Newtown vs Aberystwyth Town
JD Cymru Premier
Friday 25th September
MATCH BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
 
Aberystwyth Town make the short journey east to Latham Park on Friday night, for what would in normal circumstances be an eagerly anticipated Mid Wales derby for both sets of supporters! This is the fixture that has been played more than any other in Cymru Premier history, with Aber & Newtown the only two clubs to remain ever-present throughout the league’s 29 seasons.
 
Unfortunately, the first meeting this season between these two famous Welsh clubs will have to be played behind closed doors, but the Black & Green Army will be hoping that the Seasiders can continue their impressive start to the new season, which so far saw them sit second in the league after Matchday Three (dropping to 3rd following Flint’s victory over Cefn Druids on Wednesday night) and top of the goalscoring charts as the only team to hit 6 goals so far this campaign.
 
Last week’s 3-1 victory over Flint Town United was a great example of what Gavin Allen is trying to build at Aberystwyth University Park Avenue Stadium. Not only were all three goalscorers Ceredigion natives, but his young side showed superb resilience to come back from a goal down to secure all three points; showcasing some excellent attractive attacking football alongside committed defending during the match as well.
 
The squad has been boosted by the return of Connor Roberts in goal (on loan from The New Saints until January) and Adam Davies, who made his first appearance of the season off the bench having recovered from an injury which had kept him sidelined for the opening two matches. Both made positive impacts in their respective roles last week.
 
Friday’s opponents come into the game still hunting for their first three points of the season. Having lost their opening two games, they will be keen to build on an impressive performance in front of the S4C cameras last Saturday at Haverfordwest, where a 2-2 draw was the least their efforts deserved.
 
Manager Chris Hughes has spent the summer reshaping his team in a bid for a third consecutive top six finish. There have so far been 8 new arrivals at Latham Park including the eye-catching signings of Jamie Breese, James Davies and Jordan Evans. Two opposition players who will be familiar to the Black & Green Army are Robins record appearance holder Craig Williams, who had a spell at Park Avenue under Alan Morgan between 2010 and 2012; and Ryan Edwards who made the switch to Latham Park in January after 18 months in Ceredigion.
 
A first away win of the season will see Aber return to the summit of the Cymru Premier until at least Saturday afternoon and whilst the Black & Green Army will be unable to attend the match, all the action will be relayed via our Twitter profile @AberystwythTown. It promises to be another exciting Friday night under the lights, as the Cymru Premier ever-presents go head to head once again

Great news for football in Aberystwyth today, as The Seasiders are celebrating receiving funding from the Premier League to help the restart of football.
 
The Matchday Support Fund grant will help put in place measures that will make our ground safer for the 2020/21 season given the challenges caused by COVID-19. This grant will allow the club to adhere to all safety precautions; regular sanitisation of our pitch and all touch areas, safely distanced away travel for our playing squad and staff and all necessary PPE and sanitary equipment within the ground.
 
The Matchday Support Fund is managed by the Football Stadia Improvement Fund (FSIF), which is financed by the Premier League and supports non-league and Women’s Football Pyramid clubs with the cost of improvements to their grounds. The Matchday Support Fund follows the recent Pitch and Club Preparation Funds, which saw £8.7m in grants awarded by the Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation to prepare the country’s playing surfaces and facilities for the return of football.
 
David Evans, ATFC Vice-Chairman said: “This grant from the Matchday Support Fund will assist us greatly as we continue to adapt to the current regulations and precautions in place. The safety of our players and staff is our foremost concern; this grant ensures we are able to continue our efforts to follow all measures set out by the FAW”

The Seasiders rounded off a busy run of three games in under a week with a great performance to overcome league newcomers Flint Town at Aberystwyth University Park Avenue. After going a goal down on the half hour mark, Gavin Allen’s young side showed superb resilience to come from behind thanks to goals from Jonathan Evans, Matthew Jones and Lee Jenkins.
 
