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It's perhaps one of the oldest clichés in the game. In a cup game, anyone is capable of beating anyone and yesterday certainly proved that as Town needed spot kicks to dispatch Wales Alliance Holywell Town at Halkyn Road, writes Matthew Wallace.
The Seasiders played large parts of the game with 10 men after centre half Steven Wright saw red following two yellow cards early in the second half. But despite the numerical disadvantage, it is Town that now entertain Airbus UK in the next round of the competition. Mike Lewis was the hero of the day, saving a trio of spot kicks and his manager Ian Hughes, was keen to praise the man between the sticks. “It’s no surprise with Mike. We know he’s got that quality about him and he showed that today. He’s a great shot stopper and we saw that today not only in the penalty shootout, but in the game as well. He was a doubt for today as well as he’s been suffering from the flu but he’s played through it and he’s the hero.” The hero of the hour Lewis stated, “I love a penalty shoot out. I have my own routine that I stick to. I was confident that I could save at least two of them and I was lucky to get number three really. I’m just happy to get the win. It’s a very difficult place to come.” Aber faced injury worries both before and during the game but even in the face of increased adversity, Town managed to find a way to progress. “It was tough with injuries and we’ve had to change two of the back four during the game. Stuart Jones picked up an injury in the warm up but he got through it. Sion James got injured so we had to put a centre back at right back and then Craig Williams who’s the best left-winger in the league we’ve had to play at left back. It disturbed us slightly as we don’t want to be changing as much as we did. “Both those chances came in extra time as well so it demonstrates the fitness of the players playing with 10 men and still creating chances. I can’t believe Geoff Kellaway’s doesn’t go in and the keeper’s pulled off a great save from Mark Jones. It demonstrates the fitness and character of the players to deal with the occasion. There were a lot of fans behind that goal urging Holywell on. I’m really pleased with the way Luke Sherborn, Chris Venables and Chris Davies took their penalties.” The draw for Round 5 of the FAW Welsh Cup was made in Caersws this afternoon by Wales team coach Osian Roberts and ex-Seasider and Welsh Premier League Hall of Fame member Colin Reynolds, live on S4C's sports programme Clwb.
The first tie to be drawn saw Aberystwyth Town at home to Airbus UK Broughton. Aber travel to Airbus on Saturday for a WPL match and also host them at the end of March in the return game. Three of The Seasiders' next seven games will be against the Wingmakers, and these matches are sure to have a major influence on Town's measure of success at the end of the season. FAW Welsh Cup Quarter Final Draw Aberystwyth Town v Airbus UK Broughton Bangor City v Caersws or Newtown Carmarthen Town v Rhyl Gap Connahs Quay v The New Saints The quarter finals will be played over the weekend of 6,7,8 March 2015.  Tenovus Welsh Cup Fourth Round
Saturday 7th February Holywell Town 0 Aberystwyth Town 0 Aberystwyth win 3-2 on penalties A hat trick of penalty saves from Aber keeper Mike Lewis, allied to successful strikes from Chris Venables, Luke Sherbon and Chris Davies saw the Black and Greens through to the Welsh Cup Quarter Finals after an indistinguished game at Halkyn Road, Holywell ended goalless after two hours. An excellent crowd of 635 turned up on the day, and witnessed a first half which was strangely bereft of goalmouth action. Aber looked fairly comfortable in posession but struggled to create many meaningful opportunities, which could also be said for Holywell Town. Chris Venables sent a free kick narrowly wide, Criag Williams drew a smart save from home keeper Mike Platt and Mark Jones twice burst through the back four only to shoot just off target. At the other end the hosts' only meaningful effort was a low shot from Tony Roebuck which brought a smart save from Lewis, and the first half ended goal less, but with Aber ahead on points. The Black and Greens dominated the early exchanges of the second half, with Venables again going close with free kick, Luke Sherbon flicking a header just over and Geoff Kellaway shooting wide. Stuart Jones was a towering presence in the visiting defence but to give Holywell credit, they did finally manage a spell of sustained pressure towards the end of the ninety minutes. Phil Lloyd was a handful all day and after bearing in on goal down the right flank he brought a superb save from Lewis. Then with 14 minutes to go Aber's Stephen Wright was sent off for a second yellow card, and the game really opened up. Paul Williams hit the woodwork for Holywell with a cross, Venables brought two more excellent saves from Platt, then Lloyd saw an effort cleared off the line before Lewis again was at full stretch to deny Williams, and ensure the game went into extra time. Despite the numerical advantage Holywell visibly tired in extra time, and stuck with one up font against ten men. Aber to their credit created two superb chances, with Mark Jones drawing yet another top drawer save from Platt, and Kellaway coming within an inch of winning the game with a lob, but a game neither side really deserved to win ended at 0-0 after extra time, meaning the drama of a penalty shoot out prevailed. Tom McElmeel and Venables scored the first two spot kicks, before Lewis saved from Roebuck and Platt stopped Mark Jones' pen. Rob Salathiel and Luke Sherbon also scored, but when Lewis did superbly to deny home captain John Leonard and Chris Davies netted Aber's third pen, it meant that Greame Williams had to score to keep Holywell's dream alive. Sadly for the homesters his weak spot kick was easily gathered by one of the WPL's stand out keepers this season, and Aber had made it through to the Welsh Cup Quarter Finals, despite never really reaching Top Gear. Aber return to League action next week with a visit to Broughton to face Airbus, and after a physically demanding encounter the Players will be glad of a week's recovery time. Meanwhile supporters will dream of more Cup Glory to come!  Aberystwyth Town Football Club are delighted to have received a grant offer from the Football Association of Wales for the creation of a FIFA 2* Synthetic 3G pitch at Park Avenue, funded by the UEFA Hat Trick Programme.
The Club's Application outlined three main outcomes, namely transforming Park Avenue into a Community Hub; improving standards of football performance at all levels; and strengthening the Club as a sustainable business. Instillation of the facility is scheduled to take place between May and September 2015. The project is linked to the development of 33 residential flats by Tai Ceredigion, on the Astroturf pitch the Club currently owns in the Southern Corner of the Stadium. Club Chairman Tony Bates said: "We are delighted to have secured this significant funding boost from the FAW, especially considering the significant competition in this particular grant round. We hope the receipt of this grant and the opportunities it opens up will prove to be a watershed moment for Aberystwtyth Town Football Club as a Community Oriented Business." |
Gem Nesaf
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