JD Cymru Premier
Friday 21st February
Aberystwyth Town 0 Penybont 1

At a rainswept Park Avenue Lewis Harling's 79th minute header proved crucial for Penybont as the visitors took all three points in last night's encounter in stormy Ceredigion. In a marked contrast to last week's five goal showing, Aber were restricted to few chances with Alhagi Touray going closest in the first half, and Marc Williams in the second half, but to no avail and Penybont walked off the field deserved winners on the evening.

Manager Mathew Bishop named an unchanged side after last week’s win over Airbus, but it was clear early on that tonight was going to be a tougher assignment with Penybont seeing plenty of the ball and competing well all over the pitch. Nathan Wood was putting in some dangerous crosses for the visitors, with Wes Baynes reciprocating for Aber, but with both sides defending solidly clear cut chances were few and far between. Alhagi Touray sent home hearts racing by beating his man before sending in a looping shot which deflected nicely for Ashley Morris in the home goal, then Luke Boundford made a great tackle to deny Eli Phipps. At the other end Harling curled wide for the Bont. Williams was blown offside just seconds before he lobbed home a beaut for the hosts, then Touray showed some more trickery before sending a volley just over. Mickey George fired wide before Kane Owen sent a lob over the bar and a fairly quiet first half ended goalless.

Aber made a double sub after the break with Matty Jones and Aaron Pomeyie coming on, and the rain came down. Owen again fired over, as did Wood from a good opening, and Aber in truth were finding it hard to get going. Wood played in George with a great touch only for the right back to drag his shot wide, and home keeper Alex Pennock gathered Owen’s curling effort. Owen was then inches away from scoring, pulling a brilliant free kick narrowly wide, and Aber had a big let off. Owain Warlow then fired over from another great position with the visitors looking increasingly threatening. Williams picked the ball up thirty yards out, bore in on goal and sent a volley zooming just past the post, and Jones’ dangerous cross  was just cleared off Williams’ head, but then with just over ten minutes left a left wing cross found Harling in the box, and his deft header back into the corner of the net won a tight game. Try as they might Aber could not fashion a response and Penybont held on for the three points.

Aber came back down to Earth last night after a great performance the week before and had one of those games where they struggled to get going. Although they created some great chances the visitors created more and were worthy winners. The Black and Greens have two weeks now to lick their wounds before heading North to face Cefn Druids a week on Friday, 6th March. Come on Aber!

JD Cymru Premier
Friday 21st February (ko 7.45pm)
Aberystwyth Town v Penybont

Aber Town go into Friday night’s JD Cymru Premier Play Off Conference match at home to Penybont in high spirits after last week’s 5-3 victory over Airbus UK Broughton.

The Black and Greens have started their League campaign for 2020 like a train, with wins away to Caernarfon Town, plus at home to Penybont five weeks ago, and Airbus last Friday, with only a controversial defeat at Cardiff Met in between on the debit side. Otherwise Aber’s form since the New Year has been excellent, with new signings jelling well with established heads to create a potent attacking threat going forward.

Grabbing all the headlines last week were Alahagi Touray, who bagged a brilliant hat trick, and Captain Marc Williams who pitched in with two crucial headers. Paulo Mendes was also commanding in midfield, newcomer Aaron Pomeyie was rapid down the wing and Adam Davies up front was voted Man of the Match, so there were plenty of reasons for Town fans to go home more than happy. Keeper Connor Roberts will  serve his second of a three match ban on Friday, with Alex Pennock again set to deputise, and Manager Mathew Bishop will be confident of another positive performance from his in form side.

Penybont for their part are dangerous opponents. Of late they have been playing well and dominating the ball in matches, only to lose by the odd goal here and there. They played very well at Park Avenue on January 18th, and only a fourth minute Billy Borge own goal condemned them to a narrow defeat. With ex Black and Green Kostya Georgievsky now a mainstay on the wing, plus Kayne Owen at number ten and Rhys Griffiths on the bench, Aber fans will be well aware of the threats the visitors pose.

Kick off at Park Avenue on Friday evening is at 7.45pm, with Admission set at £7 for Adults, £4 Concessions and £1 for kids. Join us for another Fab Friday: drama is guaranteed!

JD Cymru Premier
Friday 14th February
Aberystwyth Town 5 Airbus UK Broughton 3

A superb home hat trick from Alhagi Touray (11, 22 and 63 mins), plus two headed goals from Marc Williams (58 and 74 mins) ensured a superb night's entertainment at Park Avenue this evening: although Airbus contributed as well, with Kristian Platt (45), and Oli Lanceley (83 and 85 mins) reducing the arrears. Brady McGilloway was sent off for Airbus three minutes from time, with Aber earning a very important win on Valentine's Night.

