JD Welsh Premier League
Saturday 20th October
Llandudno 0-1 Aberystwyth Town 

Aberystwyth Town earned their first away league win of the season as they took a crucial three points at the Giant Hospitality Stadium on Saturday afternoon. In a game of few clear cut opportunities, Declan Walker's 81st minute penalty was enough to see the black and greens home with a massive victory that closes the gap to just two points on the JD Welsh Premier League's top six. 

There was one change to the starting eleven which drew at home to Caernarfon last weekend, with Wes Baynes coming in at right back in place of Jack Rimmer. Despite playing into a strong headwind during the first half, Aber started the game brightly as Paulo Mendes and Mathew Jones dominated the early stages in central midfield. Ryan Wollacott was first to register an attempt towards goal as he headed Wes Baynes' free kick narrowly wide before Mark Connolly fired a set piece over the crossbar from a decent position on 10 minutes. The hosts gradually grew into the game with the wind at their backs, and went close on 24 minutes as Terry McCormick rushed out of his goal and produced a top save to smother George Harry's close-range strike, before he was called into action again minutes later as he punched Connolly's corner kick clear from under the crossbar. On 32 minutes came Aber's best chance of the half as Baynes delivered another dangerous free kick which Declan Walker met with great power, only to see his header rattle the bar and bounce down on to the goal line. As half time approached, Walker threatened again as he got a nick on Baynes' front post cross only for Llandudno 'keeper Shaun Pearson to tip the effort over the crossbar. It was a first half of few chances, but Aber were pleased to get in with their clean sheet in tact and the wind at their backs in the second half. 

The seasiders started the second half on top, as Baynes whipped another free kick into the penalty area where the slightest of touches would have diverted the ball goalbound. On 54 minutes, Ashley Ruane had his first sighting of goal as he struck a 20 yard piledriver towards the top corner, only for goalie Pearson to parry the shot out for a corner kick. Soon after, the hosts had a good opportunity of their own as Leo Smith brought the ball down in the penalty area before spinning and sending his shot over the crossbar as the game threatened to open up. On 68 minutes, Joe Phillips was introduced in place of Rio Ahmadi, and soon after Ryan Edwards produced a neat one-two with Phillips before curling an effort into the palms of Pearson in goal. Both sides continued to struggle to retain any meaningful possession, but Aber began to look the more likely side to find the breakthrough. On 79 minutes, Pearson did well to deal with Mathew Jones in-swinging corner kick before on 81 minutes came the game's pivotal moment. Ash Ruane latched on to a loose ball in the penalty area before receiving a needless shove in the back from Kai Edwards resulting in the award of a penalty kick. Captain Declan Walker stepped up and slotted the ball straight down the middle to give Aber the lead and send the travelling fans into delirium behind the goal. The seasiders had 10 minutes to see the game out as Llandudno began to throw the kitchen sink at Terry McCormick's goal. On 85 minutes John Owen raced through on goal before being forced wide by McCormick, before Steve Thomas' follow up was well blocked by Steff Edwards as Aber began to sit deeper and deeper, hoping to see out their lead. Then, on 90 minutes Llandudno's Zyyac Edwards, who was already on a booking, appeared to lash out in frustration as he threw his boot into the terracing on the side of the pitch, resulting in a second yellow card and sending off. The visitors managed to see out the four minutes of additional time with relative ease, as Goodall and Wollacott stood strong with McCormick providing a calming influence in goal, and Aber took home all three points in what was a huge victory. 

The win pushes the black and greens on to 14 points, just two points off the league's top six, as they head into another crucial away fixture next Friday evening away at Llanelli Town. 

Teams:
Llandudno: Pearson, Connolly, M Pearson, K Edwards, Thomas, Webb (80), Hughes, Smith (66), Z Edwards, Harry, Owen. Subs: T Jones (66), Hewitt, Fosu-Mensah (80), M Williams, T Williams, O Jones

Aberystwyth Town: McCormick, Baynes, Wollacott, Goodall, S Edwards, Walker, Jones, Mendes, R Edwards (85), Ahmadi (66), Ruane. Subs: Lei Jenkins, Lee Jenkins, Rimmer, Kellaway (85), Blake, Phillips (66), Coleridge 

JD Welsh Premier League 
Saturday 20th October (2:30p.m Kick Off)
Llandudno v Aberystwyth Town 

Aberystwyth Town will look to build on the hard-fought point they earned at home to Caernarfon last weekend as they travel to face Llandudno in their first of two consecutive away fixtures in the JD Welsh Premier League on Saturday. The black and greens battled against the elements and a well organised Caernarfon side last Friday to earn a valuable JD Welsh Premier League point but came away slightly rueful of their missed chances that would have seen them close the gap on the league’s top six with victory.

