Aberystwyth Town 1 MBi Llandudno 4

Dafabet Welsh Premier League
Friday 30th October
Aberystwyth Town 1 MBi Llandudno 4

Aberystwyth Town suffered a Halloween horroshow at home to Cymru Alliance Champions Llandudno as they fell to a 4-1 home defeat, on a night when the visitors certainly deserved a handsome win. First half goals for Lee Thomas (18 minutes) and Danny Hughes (40 minutes), allied to a deflected own goal off Lee Surman (25 minutes) put Aber right up against it. The Black and Greens threatened a comeback when Chris Venables got a 56th minute goal back from the penalty spot, but Lewis Buckley settled the outcome with a 71st minute fourth for Llandudno.

The visitors, cheered on by an excellent away support, started as if their lives depended on it and dictated a swift tempo which demanded an instant reaction from the home side. Darren Thomas picked out Ross Stephens in the area, who volleyed wide, while at the other end the impressive Marc Williams had a shot deflected over, and Lewis Buckley hit the post. Llandudno then gained a rather fortuitous opener as Aber keeper Chris Mullock was challenged in the air while trying to collect a right wing cross, and with the home supporters expecting a whistle, Thomas tapped home the opener. The Black and Greens were still going however, and Jamie Reed saw a shot blocked before Craig Williams skimmed the crossbar with a cross cum shot. Another right wing cross from Llandudno then earned a second lucky goal as Lee Surman deflected it past Mullock in his own goal. Despite the manner of both goals the visitors certainly deserved to be ahead. Marc Williams headed wide from a superb position in front of goal and Aber almost got back into it with Reed firing over then bringing a save out of Dave Roberts, but Town could not convert the numerous dangerous crosses put in by Craig Williams, and then disaster struck five minutes before the break when Hughes intercepted the ball on the edge of the area and slotted past Mullock to complete a nightmare first half for Ian Hughes' men.

The hosts did come out firing in the second half, with Llandudno happy to sit back and threaten on the break. Stephens headed an early chance wide, and Thomas fired just wide for the visitors before Aber gained a lifeline as Danny Shaw brought down Reed in the box for an obvious penalty, which Venables dispatched with customary aplomb, though Roberts made a good attempt to stop it. With the home supporters sensing a comeback the next goal would now be crucial and Aber grew in confidence as Antonio Corbisiero flashed a shot just past the post, ebfore Stuart Jones headed over the bar. Darren Thomas slipped in Venables and with the Dias Stand screaming for a penalty Cledan Davies sent a venomous shot zooming over the bar. Thomas and Venables combined to set up Reed, but his shot was gathered by Roberts at the second attempt and then at the other end Buckley defused all hope of a miraculous recovery by bursting through the middle to score Llandudno's fourth. Reed shot wide and brought yet another save from Roberts, and Liam Dawson went close for the visitors, but with the Steam Railway Trains tooting across the road Aber had run out of puff, and Alan Morgan's men gained a win which even the most one eyed home supporter would have to admit they deserved on the night.

On this form Llandudno look a certainty for the Top Six, but after two disappointing results Aber will need to recover quickly to get their season back on track. The Black and Greens' away form has been superb this season with 13 of their 18 points coming on the road, so they may not be disappointed to face an away game at Rhyl next Friday night (ko 7.45pm). The Coach will leave Park Avenue at 3.30pm.