JD Welsh Premier League
Friday 9th February
Aberystwyth Town 3-1 Llandudno
 
Aberystwyth Town maintained their excellent recent home form as they beat Llandudno 3-1 in an entertaining Friday night JD Welsh Premier League clash at Park Avenue. Goals from John Owen (5), Declan Walker (26, pen) and Craig Hobson (90) secured Aber’s sixth win in eight home games in all competitions, despite Marc Williams’ second half strike threatening a comeback for the visitors.  The victory sees Nev Powell’s side climb to within three points of ninth placed Llandudno, and to within just five points of seventh place in the JD Welsh Premier League Play Off Conference.
 
Aber manager Nev Powell made one change to the starting eleven that lost away at Barry Town last weekend, with Malcolm Melvin replacing Craig Rogers, resulting in Ashley Young dropping back to the centre back position. On a freezing night at Park Avenue, Aber started like a team on fire. Within just five minutes, the hosts took a deserved lead as John Owen gathered a loose ball on the edge of the visitors’ penalty area, before making space for a low, right-footed shot that flew into the bottom corner of the net beyond the reach of goalkeeper Alex Lynch.  It was evident that the early goal had given Town a boost, as they pressed for a second goal with Malcolm Melvin seeing his tame effort easily collected by Lynch in goal. However, on 21 minutes the visitors were handed a golden opportunity to get back into the game as Tom Dix was fouled in the penalty area and awarded a penalty kick. Sam Hart stepped up, but dragged his spot kick wide of Chris Mullock’s post - much to the relief of the home supporters. Soon after, drama ensued at the other end as Aber were awarded a penalty of their own, with Hart adjudged to have handled the ball in the penalty area. Declan Walker stepped up this time, and thumped home the spot kick into the top right hand corner to make it 2-0. Aber began to take control of the game as they exerted continued pressure on the visitors back line, with Damien Allen and Melvin controlling the midfield expertly. On 34 minutes, Ashley Young whipped a dangerous cross into the penalty area that was cleared in the nick of time by Llandudno defender Danny Shaw, as Aber saw out the first half comfortably to go into the break with a two goal lead.
 
Visitors Llandudno started the second half in much brighter fashion, evidently buoyed by the half time team talk of assistant manager Matty Williams. On 48 minutes, with their first attack of the second half, they found a way back into the game as Danny Hughes played in Wes Baynes, who crossed for Marc Williams to convert at the near post and make it 2-1. Suddenly the momentum of the game swung in favour of the visitors, as they began to commit more players forwards in search of an equaliser. On 50 minutes, they very nearly found a second goal as Danny Shaw’s header clipped the crossbar, before Danny Hughes saw his brilliant half-volley sail inches wide of Chris Mullock’s far post. Aber were hanging on to their slender advantage, as Ashley Young and Ryan Wollacott battled for every ball in the heart of the defence. On 63 minutes, Craig Hobson was introduced for the hosts in place of Damien Allen, and Town almost immediately regained some control of the game thanks to a tactical switch from Aber’s management team. On 67 minutes, Hobson latched on to a brilliant pass by Melvin to race through on goal before being denied by an outstanding fingertip save from Alex Lynch. Soon after, Aber’s number 9 was again in the thick of the action as he came close to converting after a goalmouth scramble, before seeing his back post header cannon off the base of the post and out for a goal kick. The visitors refused to go down without a fight, and on 84 minutes they again went close as Chris Mullock produced a brilliant save to deny Sam Hart. As the game entered the final minutes, Town used all their game management nous to see out the win. And in stoppage time, the victory was duly sealed as John Owen scampered down the left wing before cutting into the penalty area and putting the ball on a silver platter for Hobson to bury his fourth goal of the season and make it 3-1.
 
Another fine victory at Park Avenue for Nev Powell’s side, who will be glad to get back to winning ways after last weekend’s away defeat at Jenner Park. With their eyes now firmly set on 7th place in the league table, Town will prepare for another tough home game against Prestatyn Town next Friday evening in the JD Welsh Premier League. 
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Aberystwyth Town FC publicly congratulate four members of Bari Morgan's Under 19s Development side who have been selected for the Wales Under 18 Academy Squad which will travel to Waterford to face the Republic of Ireland in two Internationals on Tuesday 20th and Thursday 22nd February.