After Friday's draw, assistant manager Gavin Allen commented on the seasiders' performance in a positive manner, stating; "Our performances have been a lot more solid and disciplined in the last two weeks, which is positive. I thought the back five were magnificent tonight and off the ball we look a lot better as a team, which is what we've been working on". Indeed, the statistics indicate that Aber's defensive structure has improved significantly in recent weeks - conceding just two goals in their last three JD Welsh Premier League fixtures. 

Allen admitted it's in the final third of the pitch the black and greens must now improve if they are to push for a top six finish when the league splits in January. "We created a lot more opportunities in front of goal than last week, but we're in a period at the moment where the ball just isn't quite dropping for us and we can't quite put the ball in the back of the net, which is something we'll continue to work and improve upon". 

Town go into this weekend's fixture at Llandudno in eighth place in the league table, but still just four points off a top six position. They now face two crucial away fixtures, starting at the Giant Hospitality Stadium on Saturday before travelling to Llanelli in 7 days' time, in which they will look to pick up valuable points in their chase for a top half finish in January. 

Saturday's hosts Llandudno enter the game on a poor run of form, after losing their last four consecutive JD Welsh Premier League fixtures. They currently lie in 10th place in the league table, and manager Iwan Williams admitted his disappointment at his players' performances so far this season on Wednesday evening, stating; "I've protected the players for long enough now, and some individuals have got to start stepping up and showing some fight, because I feel like pulling my boots back on and fighting for the club at the moment". The north Wales outfit always provide a stern test at the Giant Hospitality Stadium, and have a number of experienced Welsh Premier League players like Kai Edwards, Mike Pearson and Danny Hughes amongst their ranks. 

In the reverse clash between the sides on the opening day of the season, a Declan Walker screamer was enough to separate the sides as Rio Ahmadi went in goal for the final 30 minutes in a mad 1-0 win for the black and greens. Aber will hope for a similar outcome on Saturday as they look to close the gap on the top six - kick off at The Giant Hospitality Stadium is at 2:30p.m and Llandudno's address is listed as LL30 1HH. 

JD Welsh Premier League
Friday 12th October
Aberystwyth Town 0 Caernarfon Town 0

In the driving wind and rain at the eye of Storm Callum well over 200 hardy souls turned out for another exciting evening of JD Welsh Premier League football at Park Avenue, and they were rewarded with an engrossing game. With defences on top neither side did quite enough to make the breakthrough, though the hosts did end up numerically on top following Noah Edwards’ late red card.

Declan Walker, who had moved to right wing for this game, made the most of the extra space and fired an early howitzer wide. With Aber’s Ryan Wollacott and Allan Goodall excelling at the back against the burly Jamie Breese, the visitors were creating chances and Matthew Jones cleared one goalbound effort off the line. Danny Brookwell’s right footed shot was easy for Terry McCormick in Aber’s goal, then at the other end the superb Paolo Mendes curled in a fantastic ball to Ash Ruane, who fell in the box before pulling the trigger. Aber’s penalty cries however were in vain. Breese and Brookwell had further half chances saved, then Rio Ahmadi for hit the side netting at the other end. Walker flashed a shot past the post and Ruane had a low effort parried in Aber’s late rally but both defences were on top in a high quality first half and the teams went in at 0-0.

Into the second half and the chances kept coming. Ryan Edwards, who was dancing down the wing all night had Town’s first effort, and then Goodall made the tackle of the night, a real goal saver to deny Breese who was through and seemed certain to score. A nice move from Aber saw Mendes burst through the middle but his shot skewed wide, before McCormick was again called into action to superbly tip over Brookwell’s shot from the left side. Walker saw another attempt off target, and then Ruane, who had been terrorising Ryan Williams all night, finally got goal side, but saw his goalbound effort go narrowly wide. Walker tested Alex Ramsey in Caernarfon’s goal with a free kick before Gareth Evans hot the post with a curling effort from inside the area. In the driving rain the chances kept coming with Ryan Edwards and Mendes the next to shoot in vain, and then with 9 minutes to go Caernarfon’s Noah Edwards was show a straight red card for an ugly lunge at Declan Walker. The hosts dominated the last ten minutes with sub Joe Phillips twice denied by Ramsey, but in truth the draw was a fair result and both sets of players should feel proud having put on a good evening’s entertainment in awful conditions.

The point takes Aber back up into eighth place and Nev Powell’s side now have two away games to try and kick on if they are to make a challenge for the top six, at Llandudno next Saturday (ko 2.30pm), and Llanelli on Friday 26th October (ko 7.45pm). Your presence and support, as ever, would delight us!

Photo courtesy of Colin Ewart.  

After receiving a massive 84.21% of the vote, Tania Wylde has won September's Aber Town Ladies Goal of the Month.

Results:
Tania Wylde vs Barry Town United Ladies (84.21%)
Helen Evans vs Rhos Ladies (9.21%)
Lisa Cowdy vs Rhos Ladies (3.95%)
Helen Evans vs Llangyfelach Ladies (2.63%)