host regular UEFA European ties, National Cup Finals and Internationals over the past twenty years.

With his trademark pipe in hand Dai was an instantly recognizable figure on match days, finding his spot near the Tea Hut, and his good nature and friendly disposition made him a very popular figure at the Club.

Dai’s extended family retain close links to the Club. His son Ollie began his illustrious broadcasting career commentating on the Black and Greens on Radio Bronglais, and his daughter Charlotte is married to ex Aber midfielder Sion Meredith.

We hope that the family will be able to join us for a minute’s silence to pay tribute to Dai’s contribution to Aberystwyth Town Football Club at a mutually convenient time.

Pre Season Friendly
Saturday 13th July
Aberystwyth Town 2 Llantwit Major 2
 
Sean Williams’ 90th minute equaliser for visitors Llantwit Major denied Aberystwyth Town a second pre season win in four days, in a competitive and entertaining encounter. Paolo Mendes opened the scoring for the hosts in the eleventh minute, only for Harry Davies to equalise on 25 minutes. After the break Joe Phillips’ super strike on 55 minutes seemed to have won the game for Aber but Williams’ last minute effort changed the picture in the visitors’ favour.
 
Major started the game well and Glyndwr Davies headed Kieran Garnder’s corner wide early on. Home keeper Oli Fairbrother then caught a free kick from Gardner and Aber started to settle, passing the ball around nicely. Ryan Edwards made a telling contribution with a driving run down the middle, and when he picked out Mendes the Portuguese poacher skipped over a tackle and picked out the bottom corner with aplomb to open the scoring. Edwards saw a shot saved and back at the other end Davies brought another parried save from Fairbrother. Rio Ahmadi curled an effort wide but then Major got the equaliser they probably deserved when Gardner’s corner was flicked in at the near post by Davies, and the scores were level. Ahmadi sent in a cross for a trialist to clip the crossbar with a header and then Ben Cripps sent in a brilliant shot from distance and was so unlucky to see the ball rebound from the angle of post and bar. Mendes was at the heart of Aber’s positive player, spraying the ball around with aplomb, but the half ended on a quieter note with 1-1 a fair reflection of an entertaining half.
 
Four substitutions followed at half time, and Wes Baynes caused consternation in Llantwit’s defence with a corner before firing just wide. Phillips, fresh off the bench, dug out a shot which screamed just wide, but minutes later another stunning volley from 30 yards nestled into the bottom corner, and Town were looking good. Williams for Major spooned an effort wide from a corner and then Phillips drew a save from visiting keeper Jack Lansdown with another volley. With both sides possibly easing off in to the last quarter, another Aber trialist went off on a run before unleashing a super volley, which was well saved, and then at the death Glyndwr Davies’ volley was parried by sub keeper Adam Walters and up popped Williams to ensure parity at full time.
 
This was another entertaining encounter for Black and Greens supporters, with Llantwit Major proving themselves to be very tidy opponents, however Aber will know they need to see matches out when the real business of the season begins in the second week of August. The tough pre season challenges keep coming however and Town’s next friendly is a bit of a journey into the unknown this Thursday evening, away to National League (South) side Gloucester City, at Evesham United’s ground, with a 7.45pm kick off.   

Saturday 13th July (ko 2.30pm)
Pre Season Friendly
Aberystwyth Town v Llantwit Major

Aberystwyth Town return to action at Park Avenue for the first time in three long months on Saturday when they welcome FAW Championship (South) side Llantwit Major for their second pre season friendly of 2019, kicking off at 2.30pm.

The Black and Greens enjoyed a tough workout on Tuesday evening against Mid Wales League Runners Up Llanidloes Town, and the Daffs made Aber work hard for their 3-1 victory, which was earned thanks to second half goals from Rio Ahmadi, Ricky Ricketts and Steff Edwards.