Aber's Fab Four included in the Squad are:
Alex Pennock
Lee Jenkins
Liam Doherty and
Harri Horwood

Their selection is a reward for a fantastic season for Bari's Under 19s who currently stand a point behind Welsh Premier Development League (South) leaders Swansea City with a game in hand. They also travel to Cardiff City this Sunday for an FAW Youth Cup Quarter Final, which kicks off at 1pm at the Cardiff International Sport Campus. 

The Club is delighted for Alex, Lee, Liam and Harri and look forward to hearing about their success with the Squad in due course.

Full details of the Under 19s Squad can be found here.

D Welsh Premier League
Friday 9th February (8p.m Kick Off)
Aberystwyth Town v Llandudno
 
Aberystwyth Town will look to bounce back from last weekend’s disappointing defeat away at Barry Town as they face Llandudno at Park Avenue on Friday night in the JD Welsh Premier League. Friday’s game sees Town return to action at Park Avenue for the first time in four weeks, after consecutive away games in South Wales, with Nev Powell’s side looking to build on their last home league fixture that saw them thump then second placed Connah’s Quay Nomads 4-2.
 
Aber manager Nev Powell highlighted his disappointment after last weekend’s defeat at Jenner Park, but was also keen to emphasise the importance of his side’s next two home games in the league against Llandudno and Prestatyn. In an interview after last weekend’s game, Powell commented; “We let ourselves down a bit and never defended as a team, the way we were able to against Cardiff Met in the Welsh Cup. We’ve now got two home games coming up and we’ll be looking to take maximum points, then maybe we can start looking at that seventh placed finish”. Indeed, Powell will be hopeful that his side can show some of the same bouncebackability that saw them pick up four points in the league against Cardiff Met and Connah’s Quay after what was a disappointing festive period of fixtures. One factor Aber will be hoping to build on is their fine recent goal scoring form at Park Avenue, having netted 19 goals in their last 5 home games in all competitions. Perhaps most impressive is that 10 different outfield players have contributed to that goal tally, and Aber’s loyal supporters will be hoping for more of the same on what promises to be another classic Friday night under the lights.
 
Visitors Llandudno enter Friday night’s game having won just once in their last eight JD Welsh Premier League games, with that solo victory coming away at local rivals Bangor City. Iwan Williams’ side have enjoyed a more successful JD Welsh Cup campaign however, progressing to the quarter-final stage after victories against Cymru Alliance outfits Gresford and Ruthin Town. Friday marks the third time the sides will have met this season, with both previous fixtures ending in away victories after Llandudno ran out 2-0 victors at Park Avenue back in August, before Aber picked up their first league victory of the season with a 3-2 win at The Giant Hospitality Stadium in October.
 
In what promises to be another entertaining encounter, kick off at Park Avenue on Friday night is at 8p.m, and admission costs £7 for adults, £4 concessions and £1 children. With the forecast promising to be clear, cool and dry, come on down and watch the temperature soar on the pitch! 

Sunday 4th February 2018
Welsh Women’s League (WWL)
​Barry Town United Ladies 1 Aberystwyth Town Ladies 1

Aberystwyth left Jenner Park with a well earned point after a late equaliser from Barry Town United Ladies defender Emily Mortimore cancelled out Tania Wylde's second half wonder goal, writes Steven Brookes.

Due to postponements and one match being abandoned at half time this was Aber's first full league match since October and on a cold evening under the floodlights it was the away side that got off to the better start. Tania Wylde had an early effort comfortably saved by the home side keeper and then later saw her volley deflected wide. Caroline Cooper and Helen Evans also had chances but were unable to force the home side's goalkeeper into making a big save.

Aber came close to an early second half goal. Cooper's excellent first-time strike from outside the box was just over but they didn't have to wait too long to break the deadlock. 12 minutes into the half, Tania Wylde's outstanding strike from near 40 yards gave the keeper little chance with what was arguably one of the goals of the season. Despite going behind Barry were looking the stronger of the two teams and were creating good chances from open play and also looked dangerous from set pieces, and with eight minutes remaining the home side got the equaliser they deserved. A corner in the box was not properly cleared and defender Emily Mortimore was able to put the ball into the back of the net, to ensure the match ended 1-1.

Despite not winning the match Aber players can be proud of what was a very good performance against a talented side.

