JD Cymru Premier
Monday 26th August (KO 2.30pm)
Aberystwyth Town v The New Saints

Aberystwyth Town will be hoping for a repeat of a momentous evening back in November tomorrow afternoon, when JD Cymru Premier Champions The New Saints visit Park Avenue for a Bumper Bank Holiday Bonus Ball game (ko 2.30pm)!

Nine months ago the unfancied and under strength Black and Greens shocked the Welsh Premier League with a 1-0 win over TNS at Park Avenue, thanks to teenage Leigh Jenkins’ winner at the back post, and the celebrations after were voted the 2018/9 season highlight by Black and Greens supporters.

Aber will be aiming to do the same tomorrow, although they will surely have to improve on their rather disappointing performance at Barry on Friday night, which lead to a 3-1 defeat. The consolations were Matthew Jones’ excellent performance and Paulo Mendes’ late headed goal which kept Aber in the Top Six above tomorrow’s opponents, who lost 3-1 at Bala. Town will be without Goalkeeper Connor Roberts, who is on loan to Aber from TNS, so Under 19s netminder Alex Pennock will deputise. Aber are otherwise at full strength and can take confidence from a good home run which sees them unbeaten in nine home matches stretching back to the end of January 2019.

The New Saints for their part are now concentrating on their League Campaign after two disappointing UEFA Europa League defeats to Ludogorets Razgrad, and beat Caernarfon Town 1-0 in their opening match a week ago, before experiencing defeat at Maes Tegid on Friday. They remain nailed on favourites for the JD Cymru Premier and will be looking to regain Champions' form tomorrow afternoon.

The scene is set for a JD Cymru Premier Bank Holiday Classic and admission will cost £7 for Adults, £4 for Concessions and just £1 for Kids. You wouldn’t want to miss another momentous match now would you?

JD Cymru Premier
Friday 23rd August
Barry Town United 3 Aberystwyth Town 1

On a beautiful evening in the Vale Of Glamorgan Aber Town fell to a disappointing defeat away to UEFA Europa League Qualifiers Barry Town, for whom Kayne McLaggon proved the difference with two clinical match winning strikes. McLaggon opened the scoring in the seventh minute with an impressive 30 yard volley, and then Clayton Green edged Barry further in front on 32 minutes. When McLaggon notched his second with twelve minutes to go the game seemed over, but Town rallied and Paolo Mendes grabbed an 83rd minute consolation header which in itself retained the Black and Greens' Top Six status ahead of Monday afternoon's visit of Champions The New Saints to Park Avenue.

Ironically Aber started the better side and looked fully confident passing the ball round and threatening Barry’s back line. Wes Baynes’ deep right wing cross was met at the back stick by the outstanding Matthew Jones who header brought a smart save from George Ratcliffe. Geoff Kellaway was denied by a last ditch tackle and things were looking promising. Then however McLaggon picked up the ball 40 yards out, burst forward and unleashed a super 30 yard volley which Connor Roberts on his Aber debut could only watch sail into the far corner. Roberts then did very well to deny Tom Fry and McLaggon again at close range and suddenly Barry were looking good. Matthew Jones delivered a ball for Stuart Jones to head wide but then Roberts was back in action pushing Jack Compton’s free kick wide. Then Clayton Green found some space in the left channel and sent in a hopeful shot which despite Roberts’ best efforts nestled into the far corner for 2-0, and Aber were up against it. Back came the Black and Green with Kellaway blocked, and Ratcliffe again doing well with a double save to deny Mendes’ close range header. He was again called into action to save Kellaway’s snap volley, Marc Williams saw a shot blocked and for Barry Robbie Patten’s shot was deflected wide – and an eventful half with Aber possibly deserving better than a two goal deficit.

Kellaway saw yet another shot blocked after the break, and Roberts again denied McLaggon. Chris Hugh fired wide after a mesmerising run, before Aber brought on Rio Ahmadi and Alex Boss to freshen up the side, and Aber improved again with Matthew Jones creating chance after chance with searching crosses causing consternation in the Barry back line, with hard working Luke Boundford heading one opportunity just wide.  Sadly for Aber with twelve minutes remaining that man McLaggon turned in the box and sent a low volley into the net, and the game was definitively won at 3-0. Boundford it was who flicked on a header for the tall Mendes to nod home Aber’s response with seven minutes to go and an unlikely siege of the Barry box was on the cards. Sub Joe Phillips had a shot blocked and Boundford headed wide again, while Roberts denied a certain fourth at the other end, but credit to Barry’s defence who held out well for a 3-1 win which on the basis of their clinical finishing they probably deserved.

After a positive start to the season last night’s result was somewhat of a setback, and Aber will be hoping for better in two days time on Bank Holiday Monday when Champions The New Saints come to Park Avenue for a 2.30pm kick off. A repeat of last season’s momentous 1-0 win would be very much what the Doctor ordered!

Aberystwyth Town are delighted to announce the signing of goalkeeper Connor Roberts, who joins the Club on a season long loan from his parent Club The New Saints. 26 year old Connor has been with the Saints for two years, after joining the JD Cymru Premier Champions from Bangor City in 2018.

He began his professional career with Everton in 2011, and following a couple of loan moves he switched to Cheltenham Town a year later, where he spent two seasons with the Gloucestershire club. A year with Chester was followed by a move into top flight Welsh football, when he moved to Bangor City, where he starred between 2015-18.

On the international stage, Roberts has represented Wales at u19s level four times with six appearances for the U21s. In 2014 he received a call-up to the senior squad for the friendly against the Netherlands.