Now Aber face a different challenge from the Tier 2 side from the Vale of Glamorgan, who were promoted to Welsh League Division One one year ago, and had an excellent first season at that level, finishing seventh, comfortably above established Clubs such as Port Talbot, Taffs Well and Ton Pentre. Anthony Rawlings, once of Afan Lido in the Welsh Prem, top scored with 16 goals and was a major threat. Major are also well known for producing not only new AFC Wimbledon recruit Adam Roscrow (whose father is on the Club Committee), but also Sam Snaith who recently played in the UEFA Europa League for Barry Town, so they have a great pedigree for producing promising strikers. Find out more about Llantwit Major FC on their website here: http://www.llantwitmajorafc.com/index.html.

Major make their first ever trip to Park Avenue so everyone at the Club extends a warm Cardi welcome. Admission for Adults will be £5, with kick off set for 2.30pm kick off. See you back at Park Ave tomorrow - finally!!

Pre Season Friendly
Tuesday 9th July 2019
Aberystwyth Town 3 Llanidloes Town 1
 
Aberystwyth Town began their preparations for the 2019/20 season with a win over Mid Wales League Runners Up Llanidloes Town, who took the lead from Ed Clarke’s 4th minute free kick and still lead at the break. Second half strikes from Rio Ahmadi (54), Rickie Ricketts (70) and Steff Edwards (73 mins) ensured that as the second half drew on the hosts' dominance was rewarded with a hard earned victory after a good workout.

Aberystwyth University’s 3G pitch, affording wonderful views over the summertime Ceredigion Coast was a special setting for the Black and Greens’ first match of the new season, but things did not start as planned, and after the impressive Alex Boss had crossed for Geoff Kellaway to head wide, a free kicvk from Clarke sailed directly into the far corner to give Llani the lead. The visitors started at high pace and home keeper Adam Walters had to deny Lance Jones soon after, as well as some threatening long throws. Gradually Aber settled in and started to pass the ball around, and an opportunity almost fell to Boss but he couldn’t convert. Matthew Jones then crossed for Marc Williams, but his header was blocked. Malcolm Melvin flicked the ball up for Ahmadi to volley an effort, but that one was blocked too. At the other end onetime Black and Green Daf Caruthers could have really set the cat amongst the pigeons with a second for Llani, but Walters was well placed to catch his effort. Back at the other end Ahmadi crossed for Williams to head wide, then minutes later Jones again centred for Ahmadi who again went agonizingly wide with a header. A goal seemed inevitable and Ben Birch at the back picked out Boss who burst through only to fire a rasping shot just over the crossbar. Ahmadi lobbed inches wide again, Adam Worton crossed for George Clarke to send a header wide at the other end, then Ryan Wollacott missed the target, and despite their glut of chances Aber trailed at the break.   
 
Five Aber changes followed at the break, and the Black and Greens went on to dominate the second period, with Llani’s energetic first half efforts taking their toll. A tough tackle on Jones resulted in an Aber free kick which Wes Baynes expertly dispatched, and when the ball fell for Ahmadi, the returning striker swivelled an volleyed home from close range to restore parity. Williams saw his header tipped over the bar and although Oliver Fairbrother was tested from time to time the match was heading Aber’s way. A Triallist fired just wide, and with twenty minutes to go some pretty Portuguese trickery from Paolo Mendes near the corner flag resulted in a cross which was gleefully smashed home by triallist Richie Ricketts from Bow Street. Three minutes later Steff Edwards curved a cultured curler into the bottom corner for Aber’s third, and Town could relax. A back header from Worton almost fell into the net but Kris Williams managed to get back in time, and the scoreline ended at 3-1.
 
Despite the eventual victory, for long periods of the game Aberystwyth faced a tough challenge last night, and Matthew Bishop’s men showed a pleasing determination to win, despite eleven substitutions, a number of injuries and a few formation changes. Aber’s preparations continue on Saturday at home to FAW Championship (South) side Llantwit Major. See you down there for a 2.30pm kick off!

Photo courtesy of Colin Ewart