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!

JD Cymru Premier
Friday 16th August (ko 7.45pm)
Aberystwyth Town v Carmarthen Town

Excitement is mounting in Ceredigion as Big Time Football is poised to return to Park Avenue on Friday nights, when the Black and Greens host neighbours Carmarthen Town in their inaugural JD Cymru Premier fixture of 2019/20!

Both Clubs enjoyed positive results last weekend in the MG Nathaniel Cup Second Round, with Carmarthen beating Cwmamman United 4-1, and Aber prevailing 4-3 away to last season's Finalists Cambrian & Clydach.

If anything Aber have strengthened the Squad which earned a creditable 8th placed finish last time round. While Players from the Class of 2018/9 such as Marc Williams, Geoff Kellaway, Mattie Jones and Paulo Mendes have impressed in pre season, new arrivals such as Luke Boundford, Stuart Jones and Joe Phillips also made their mark last weekend. Rio Ahmadi misses out on Friday with a suspension, and Edmilson Vaz is still awaiting international clearance, but Matthew Bishop's men should otherwise be at full strength.

Town will be looking to revenge a 6-2 defeat at Richmond Park in last season's swan song, in order to achieve a perfect start at home to mirror last year's Opening Day 1-0 victory against Llandudno. Last weekend's win certainly put a spring in Aber's step and a confident outlook to 2019/20 will be enhanced by a good result on Friday night.

Admission for the Match will cost £7 for Adults, £4 for Concessions and just £1 for Kids. We have missed sharing our Friday nights with you - see you in 48 hours! 

Nathaniel MG Cup Second Round
Saturday 10th August 
Cambrian & Clydach BGC 3 Aberystwyth Town 4

Aberystwyth Town enjoyed a winning start to their 2019/20 season, coming out on top in a seven goal MG Cup thriller away to last season's finalists Cambrian & Clydach BGC. Many foresaw this as a very difficult game for Town but early goals from Marc Williams (9 minutes) and Luke Boundford (19 minutes) appeared to put the Black and Greens in total control. Cambrian were then perhaps fortunately awarded a 41st minute penalty, dispatched by Sam Jones, and ten minutes a deflected shot from Liam Edwards brought the Rhondda side level. Williams put Aber back in the lead with his second on 61 minutes, only for Edwards to do likewise with a 74th minute stunner for 3-3. Matthew Jones was Town's match winner, lobbing home on 82 minutes, and Aber held on for a win and a huge statement of intent at the start of another season.

On a wild and windy day the Biblical showers harrying the Rhondda all day mercifully passed for kick off, with Aber handing competitive debuts to Luke Boundford, Ben Birch and the returning Stuart Jones and Joe Phillips. Aber started excellently, keeping possession and creating chance after chance, aided by the added presence provided by the hard working Boundford up front. Matthew Jones glanced a left footed curling free kick off the crossbar early on, and then Town took the lead when Phillips’ left wing surge and shot was parried to Williams, who finished calmly from the edge of the area with a low drive. Boundford then intercepted a back pass but home keeper Dan Bradley just managed to keep the ball out. Ten minutes later the Black and Greens doubled their lead: another excellent flowing move saw Williams feed Boundford, who dummied the keeper before slotting home for two, and Aber looked in almost complete control after a perfect start to the season. Math Jones sent another free kick over the top, Stuart Jones’ deep goalbound header was gathered on the line by Bradley, and Phillips’ 35 yard volley dropped just wide. Boundford and Wes Baynes missed the target and then Cambrian came back with Liam Reed heading their first goalbound attempt at Terry McCormick, and Liam Edwards also testing the experienced netminder. Birch headed wide for Aber but then with four minutes to go the hosts were handed an unlikely route back into the game as Edwards’ innocuous cross rebounded off Ryan Wollacott’s arm, and Jones dispatched the penalty. Town fans had been purring over the performance up until then and Aber’s 2-1 half time lead was certainly well deserved.

As the second half kicked off good work from the begloved midfield colossus Paulo Mendes set up Baynes whose deep cross dropped just wide, then McCormick pulled off a great save to deny Sam Johnson in a 1 on 1. Cambrian again benefitted from a slice of luck on 51 minutes when Edwards’ goalbound effort deflected cruelly off a visiting defender’s back, and past McCormick for the equaliser, and the MG Cup Runners Up were reinvigorated, with Leon Jacka next to lob wide. Aber regained the lead as Ryan Wollacott crossed in from the right and Williams stayed onside to tap home his second of the day. Andrew Griffiths and Sam Jones blasted wide for Cambrian, and then Edwards burst through the middle to equalise with a superb 30 yard volley which flew into McCormick’s right corner. Aber were at this point facing a nerve jangling penalty shoot out as Extra Time no longer features in the MG Cup, however with 8 minutes left Phillips was again the creator, beating his man down the right and sending in a cross which was parried to Matthew Jones, and Aber’s University Scholar lobbed home calmly from the edge of the area with Cambrian defenders lying prostrate on the floor. Subs Steff Edwards, Geoff Kellaway and Alex Boss made their presence felt, with Kellaway denied by Bradley, and then heading against the bar before a Birch header was tipped over by Bradley. There was time for McCormick to enhance his status with a Superman style diving catch to nullify Jacka’s cross, and once Edwards had headed off the line in injury time the game was won by the Black and Greens by four goals to three.

An excellent and exciting performance going forward from Aber was slightly dampened by Cambrian’s three goals, but against spirited opponents Matthew Bishop’s men did very well to prevail on a day when many predicted otherwise, and they can look forward to the MG Cup Third Round (last sixteen) draw on Monday. Town’s JD Cymru League season meanwhile kick off on Friday night at Park Avenue with the visit of Carmarthen Town (ko 7.45pm). Unmissable!