This season Connor has figured in all of TNS’s European Squads this season but will revert to Black and Green henceforth, and will be available for selection for tomorrow evening’s match at Barry Town.
 
Everyone at the Club welcomes Connor to Park Avenue and we look forward to a successful loan period. He will wear Squad Number 1.

JD Cymru Premier
Friday 23rd August (KO 7.45pm)
Barry Town United v Aberystwyth Town

Aberystwyth Town travel to face Barry Town tomorrow evening on the crest of a wave. Two wins out of two to date have illuminated a great start to 2019/20 for Matthew Bishop’s men and with other results going their way over the weekend, the Black and Greens stand proudly on top of the nascent JD Cymru Premier Table on goals scored.

The three goals which brought them victory last Friday night, scored by Marc Williams (2) and Luke Boundford, were appropriate reward for a performance which certainly deserved victory over Carmarthen, and their efforts have not gone unnoticed with Williams named in Sgorio’s Team of the Week and Boundford’s stunner nominated in the Goal of the Week competition. Aber’s task now is to build on that feelgood factor with a positive result at Barry Town.

Having represented Wales in the UEFA Europa League in June and July, Barry Town enjoyed a mixed pre season, but recovered from the MG Nathaniel Cup defeat at Haverfordwest to beat Penybont away last weekend, by two goals to one. Barry like Aber will of course have top six aspirations so a classic encounter could be on the cards.

Aber’s potent strike force, which has already notched seven goals in two games, is boosted by the return of Rio Ahmadi from a two goal suspension, and with goalkeeper Terry McCormick retiring after last weekend’s match, a replacement goalkeeper will be announced later on this evening.

Kick off at Jenner Park will be at 7.45pm and a big crowd is likely. Bank Holiday Weekenders in Barry – what’s not to like? See you down in the Vale of Glam tomorrow!

Aberystwyth Town FC is delighted to announce that its Online Store is now stocked with 2019/20 Home and Away Replica Shirts, as modelled by Black and Green Players in Friday’s Kit Launch.

Adult Shirts are available for £41.50 in a variety of sizes. Postage and packaging will cost an additional £3.50, and customers are asked to specify the size required with their purchase.

Purchases can be made immediately, via the Online Store here: http://www.atfc.org.uk/store/c1/Featured_Products.html.

Supporters with any queries or feedback about the Online Store are invited to email the club at Abertownfc@live.co.uk.

JD Cymru Premier
Friday 16th August
Aberystwyth Town 3 Carmarthen Town 2

On a wet and windy August evening an excellent crowd turned out at Park Avenue to see the Black and Greens make the perfect start to 2019/20, with a 3-2 win over Carmarthen which leaves them at the Top of the nascent Cymru Premier table - this morning at least! The visitors scored first through Liam Thomas' 13th minute penalty, but Town Captain Marc Williams equalised with a deft header five minutes before the break. The second half belonged to Aber as Williams pounced on a defensive mistake to put them ahead on 55 minutes, and Luke Boundford's sumptuous volley, right in front of an adoring Nark's Corner gave Town some breathing space thirteen minutes later. Luke Bowen snaffled up a consolation for Carmarthen in the 90th minute but it was to be Aber's night as they held on for a huge victory.

Carmarthen probably had the best of a high paced and competitive start to the game, and the thirteenth minute was unlucky for Aber as Luke Bowen sneaked round the back and was pulled down in the area for a penalty, which Top Scorer Liam Thomas converted confidently. Fortunately the goal stung the hosts into action: Williams saw a snap volley scoop wide, Ryan Wollacott headed wide and Wes Baynes forced Lee Idzi into a save with a header with Aber improving. Wollacott then kept Aber in it with a superb last ditch tackle to deny Chris Jones a certain goal at the other end. Baynes sent a lob just over the crossbar, the impressive Paulo Mendes set up Joe Phillips for a low drive which skimmed just wide. Then finally the breakthrough came as Matthew Jones sent in a sweet cross for Williams to glance home expertly at the far post, and douse Aber’s frustrations. McCormick denied Bowen low down but the Black and Greens were in the ascendancy, with Williams (twice) and Stuart Jones going close, and the half time whistle came too soon for the improving Black and Greens.

Carmarthen came back after the break, Ceri Morgan sent a shot wide, McCormick punched wide a glancing header and Jones fired over – but then a simple ball down the middle caused consternation in Carmarthen’s back four and the irrepressible Williams nicked in between Lees Surman and Idzi to lob the ball home for a deserved lead, which got the home crowd signing in praise. All Carmarthen’s efforts to equalise from free kicks and corners were cleared by a confident defence, and then with twenty two to go came a glorious moment when Boundford picked up the ball on the edge of the area, found space and curled home a delicious right footed volley into the far post to send Nark’s Corner into raptures, and Matthew Bishop’s men into a 3-1 lead. What a goal for your Boundford's home debut! Mendes typified a domineering performance by blocking Harling’s effort, and with Aber working hard to see the game out, the visitors tiring and the home fans singing, the job seemed all but done. In the 90th minute McCormick spilled Jordan Vickers’ right wing cross for Bowen to nick a consolation goal, but Town kept Carmarthen at bay, with Boundford firing an injury time effort over the bar, and a thrilling game ended at 3-2.

The Black and Greens thoroughly deserved the three points last night for an exciting attacking performance, and two wins out of two plus seven goals has been a very good start to 2019/20 for Aberystwyth Town. They will now head to Barry Town next Friday night (ko 7.45pm) fully confident in their ability to achieve a positive result, before The New Saints come calling on Bank Holiday Monday August 26th. After last night’s thriller, we can’t wait!