Aberystwyth Town Football Club are delighted to announce the signing of experienced and wily Welsh Premier League striker Marc Williams from Bangor City. 

Marc has spent periods with Conference sides Wrexham, Chester, Northwich Victoria and Kidderminster Harriers and has been capped for Wales at U17, U19, U21 and semi-professional levels. 

Aber's fans will most recently remember Marc for his spells with Llandudno and Cymru Alliance outfit Bangor City. Known for his prolific goal scoring record, the front man made 86 appearances for Wrexham between 2005 and 2011, scoring 17 goals in the process. 

He scored 14 goals in 60 games for Conference North side Chester City between 2011 and 2014, and more recently netted 25 goals in 76 games for Llandudno in the JD Welsh Premier League, guiding them to a Europa League qualification tie back in 2016/17. 

Marc will wear the number 9 shirt at Park Avenue and Town hope that he will be available to go straight into Friday's match day squad for the Black and Greens' home clash with Llandudno, pending paperwork clearance. 

The club would also like to announce the release of striker Rio Ahmadi, and would like to wish him the very best for the future as he moves to Welsh Premier League outfit Newtown for the remainder of the season. 

For the first Goal of the Month of 2019 it was up to experienced International footballer Loren Dykes to choose the four goals that have a chance of winning January's Goal of the Month.

Loren has played over 50 games for Wales as well as being a regular starter for FA Women's Super League side Bristol City Women, who currently sit fifth in Englands top tier. The full-back joined the WSL side in 2008 and has featured in two FA Women's Cup Finals and two Champions League campaigns.

Loren was shown all nine of Aber Town Ladies' January goals and the defender has chosen her four favourites. It is now up to the public to choose their winner,

Recently, Tania Wylde won December's vote meaning the club's top scorer has now won three of the four Goal of the Month competitions with Kelly Thomas winning October's vote. Wylde has two goals in the January vote with Dykes also choosing goals scored by Cat Davies and Naomi Evans.

This is what Loren had to say on each of the goals she chose:

GOAL A - Cat Davies (vs Merthyr Town Women): "Great delivery and great header, nice to see someone attacking the ball"

GOAL B - Tania Wylde (vs Merthyr Town Women - 1st goal): "Good free kick, obviously not scoring but great attempt to score near post. Great quick close touches to set the strike under pressure. Very powerful and high into the top of the net leaving the keeper with a very difficult job."

GOAL C - Naomi Evans (vs Merthyr Town Women): "Unselfish play from the winger to set up the goalscorer who holds her run on the edge of box. Very good finish into the corner under pressure."

GOAL D - Tania Wylde (vs Merthyr Town Women - 4th goal): "Good speed and ability to touch the ball around the defender. Good composure to finish into the corner."

*Voting closes at 6pm on Wednesday February 6th 2019.
Results will be posted on Aberystwyth Town Ladies Facebook and Twitter

Aberystwyth Town FC are currently recruiting for the post of First Team Manager
 
-Candidates must hold, or be attending a course towards a UEFA Pro Licence (completed or attending before April 2019).
-A desirable criteria is that the candidate has experience of managing at Welsh Premier League level (or equivalent).
-Personal qualities required would include enthusiasm, motivation, communication skills, man management and excellent contacts within the game.
-This is a part time role and remuneration will be by negotiation during the interview process.
 
Football CVs should be emailed to Club Secretary Thomas Crockett at [email protected].
 
Closing date for applications: Monday 18th February, 2019
 
Rights and Duties of the First Team Manager of Aberystwyth Town Football Club
(as defined within Club Licensing Document P08)
 
-To coach the First Team for 2 hours every Tuesday and Thursday, unless otherwise agreed
-To pick the First team squad for every game
-To ensure an acceptable level of fitness for all players
-To monitor the progress of the Academy players and to watch as many Reserve/Youth team games as posible
-Must try to recruit the best players possible as well as developing the indigenous talent
-Must ensure that the players & coaching staff abide Fair Play and all other Codes of Practice at all times
-Must continue their Coach Education Development to gain the best possible qualifications, for which the club will support

JD Welsh Cup Round Four
Saturday 26th January
Aberystwyth Town 1 Cardiff Met 3

An impressive start to the game, illuminated by Ryan Wollacott's 15th minute header, wasn't enough for the Black and Greens to prevail in the Welsh Cup this afternoon, as goals from Cardiff Met's Will Evans (27 minutes), Chris Baker (64) and Adam Roscrow (90) saw the students through to the Quarter Finals at a rainy Park Avenue.