On a dry and mild night in Ceredigion, Manager Mathew Bishop was forced to make changes in his starting line up in the absence of Connor Roberts (suspended), Matty Jones (unwell) and Dave Thompson, with James Rowland and Adam Davies being handed home debuts. ​The hosts started well, snapping away at every tackle and working hard to create chances. Geoff Kellaway had an early shot blocked and James Rowland fired over. Alhagi Touray was a constant menace to the visitors defence, and he opened the scoring after Wes Baynes sent in an excellent delivery from the left side, which was headed back by Adam Davies for the Spanish striker to slot home his first goal at Park Avenue. Airbus threatened but the home defence stood form, and with two tall strikers to aim at Aber always had an out ball. Baynes sent in a free kick from the left which scooted just wide of the post, and then Aber doubled their lead when Marc Williams lobbed in Touray, who touched the ball deftly past Roberts in the home goal for a deserved second. Paulo Mendes headed just over minutes later, but home keeper Alex Pennock had to punch clear from Joe Palmer, and saved from Alex Darlington’s back header. Touray then sent in a great cross which Lee Jenkins just failed to convert, sending his shot over the bar from close range, and he next set up Davies who volleyed just past the post. Touray slid in another shot for Roberts to save, but then with Aber seemingly in control in injury time Platt put the cat amongst the pigeons, sneaking in at the far post to half the deficit right on half time.

With the next goal vital Aber remained resolute with Lee Jenkins and Luke Boundford strong at the back. Pennock gathered a free kick from George Hughes, then a Baynes free kick found Jenkins’ head, but visiting keeper Roberts saved. Two Kellaway crosses caused Roberts problems from the right, and then a thrilling 50 yard run from Mendes which deserved a goal, again called Roberts into action. The just before the hour a lovely cross from Kellaway out on the right found the Black and Greens Captain and Williams nodded home deftly for 3-1. The rapid Aaron Pomeyie then came on for a thrilling debut, and set up a goal almost with his first touch, dashing down the right and creating the chance for the impeccable Touray to seal his hat trick. James Rowland then twice went close with Aber totally on top, before Baynes crossed for another Williams header at the near post for Aber’s fifth. Lovely eyebrows! Niall Watson then brought a great block out of Jenkins, and although Mendes’ trickery was thrilling the crowd, Airbus were not finished yet. Sub Lanceley reduced the deficit, slotting home after being set up by Dan Edwards, and two minutes later he sent home hearts racing by heading home Airbus’ third from Brady McGilloway’s excellent cross. There was still time for McGilloway to be red carded for a tackle on Marc Williams, and Aber saw out a vastly entertaining game to earn a hugely important three points.

So Aber’s fans had a Touray Hat trick, and a headed double from Captain Marc Williams to fall in love with on Valentine’s Night, and the three points takes Aber to 26 points, eight points away from the much desired seventh place target. See you all a week tonight at home to Penybont!   ​

JD Cymru Premier
Friday 14th February (ko 7.45pm)
Aberystwyth Town v Airbus UK Broughton

JD Cymru Premier football returns to Park Avenue on Friday night as the Play Off Conference comes to Ceredigion, with Black and Greens supporters hoping for a lovely performance on Valentine’s Day against Airbus UK Broughton.

Town made a brilliant start to the 2020s with consecutive wins at Caernarfon Town (3-0) and at home to Penybont – and both Manager Mathew Bishop and Captain Marc Williams have been nominated for the respective JD Cymru Premier Monthly Awards for January as a result. However defeats away to TNS in the Welsh Cup and Cardiff Met last week have slowed down the Black and Green bandwaggon somewhat of late.

Aber were well in contention last Saturday at Cyncoed when a highly controversial refereeing decision on 73 minutes to send off keeper Connor Roberts and award the hosts a penalty swung the game in the hosts’ favour. Worse than that, Roberts now faces an incredibly harsh three match ban as a result of that decision so Alex Pennock will deputise between the posts. Town now need to move on positively and Friday night’s match will give home fans their first chance to view Aaron Pomeyie, James Rowland and Adam Davies, who all signed for the Seasiders after the Penybont game in mid January. Alhagie Touray Sisay notched his first goal of the season last week too so home fans will be hoping for more.

Visitors Airbus have had a difficult 2019/20 back in the Cymru Prem, but saved their best for Park Avenue earlier in the season where they won in September by two goals to one. The good news for home fans is that Aber enacted revenge in November up on Deeside, winning 5-1, so Friday’s outcome is not easy to predict.

