Aberystwyth Town 1 Cefn Druids 3: Match Report

JD Cymru Premier
Friday 29th November
Aberystwyth Town 1 Cefn Druids 3

Goals from Jamie Davies (27 mins), Dean Ashton (53) and Cody Ruberto (76) earned Cefn Druids a win at Park Avenue last night after Aber's Top Scorer Paulo Mendes had them a twentieth minute lead. The Seasiders battled hard to get back in the game but the Druids defended well and deserved the win which lifts them back into the Top Six, while the hosts remain in ninth place.  

On a chilly night by the Ceredigion Coast Aber dug out the first opportunity as Mendes forced Michael Jones into a save from Luke Boundford’s long throw, before Ruberto at the other end fired wide from the right channel. Mathew Jones sent in a great delivery for Aber but Marc Williams was offside, then another Jones ball in from the byline found Mendes, who cheekily tapped the ball home at the near post to give Aber what look like a crucial lead. The Black and Greens came within inches of doubling the lead when Mathew Jones’ free kick dropped just wide of the far post, and Mendes sent in a great cross which no one was able to convert. Then a suspiciously offside looking Jamie Davies beat the offside trap down the left before cutting inside to smash home an equaliser for the determined visitors. Aber continued to press with Tom Price volleying over, and they went even closer when a clearance cannoned off Williams and whizzed two inches past the far post: Lady luck had turned her back on Aber and was favouring Cefn instead. Ramirez Howarth did well to set up Davies who skewed wide, then at the other end Ryan Edwards saw a header tipped over and Price volleyed over again, to keep the scores level at the break.

Williams set up Mendes to fire over at the break and then Aber had a bit of luck as Druids had a goal disallowed for an innocuous handball. Howarth went wide for the visitors, who always looked a threat on the break, but their lead when it came was gift wrapped on Black Friday. Ashton’s soft free kick into the area caused a defensive mix up and alas, sailed innocently into the goal unhindered by home players. Back came Aber and Stuart Jones had a header cleared off the line, Lee Jenkins slotted just wide from inside the area and the game seemed to be ebbing away from the Black and Greens. This was confirmed when a right wing cross set up Ruberto to smash home Cefn’s third goal, and with the visitors determined and solid at the back, a comeback looked unlikely. Williams had a shot deflected over, Mendes brought another save from Jones with a header and Jenkins volleyed wide again. Then Jamie Davies brought a save from Connor Roberts, Aber's Adam Hughes sent a long distance volley fizzing over the crossbar. In injury time Roberts did well to tip over a miscued clearance, and Druids had a vital three points which took them up into the Top Six.

Despite Aber suffering bad luck at crucial times last night, Druids were strong, sharp and resolute enough last night to deserve their result, which was as significant for them as it was disappointing for Mathew Bishop’s men, and after a few bad League results the Seasiders will be glad of the return of the JD Welsh Cup next weekend, with a Third Round Tie at Park Avenue at home to Cymru North side Ruthin Town (ko 2.30pm).