Aberystwyth Town 0 Cefn Druids 0: Match Report

JD Welsh Premier League
Friday 12th April
Aberystwyth Town 0 Cefn Druids 0

A large crowd of 495 responded to Aber Town's "Footy for a Fiva" initiative to watch the Black and Greens maintain their charge to a UEFA Europa League Play Off sport with a valuable point, gained from an engrossing goal less draw with their bogey side Cefn Druds. In a match of remarkably few clear cut chances defences were on top. Geoff Kellaway and Ryan Wollacott went closest for Town and despite a late power cut both teams held out for an honourable draw.

Kick off was preceded with a presentation as Aber Town Under 19s side received their Welsh Premier Development League (South) Trophy and medals, and the Black and Greens named an unchanged outfield eleven for the fifth consecutive game. Druids took the initiative from the start and home keeper Terry McCormick was out well to deny Jack Kenny early on. With the Druids buzzing around Town were mostly threatening on the break and Mattie Jones made a lung bursting run down the left before pulling out a super cross, but Druids’ Neil Ashton dived in to deny Kellaway a tap in. Jones picked out Kellaway again minutes later but the striker was called offside. Kenny then fired wide from a great position, set up by Rittenberg, but in general it was the holding players who were shining, with Paolo Mendes and Declan Walker prominent in Town’s good defensive shape. Marc Williams lobbed just over for Aber, then Jamie Davies brought a save out of McCormick. Wes Baynes set up half chances for Walker and Ashley Ruane with free kicks, and Mendes headed over from Jones’ corner. Kellaway curled a shot wide and Kenny headed over for the Druids and with shots on target at a premium the half ended at 0-0.

Into the second half, and Williams curled a header just wide from Baynes’ free kick, and McCormick again did well to deny Kenny and Davies. Steff Edwards saw a rare effort drop just over the bar and home supporters in the Dias Stand started to make themselves heard with some super singing, echoed back by the tifosi on Narks’ corner. The two in form sides were defending solidly and chances were at a premium. Another Baynes free kick whistled past the far post, and then a Ryan Wollacott header brought Druids keeper Michael Jones into action with a smart save. A ball from Walker almost picked out Ruane and then with two minutes to go … the floodlights dramatically cut out! After five minutes of darkness, to cheers from the supporters, the lights mercifully came back on, and in injury time sub Niall Coleridge almost got his head on a Jones cross, Ryan Kershaw fired over the bar for the visitors and the game ended in a fair and honourable draw.

The result guarantees Aber an improved eighth placed finish this season, and the Black and Greens’ UEFA Europa League Play Off destiny remains in their hands as they now find themselves two points clear of Cardiff Met in seventh position, though the Students have a game in hand, which they play this afternoon at Llandudno. Next Saturday’s match between the two sides at the Cyncoed Campus is a huge game and every single Aber supporter is needed to cheer the boys on to a dream end to the season!