Aber made two changes from Tuesday’s draw with Penybont as Connor Roberts and Harri Rowe came into the starting XI instead of Alex Pennock and Rhys Davies respectively.
 
The home side started the game brightly and had a very strong case for a penalty when Jamie Veale was felled in the penalty area. Referee Rob Kenny, making his first appearance in the JD Cymru Premier, was uninterested in the appeals despite the loud protestations from all in black and green.
 
Steff Davies, who was proving a handful for the Flint centre halves was instrumental in Aber nearly taking the lead in the 19th minute. A long goal kick was expertly dummied by the former Penrhyncoch man which allowed Jonathan Evans to go in one on one against the goalkeeper. However, the bus driver couldn’t keep his shot down and his effort went skyward over the bar.
 
The Silkmen had to wait until the 28th minute for their best opening as Mark Cadwallader’s free header dropped narrowly over the bar.
 
On the half hour mark, Jonathan Evans stung the palms of away stopper John Danby and from the resulting corner, the Seasiders had the ball in the back of the net only to see the linesman’s flag deny them  The ball was punched clear by Danby only to the feet of Matthew Jones who unleashed a powerful right footed volley into the net. As celebrations were in full swing, the flag was raised to the utter bemusement to all in black and green.
 
To compound Aber’s misery, just a minute later, Flint took the lead. A long ball over the top caused problems for the hosts. After a communication error from goalkeeper and defender, Connor Harwood rolled the ball home to the delight of the Silkmen’s bench.
 
With the opening half drawing to a close, Gavin Allen’s side had a glorious chance to equalise. A free kick was played into the Flint area and met brilliantly by the head of skipper Marc Williams. His powerful header cannoned off the bar with Lee Jenkins fouling the defender before he could muster a rebound.
 
But Aber didn’t have to wait long for their deserved equaliser and found themselves level just a minute before the break. Evans again the danger man for the home side, danced past the challenges of two defenders on the edge of the penalty area before superbly curling a left footed strike into the corner of the net to rapturous applause from all corners of the socially distant supporters outside the ground.
 
Aber made a blistering start to the second half and should have been in front after just two minutes. Davies was played through but somehow, Danby blocked the shot with his legs.
 
The Seasiders were offered a golden opportunity to take the lead when Davies was brought down in the box. Matthew Jones took the resulting spot kick and sent the keeper the wrong way to give Aber the lead for the first time.
 
Aber continued to dominate proceedings with both goal scorers going close again. Evans saw his shot well saved and Jones blazed a shot over the Dias stand but the best chance landed to Mark Williams. Evans played in substitute Adam Davies who squared the ball to his skipper but his shot rolled agonisingly wide.
 
After incessant pressure on the visiting goal, the hosts grabbed the third goal that their play richly deserved. A freekick from Matthew Jones was cleared back out to the taker. The former Shrewsbury youngster played the ball back into the box and whilst the attention of the defenders was taken by Louis Bradford coming back from an offside position, Lee Jenkins snuck in at the back post to slot the ball under Danby and into the bottom corner.
 
The third goal energised Flint who had two good chances in quick succession. Goalscorer turned goal stopper as Jenkins put in a superb last ditch tackle to stop Mark Cadwallader halving the deficit whilst Connor Roberts produced a smart stop to hold onto a rasping shot from the Aber right.
 
There were half chances for Mark Williams, Matthew Jones and Jack Rimmer but none of which particularly troubled the score line as Aber held out for a priceless victory.

The Seasiders now look forward to a week's break ahead of a local derby away at Newtown's Latham Park on the 25th. Thank you all for your continued support!

Aberystwyth Town Football Club are delighted to announce the return of Connor Roberts on loan from The New Saints until the end of January. The 27-year-old ex-Bangor City shot-stopper re-joins the Black & Greens for a second loan spell, having massively impressed last season before curtailment.

Connor began his professional career with Everton in 2011, enjoying a couple of loan spells before moving 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.

