JD Cymru Premier
Saturday 14th December
Cardiff Met 1 Aberystwyth Town 2
Two late goals from Geoff Kellaway earned Aber Town a fantastic win from behind, away to UEFA Europa League participants Cardiff Met on Saturday afternoon. The goals earned the Black and Greens back to back wins and kick started their season ahead of some crucial Christmas crackers. Elliot Evans gave Met the lead with fourteen minutes to go but Kellaway’s double strike on 78 and 85 minutes thrilled the visiting supporters and proved crucial.
On a chilly, windy but sunny afternoon the pattern for the game was set early on as Aber sat back to allow Met to dominate possession with the wind advantage, and Will Evans blasted, and headed over early on. Visiting keeper Connor Roberts then did brilliantly to deny Will Evans from point black range. Jordan Lam set up Elliot Evans to fire wide yet these were merely half chances and Aber’s midfield, personified by the excellent Paulo Mendes, were keeping the hosts at arms length. Elliott Evans picked out Joel Edwards who brought another save from Roberts with a header, but then the tide started to turn with Marc Williams’ goalbound shot blocked, and the visiting fans calling for a penalty. Elliott Evans brought Roberts in to another save, and at the other end Matthew Jones curled a quick free kick inches over the bar, before completing a superb move by aiming a shot at home keeper Will Fuller. Improving Aber threatened again as Fuller saved Williams’ header from Wes Baynes cross; Met survived another handball penalty shout, Joe Phillips and Mendes were denied, and with Aber’s tactics seemingly working well the visitors went in goalless at half time.
The second half started in a similar vein and apart from Mael Davies’ shot which Roberts again saved well, chances were few and far between. Brad Woolridge and Will Evans had two more efforts from outside the box, without overly testing the marvellous Roberts, and then Captain fantastic Marc Williams, who was causing all manner of problems against four defenders with his sheer hard work, appeared to be rugby tackled in the box, but once again Town’s penalty claims were in vain. Davies headed wide from Elliott Evans’ cross, and with Aber defending valiantly, with Lee Jenkins and Stuart Jones standing firm, a scoreless draw looked inevitable. Football however is a perverse game and with less than a quarter hour remaining a simple long throw into the box by sub Dan Spencer was pounced on by Evans who fired high into the top corner, to the despair of the visiting side. However just two minutes later a surging run from sub Richie Ricketts from the left fed Williams, he picked out Kellaway out on the right; and the veteran goal getter found the bottom corner with a low volley to equalise. Seven minutes later Joe Phillips did brilliantly down the left wing to beat his man and cross for Kellaway on the right, and his goalbound volley deflected into the net via a home defender, to gain Aber a crucial lead, and finally rouse the numerically challenged visiting supporters into songs of support and celebration. Edwards headed over for Met in injury time, and Stuart Jones blocked Elliott Evans, whose subsequent shot was inevitably saved by Roberts, and Aber had gained a third win in four visits to the Cyncoed Campus.
This 2-1 win constitutes a game changer for the Black and Greens’ Cymru Premier season. Coming from behind to win a second match in a row gives Mathew Bishop’s men a huge platform to kick on now. After a Capital performance by the Black and Greens today with Town cementing their ninth place spot, those of a Black and Green persuasion will be delighted of another opportunity to cheer on their side on Friday evening as Barry Town come to Park Avenue. It can’t come soon enough!
Photos courtesy of Peter Hewett
Saturday 14th December
Cardiff Met 1 Aberystwyth Town 2
Two late goals from Geoff Kellaway earned Aber Town a fantastic win from behind, away to UEFA Europa League participants Cardiff Met on Saturday afternoon. The goals earned the Black and Greens back to back wins and kick started their season ahead of some crucial Christmas crackers. Elliot Evans gave Met the lead with fourteen minutes to go but Kellaway’s double strike on 78 and 85 minutes thrilled the visiting supporters and proved crucial.
On a chilly, windy but sunny afternoon the pattern for the game was set early on as Aber sat back to allow Met to dominate possession with the wind advantage, and Will Evans blasted, and headed over early on. Visiting keeper Connor Roberts then did brilliantly to deny Will Evans from point black range. Jordan Lam set up Elliot Evans to fire wide yet these were merely half chances and Aber’s midfield, personified by the excellent Paulo Mendes, were keeping the hosts at arms length. Elliott Evans picked out Joel Edwards who brought another save from Roberts with a header, but then the tide started to turn with Marc Williams’ goalbound shot blocked, and the visiting fans calling for a penalty. Elliott Evans brought Roberts in to another save, and at the other end Matthew Jones curled a quick free kick inches over the bar, before completing a superb move by aiming a shot at home keeper Will Fuller. Improving Aber threatened again as Fuller saved Williams’ header from Wes Baynes cross; Met survived another handball penalty shout, Joe Phillips and Mendes were denied, and with Aber’s tactics seemingly working well the visitors went in goalless at half time.
The second half started in a similar vein and apart from Mael Davies’ shot which Roberts again saved well, chances were few and far between. Brad Woolridge and Will Evans had two more efforts from outside the box, without overly testing the marvellous Roberts, and then Captain fantastic Marc Williams, who was causing all manner of problems against four defenders with his sheer hard work, appeared to be rugby tackled in the box, but once again Town’s penalty claims were in vain. Davies headed wide from Elliott Evans’ cross, and with Aber defending valiantly, with Lee Jenkins and Stuart Jones standing firm, a scoreless draw looked inevitable. Football however is a perverse game and with less than a quarter hour remaining a simple long throw into the box by sub Dan Spencer was pounced on by Evans who fired high into the top corner, to the despair of the visiting side. However just two minutes later a surging run from sub Richie Ricketts from the left fed Williams, he picked out Kellaway out on the right; and the veteran goal getter found the bottom corner with a low volley to equalise. Seven minutes later Joe Phillips did brilliantly down the left wing to beat his man and cross for Kellaway on the right, and his goalbound volley deflected into the net via a home defender, to gain Aber a crucial lead, and finally rouse the numerically challenged visiting supporters into songs of support and celebration. Edwards headed over for Met in injury time, and Stuart Jones blocked Elliott Evans, whose subsequent shot was inevitably saved by Roberts, and Aber had gained a third win in four visits to the Cyncoed Campus.
This 2-1 win constitutes a game changer for the Black and Greens’ Cymru Premier season. Coming from behind to win a second match in a row gives Mathew Bishop’s men a huge platform to kick on now. After a Capital performance by the Black and Greens today with Town cementing their ninth place spot, those of a Black and Green persuasion will be delighted of another opportunity to cheer on their side on Friday evening as Barry Town come to Park Avenue. It can’t come soon enough!
Photos courtesy of Peter Hewett