Playing in a new formation, with Mattie Jones and Declan Walker back in from suspension and handing debuts to goalkeeper Callum Preston and Centre Back John Shaw, Aber started strongly with Walker a good outlet down the right, playing some dangerous balls into the box. Mattie Jones was also delivering good balls from the left and on the quarter hour the hosts had a deserved lead when Jones’ free kick was glanced home by Ryan Wollacott, to widespread relief. Looking stronger in the tackle and more determined Aber’s lead suited them, and Walker continued to threaten. With Powell’s men breaking in threes and fours a second goal looked a possibility but then came a hammer blow as a long ball forward found Evans in Aber’s box, and he turned his defender before smashing the ball low into the corner to equalise for the Archers. Back came Aber with Joe Phillips curling wide, Walker had a shot blocked and Geoff Kellaway tested Fuller with a low drive. Evans knocked a ball over the top for Met in injury time but Aber could be fairly pleased with a positive first half performance for which a 1-1 scoreline was scant reward.
 
A fairly quiet start to the second half ensued, and Phillips again went wide, but then on 64 minutes the game’s momentum changed in a heartbeat when Roscrow’s right wing cross was too sharp for Preston, and Baker pounced on the rebound to put the visitors ahead. Roscrow fired just wide, but back came Aber as Walker hit the side netting at the back post from Jones’ free kick. The evermore influential Roscrow then weaved through the home defence before coming within an inch of scoring, and then Preston did well to deny Rhydian Morgan when Met looked sure to score. Paolo Mendes just failed to get on the end of Steff Edwards’ tempting ball into the box, and then on full time Roscrow followed up his own shot which came off the post to score the students’ third goal from a narrow margin to seal the win. Aber were denied a penalty shout in injury time but ultimately the result was probably a fair one based on the second half performances.
 
With their Cup dreams gone for another season the Black and Greens’ focus will now turn to the Play Off Conference which kicks off at Park Avenue this Friday, February 1st with Llandudno the visitors for a 7.45pm kick off. Keep The Faith!

JD Welsh Cup: Fourth Round
Saturday 26th January (2:30p.m Kick Off)
Aberystwyth Town v Cardiff Met 

Aberystwyth Town will look to repeat their Welsh Cup heroics of last season as they face Cardiff Met yet again at the fourth round stage, but this time at Park Avenue on Saturday afternoon. Malcolm Melvin's deft header helped Town secure a fantastic victory at Cyncoed Campus at the same stage of the competition last season, and Aber will hope for the same outcome this time around as they seek a place in the last 16 for the second successive season. 

Manager Nev Powell admitted it was a case of the same old story after Town's last game, as the Seasiders fell to defeat at the hands of Barry Town at Jenner Park. "We're giving teams a head start in games by conceding early, and at this level you can't afford to do that". The Aber manager will be keen to see his side start on the front foot this weekend as they return to Park Avenue, and will hope for a similar performance to that shown in the second half at Jenner Park where the Seasiders found themselves unlucky not to come away with a point; "Overall it was another good away performance, and we bossed large parts of the game, we just need to learn that we can't start games as slowly as we have been lately". 

Powell has a rich history in the JD Welsh Cup, reaching four consecutive finals in his time as Bangor City manager between 2008 and 2011 - lifting the trophy on three occasions. And of course, more recently he guided the Black and Greens to last season's JD Welsh Cup Final at Latham Park, where it was one step too far as Aber were well beaten by Connah's Quay Nomads. Town progressed into the fourth round of the JD Welsh Cup after a battling performance away at Cwmamman United in the third round, and will need similar spirit and desire to get past the Archers on Saturday afternoon.

Saturday's visitors enter the game after lifting the Nathaniel MG Cup last weekend, defeating Cambrian & Clydach BGC in the Final at Jenner Park thanks to an Adam Roscrow brace. Met have endured a tumultuous season thus far, after finishing in the JD Welsh Premier League's bottom six places at the split, along with Aber, and currently lie 3 points above the Seasiders in the table. The sides have already clashed twice so far this season, with the Archers strolling to a 4-1 win at Park Avenue in August, before a stunning second half comeback secured Aber a 3-2 victory at Cyncoed in November. 

Saturday's clash is sure to be another hard fought battle, and kick off at Park Avenue is at 2:30p.m. Admission costs £8 adults, £5 concessions and £2 for u16's. Come along and see whether Aber can discover the magic of the Welsh Cup once more and continue their onwards journey in this season's competition!