Connor then joined The New Saints in 2018 and has provided cover for Paul Harrison on TNS’ European ventures, including Wednesday night’s excruciating loss to B36 Torshavn of the Faroe Islands on penalties.

Connor joined Aber last summer on a season long loan from the champions, demonstrating his quality throughout the season – including a Man of the Match performance in a 0-0 away draw at Latham Park in December 2019. His highlights on that day can be seen HERE.

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 a friendly against the Netherlands, and was selected to the Cymru C squad in March 2020 alongside teammate Lee Jenkins to face England C. However, the match was not able to go ahead for obvious reasons.

Connor will be eligible for selection for tomorrow night’s JD Cymru Premier clash with Flint Town – travel permitting from the very misty Faroe Islands!

Croeso nol, Connor!

Aberystwyth Town vs Flint Town United
JD Cymru Premier
Friday 18th September (KO 19.45)
MATCH BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

The Black & Greens hectic start to the 2020/21 season continues tomorrow night (Friday) with the visit of newly promoted Flint Town United.

Long-time supporters of the Cymru Premier will be delighted to see Flint back in the top flight, with the club having been present for each of the first six seasons of the league, after being founder members back in 1992. They marked their return with an impressive 1-0 win at home to Newtown, despite being reduced to ten men just after the break.

Manager Niall McGuiness is no stranger to the Cymru Premier, having had a spell in charge of Rhyl in 2016/17. He has added to his side that finished 2nd in the Cymru North last season, with Rob Hughes & Nathan Craig both astute signings with experience of the league. It was indeed Craig who secured their victory on Saturday, with a well taken first half free-kick. One opposition player that will need no introduction to Aber supporters is Wes Baynes, who makes a swift return to Park Avenue having departed the club in the summer. Wes made a solid contribution during his two years in Ceredigion, making over 50 appearances and scoring a number of impressive goals.

Some of Aber’s own new additions have made important contributions themselves in the opening two games, with debutant Louis Bradford the latest to add his name to the scoresheet in Tuesday’s 1-1 draw at Penybont, following Jonathan Evans & Rhys Davies opening their accounts last Saturday against Cardiff Met.

Gavin Allen’s ambitions to build a young, hungry and predominately locally based squad were once again evidenced in Bridgend, with goalscorer Bradford part of a back line that had an average age of 19.2 years old, and over 50% of the matchday squad Ceredigion based.

As with Met’s visit to Park Avenue at the weekend, Tuesday’s match at The SDM Glass Stadium was played behind closed doors, although supporters would have struggled to see much of the action in any case, as a thick mist descended around half an hour into the game. This may have contributed to referee Bryn Markham-Jones’ baffling decision to send off Mathew Jones for two bookable offences, despite the first yellow card never actually being shown!

We can confirm that Mathew’s red card has been rescinded by the FAW, meaning he will be available for selection for Friday’s game. Referee Bryn Markham-Jones has acknowledged his mistake in noting #2 Louis Bradford as #7 Mathew Jones for a bookable offence in the 37th minute.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, Aber saw out the final 10 minutes and registered their first point of the season. The Seasiders’ points total is yet to reflect the return that their performances deserve however, but Friday’s game is the perfect opportunity to rectify this ahead of next week’s Mid-Wales derby at Newtown.

Friday night football under the lights returns to Park Avenue, although unfortunately supporters cannot be admitted due to COVID-19 guidelines. Our Twitter feed @AberystwythTown will once again provide in-depth coverage of the game however, and whilst the Black & Green Army are sorely missed at Park Avenue at this current time, all at the club do appreciated your continued support.

The Seasiders got off the mark in the JD Cymru Premier on Tuesday night as an equaliser from TNS loanee Louis Bradford on 46 minutes cancelled out Nathan Wood’s first half strike for the hosts. After going down to 10 men in very unfortunate circumstances on 82 minutes, Aber held on to secure a point at the SDM Glass Stadium.