So check your leave of absence with your life partners, or indeed bring them along for a Valentine’s Day treat, as Phase II returns to Aber! Admission will cost £7 for Adults, £4 Concessions and £1 for kids. We would love to see you!

JD Cymru Premier
Saturday 8th February
Cardiff Met 3 Aberystwyth Town 1

​Goals from Elliot Evans (10, pen 76) and Will Evans (86 mins) won the game for Cardiff Met this afternoon at Cyncoed Campus, despite Alhagi Touray Sisay scoring his first goal for the Seasiders to equalise on 34 minutes. Having been fully competitive for 85 minutes Aber were left cursing their luck after finding themselves on the wrong end of a controversial late decision which saw keeper Connor Roberts sent off, and a match winning penalty awarded to the hosts.

On a blustery day in the capital the hosts started with a ferocious wind behind them and consequently dominated possession in the early stages. Mael Davies fired over, but then at the other end Marc Williams broke through and his goalbound shot was parried by Will Fuller for a corner. Met then took the lead when a simple long ball through the middle found Elliot Evans who burst through and lobbed home smartly. Despite the setback Aber went on to defend stoutly, restricting Met to few clear cut chances. Mael Davies, benefitting from a lucky bounce brought out a great save from Roberts, and Will Evans’ looping header was comfortably gathered by the visiting keeper, who denied the same player again soon after. Credit Aber who were attempting to play football, and just after the half hour Geoff Kellaway went on a brilliant swashbuckling 50 yard run down the left before crossing for Touray Sisay to open his account with an equaliser from inside the box. Back came the hosts with Will Evans smashing over and then bringing another save from Roberts, but Town saw out the half in a disciplined manner, and a half time score of 1-1 in the face of a strong wind represented a good 45 minutes work for the men in Green.

Met again dominated possession after the break though Aber also created chances: Wes Baynes saw a free kick deflected for a corner, then Williams saw a flicked header cleared to safety. Then Matthew Jones sent in a great ball from the right which Kellaway volleyed wide after a sweet passing move. Aber were still defending well with Pavel Vieira an important barrier preventing the hosts from creating opportunities, and Baynes saw one volley deflected over, and another one fire over the bar with Aber threatening a crucial victory. Then on 73 minutes came the defining moment of the game, as Connor Roberts climbed up to catch the ball and unintentionally caught Dion Phillips on the way back down with his foot. A red card and a penalty were awarded, which Elliot Evans dispatched past sub keeper Alex Pennock. Another Baynes free kick rushed past everyone in the box and then Matthew Jones had an effort cleared, only for Met to break down the right with Will Evans, and he settled the match with four minutes to go. Dylan Rees crashed a volley against the crossbar in injury time, but the score remained at 3-1 earning Cardiff Met a vital three points.

Although the hosts controlled the ball better today Aber certainly created enough chances to have earned a point, but the Footballing Gods were not smiling on the Black and Greens as things turned out. The Seasiders will be hoping for better luck on Friday night when they host Airbus UK Broughton with a 7.45pm kick off. See you there!

Saturday 8th February (ko 2.30pm)
JD Cymru Premier: Play Off Conference
Cardiff Met v Aberystwyth Town

Aber Town look to continue their excellent Cymru Premier form of 2020 when they kick off their Play Off Conference commitments with a match away to seventh placed Cardiff Met on Saturday afternoon.

On paper this would appear to be Town’s hardest fixture of the split with Met sitting eight points ahead of the Seasiders, yet a third consecutive League win in the Capital would catapult them right back into contention for the all important seventh spot, which last year lead the Met all the way to the UEFA Europa League, via the Play Offs.

Aber have seen a big turnaround in personnel since Christmas, with the departures of Steff Edwards, Adam Hughes, Tom Price, Joe Phillips, Ryan Edwards and Richie Ricketts (on loan), to be replaced by Ilan Hughes, Pavel Vieira, Dave Thompson, Alhagi Touray Sisay, Adam Davies, James Rowland and Aaron Pomeyie. Club Director of Football Neville Powell also left the Club this week, however the retention of Paulo Mendes, Wes Baynes and Luke Boundford in the face of seven day notices from elsewhere is also huge news for the Club.

Cardiff Met for their part have had a sedate January with very little transfer activity, though they did progress in the Welsh Cup two weeks ago thanks to a 2-1 win at Penybont, whom Aber also beat 1-0 three weeks ago.

The match is one where a positive result could prove huge for Aber come the end of the season, and the Black and Greens will be hoping their traditional Capital following reject the temptations of the Oval Ball and turn up in force for Saturday’s 2.30pm kick off. Assemble Green Army!