Aberystwyth Town 5 Goytre United 1

Tuesday 8th September
Word Cup First Round
Aberystwyth Town 5 Goytre United 1

Aber Town earned a morale boosting 5-1 win over Welsh League high fliers Goytre United at Park Avenue this evening, ensuring progress to the last sixteen of the Word Cup, which is to be played on Tuesday 29th September. Goals from Chris Venables (16 minutes), Darren Thomas (30), Geoff Kellaway (43), Cledan Davies (69) and Craig Williams' 89th minute penalty capped an inspiring performance by the Black and Greens, while Goytre United's response came from Adam Orme (48 minutes).

Visibly stung by last Friday’s poor result Aber threw themselves into the game with aplomb, showing a good tempo and dominating proceedings. An early searching cross from Antonio Corbisiero just eluded Darren Thomas, and then Jack Rimmer, who made a very composed first ever start in a Black and Green shirt, had a shot blocked and a penalty shout denied. Darren Thomas then made a trademark burst down the left wing, creating space to deliver a back pass straight into the path of Chris Venables – and he doesn’t miss from ten yards, so Town had a sixteenth minute lead, and Venables’ father Stuart had the Golden Goal. Cledan Davies then came to prominence down the left wing, first firing just wide after a great move, then seeing a header saved by visiting keeper Luke Martin, before hitting the post with a cross cum shot just minutes later. Goytre United’s Jake Parry brought a save out of Mike Lewis with a free kick, but then normal service resumed as Venables’ shot was palmed to safety by a defender – and then palmed to safety by Martin from the resultant 27th minute penalty. The reprieve last just three minutes however as Darren Thomas again ghosted past the home defence, cutting in from the left and finding the bottom corner with a right footed finish for a goal to break his Park Avenue duck. Luke Morgan fired over for Goytre, but then back came Aber as Stuart Jones had a shot saved and Thomas missed by inches from a good position. The returning Geoff Kellaway was providing a great outlet for Aber and he crowned his return in the 43rd minute by sending in a snapshot from the edge of the area which snuggled into the bottom corner for a fully deserved 3-0 lead at the break.

Goytre had won five games out of five coming into this game so it was inevitable that they would enjoy a period of pressure, and once Kellaway had been denied at point black range by Martin, that period came soon after the break. Michael Waters, who once played for Town under Brian Coyne, fired over from the edge of the area, before Adam Orme got a 48th minute goal back for the visitors, finding the bottom corner from the edge of the area with a cool finish. Waters had another shot saved by Lewis, but then in the 69th minute yet another burst from Kellaway allowed him to send in a dangerous cross which caused consternation at the back and allowed Davies to nip in to side foot home for a 4-1 lead. Chris Allen had a shot parried by Lewis and then Liam Jaques and Tom Jones both came on for their Aber Town debuts and like Rimmer, both contributed to an effervesvent victory. In fact Jaques it was who went on a great run into the area, only to be tripped for an 89th minute penalty, dispatched confidently by Craig Williams, who had a super game at left back. Jaques brought yet another save from Martin, and the game was done.

This game was an entertaining and fast paced Cup Tie, and on a night of Word Cup shocks Aber showed all the qualities which earned the Black and Greens a Top Four place last season, and will play their part in the last sixteen in three weeks time. If Town can repeat Tuesday’s performance on Saturday afternoon in the Dafabet WPL against visitors Airbus UK Broughton, home supporters will not be disappointed. Kick-off is at 2.30pm. 

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