JD Welsh Premier League
Saturday 3rd February
Barry Town United 3-1 Aberystwyth Town
 
Aberystwyth Town fell to a disappointing 3-1 JD Welsh Premier League defeat at the hands of Barry Town United, on an afternoon to forget in South Wales for the seasiders. Barry’s Jonathan Hood scored on his debut to give the hosts a first half lead, before second half goals from Jordan Cotterill (55) and Kayne McLaggan (pen, 81) secured all three points for the dragons. Declan Walker did grab a late consolation for Nev Powell’s side with an excellent scissor-kick finish, but it wasn’t to be on a tough afternoon for the black and greens.
 
Central defender Craig Rogers made his full debut for Aber as he replaced Malcolm Melvin in the only change to the side that defeated Cardiff Met in the capital last weekend. Hosts Barry started the brightest in the early stages, as Callum Sainty saw his header sail just over Chris Mullock’s crossbar, before Ryan Wade almost got on the end of Ashley Young’s throw in at the other end. Aber’s first meaningful chance of the game came on 9 minutes, as Declan Walker strode forward before unleashing a low effort that was well saved by Barry ‘keeper Mike Lewis. Despite Town’s threatening forward play, Barry continued to dominate possession in the early stages, without causing new centre-back pairing Rogers and Ryan Wollacott any meaningful problems.  As the first half wore on, Aber grew into the game, and created another good opportunity on 20 minutes, as John Owen cut inside before striking a tame left-footed effort at Lewis in goal. However, on 23 minutes the hosts took the lead, as Jonathan Hood whipped in a low cross-come-shot that fizzed into the bottom corner of the net to make it 1-0. Aber responded well to going behind, with John Owen and Joe Phillips producing some threatening wide play without creating any goal scoring opportunities.  As half time approached, Town again tried their luck from range as Phillips let fly from 25 yards, but his bouncing shot was straight down the throat of Lewis in goal, and the visitors went into the break trailing.
 
Aber started the second half with an increased tempo and rhythm, and very nearly found an equaliser from the restart as Owen headed over Wade’s inviting cross. Then, on 50 minutes came Town’s best chance of the game, as Owen again found himself unmarked in the box where he brought the ball under his control expertly, before forcing Mike Lewis into a fantastic save at his near post. Soon after came the sucker punch the travelling supporters were dreading, as Barry doubled their lead. With their first meaningful attack of the second half, Jordan Cotterill strode forward before cutting inside and firing an unstoppable shot into the bottom right corner of the net to make it 2-0. Malcolm Melvin and Craig Hobson were introduced from the substitutes bench to try and find Aber a way back into the game, but the luck didn’t appear to be with Nev Powell’s side. On 63 minutes, the hosts almost extended their lead as substitute James Demetriou rounded Mullock before being denied a certain goal by a phenomenal last-ditch tackle by Declan Walker. Town continued to press for a way back into the game, as Damien Allen fired a rebound wide of the mark, before Hobson turned in the and sent his left footed shot inches over the crossbar. On 81 minutes, Barry well and truly put the game to bed as Kayne McLaggan was fouled in the area, before stepping up to convert the resulting penalty kick to make it 3-0. To their credit, Aber continued to attack in search of a consolation goal, and on 87 minutes they were rewarded, as Damien Allen’s corner kick was expertly converted by Declan Walker with a scissor-kick volley into the bottom corner to make it 3-1.  
 
Unfortunately it was a case of too little, too late for Town as they fell to a disappointing defeat at Jenner Park, with a performance that fell below the excellent standards that had been set in their previous two games; defeating Connah’s Quay Nomads and Cardiff Met. Nev Powell’s side remain in tenth place in the league table, and must now turn their attentions to next Friday night’s JD Welsh Premier League clash with Llandudno at Park Avenue. 
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Aberystwyth Town FC extends it's deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Terry Davies, who sadly passed away earlier this week. 

Terry spent time as both a player and assistant manager with Aberystwyth Reserves in the Spar Mid Wales League, and was also a great advocate and contributor to local Junior League football for many years.

In addition, Terry played for local sides Bow Street, Penparcau and Penrhyncoch, as well as most recently playing and managing Bont FC. Terry worked at the National Library in Aberystwyth, and also previously worked as a postman and fireman in the area.

The club once again wishes to extend it's deepest condolences and sympathies to Terry's family and friends at this time.