With centre back Sam Barnes pulling up in the warm-up, Jack Rimmer was recalled to the starting XI as Louis Bradford moved inside to replace the injured veteran. A back five of Pennock, Rimmer, Jenkins, Bradford and R. Davies (of which Bradford and Davies were deputising) meant Aber fielded a backline and keeper with an average age of 19.2 – surely a record of late! Despite the team’s youth, Aber got off to a brighter start with Gwion Owen continuing his energetic displays by covering every blade of artificial grass from the first whistle to the last. Aber’s first chance came from an excellent piece of skill by ex-Hereford left back Rhys Davies who got the best of his opposing full back to deliver a ball to the powerful forehead of Steff Davies who was unable to direct it goalward. Soon after, with Gwion Owen being scythed to the ground several times already, Jamie Veale delivered an indirect free-kick into the Bont area which was smartly cleared by the hosts.

An impressive first 15 was soon forgotten however, as some miscommunication at the back resulted in Nathan Wood picking up the ball from 25 yards and walloping it home past Pennock. Further attempts to play out of defence remained unfruitful, as Bont were in the ascendancy with the ball at their feet. Ex-Aber winger Kostya Georgievsky looked his usual energetic self down the Aber left, causing concern among the Aber faithful with a rasping effort just wide of the post on 23 minutes.

As the mist continued to roll in, Welsh football fans were reminded of a certain never-to-be-spoken-about game in the Faroe Islands some weeks back, though not quite the same rewards awaited the victors in this case. A chance for Rhys Davies on 32 minutes was against the balance of play as Bont continued to pressurise – Gwion Owen and Lee Jenkins standing strong especially. On 34 minutes came Bont’s best chance of the game to double their lead, as a ball over the top escaped Jenkins and left the on-rushing striker 1-on-1 with young Pennock. Luckily for the Green Army, the bounce of the ball caused problems for the attacker as his half-volleyed effort flew well past the post towards McArthur Glen Retail Park.

The visitors were brandished some yellow cards by referee Bryn Markham-Jones who subsequently waved away penalty shouts from the visiting players when Jonathan Evans was caught by keeper Ashley Morris. Aber went into half-time just one goal down, knowing better was needed in the second. A half-time rinsing from manager Gavin Allen seemed to do the trick right away, as Aber returned to the field a different team. Just 2 minutes into the half, a corner was dropped into the danger area, where 18 year old Louis Bradford (initially *unknown player* due to the mist) latched onto the loose ball to volley home, and suddenly it was Aber who were in the ascendancy. Steff Davies saw a glancing header painstakingly miss the post to double the lead before a knock on a Bont player required treatment and slowed Aber’s momentum.

The final 30 minutes was a rollercoaster, with Pennock making an excellent stop from a Bont volley and another headed effort from Davies not quite finding the net. A number of changes for Aber followed who saw two more chances thwarted, the best coming from skipper Marc Williams who chipped the on-rushing keeper, only for Morris to recover well and flap the ball to safety.

The final 10 minutes presented an enormous obstacle for the Seasiders, as Mathew Jones was wrongfully shown a 2nd yellow card when he had not been shown a 1st. Despite rampant protests by his teammates and general confusion among the very few on-lookers trying to make sense of the misty human-shaped blobs in the distance, Aber were down to 10 and forced to hold on for dear life. Having, quite literally, weathered the storm for the game’s final moments, the 4 added minutes went by without concern as excellent game management from Allen’s men saw an end to a game that had it all.

With the run of the green firmly against them, Aber battled hard to come away with a deserved point that kickstarts the campaign. The Black & Greens turn their attentions to a Friday night duel with newly-promoted Flint Town who make the journey to the Ceredigion coast. Again, the game will be held behind-closed-doors and thus admission for fans will not be permitted, though the fence-watching and bus-parking genius of the Green Army knows no bounds! Diolch yn fawr iawn i chi gyd am eich gefnogaeth parhaus – thank you all for your continued support!