Dafabet Welsh Premier League
Friday 18th March
Port Talbot Town 2 Aberystwyth Town 2

Two late, late goals from Black and Green Goal Machine Chris Venables rescued an unlikely point at Port Talbot this evening, which takes Aber back to the top of the Play Off Conference on goals scored. 

This game which featured a remarkable ending was in truth unremarkable for most of the regulation 90 minutes. On a chilly night the hosts started stronger and looked more purposeful up front, with Luke Bowen a particularly lively presence for the Steelmen. Kostya Georgievsky drew a save from Mike Lewis from the right flank, though in response Aber's returning Rhys Griffiths sent a shot across the bows before Jonathan Evans tested Steve Cann in the home goal. Geoff Kellaway also saw a low left footer gathered by Cann, before at the other end Kurtis March burst through but blazed over from a good position. Talbot then took the lead from a free kick conceded, ironically by Aber's standout player on the night, Centre Back Lee Surman, when Bowen's 25th minute strike flew into the top right hand corner. Bowen then fired over and Martin Rose tapped wide from a good position, and although Venables flashed a free kick just past the post late on the visitors could have no complaints about Talbot's half time lead.

The hosts went on to dominate most of the second half too, creating enough chances to please their excellent signing supporters and put the game to bed. Rose and Bowen shot wide again, though in response Stuart Jones did go very close with a header from Ross Stephens' free kick. Chris Jones then turned and shot to bring another save from Mike Lewis in Aber's goal, before Rose spurned a gilt edged chance to win the game by missing the target after bearing in on goal. Jones forced Lewis into another save but then in the 90th minute when all hope seemed lost Aber sub Ryan Batley sent a long throw into the box which was nodded on by another sub, Craig Williams and Venables flicked home an equaliser with a cute header from close range. In the fifth minute of injury time Black and Green hearts were broken when Jones' free kick was punched clear by Lewis, but only as far as Port Talbot sub Paul Fowler, and he smashed home what looked certain to be the winner, but sixty seconds later Craig Williams lofted a free kick into the visitors box and up popped Venables again to touch home and get Aber out of jail again! The referee's whistle blew and the game ended at 2-2.

Fifteen goal Chris Venables is now only a single strike behind Tony Gray at the top of the WPL Goalscorers Chart, and despite what in all honesty has to be described as a disappointing overall performance, Aber's Players showed guts and determination to drag a result out of the fire not once but twice. With three of their remaining four games at home Aber should be confident that they can earn a seventh place finish, and the next instalment in their intriguing quest for a UEFA Europa League Play Off spot takes place next Friday evening, when Rhyl visit Park Avenue for a 7.45pm kick off.       

Dafabet Welsh Premier League
Friday 18th March (ko 7.45pm)
Port Talbot Town v Aberystwyth Town

The Black and Greens travel South to the Genquip Stadium, Port Talbot on Friday evening for their penultimate away game of the regular season knowing that a place in the UEFA Europa League Play Offs is still within their grasp.

Ten points garnered from the opening five games of the Play Off Conference have built confidence within the squad, and a similar return from the last five games will ensure Aber remain right in the Play Off shake up until the final game on April 23rd.

After earning themselves a clean sheet and a decent away point at Bangor last weekend Town will be boosted by the return of influential front man Rhys Griffiths from suspension, and the knowledge that they beat Port Talbot 1-0 back in January, thanks to a headed goal from Griffiths himself. 

Any confidence however will be tempered by the knowledge that Talbot always prove to be tricky opponents for Aber, and Andy Dyer's men completed a first phase double over them earlier in the season. 

Wyn Thomas told S4C's Sgorio programme last Friday: "Port Talbot are next so we're looking forward to that game now. We hope to get a result but it's a hard place to go. We'll work hard (at training) on Tuesday as ever, and we'll hope to get a result next week."

The scene is therefore set for Aber's last Friday awayday of 2016/7 and the Coach leaves Park Avenue at 4pm. A return trip to the Legendary Sand Siro will cost a mere £10 for Adults and £5 Concessions: not to be missed!

Wyn Thomas was in reflective mode in conversation with Sgorio after last Friday night's encouraging 0-0 draw at Bangor University Stadium.

"It was a tough game. Coming to Bangor on a Friday night with a big crowd is not easy."

Thomas however was pleased with his side's performance overall:

"We played really well and we defended well. We just needed a bit of luck in the final third, but it didn't happen for us tonight. Venners hit the post and it was one of those nights."

The stalemate keep the intrigue going for the coveted seventh place which guarantees a spot in the UEFA Europa League Play Offs. A single point now separates Bangor, Carmarthen and Aber with all sides still to play each other once more before the season ends on April 23rd.

"It's close" said Thomas. "Any one of the three teams could get seventh, but we'll look after what Aber are doing on the pitch."

To watch the full match highlights visit the Sgorio website here. Town's next appointment is on Friday night at Port Talbot, and a full match preview will be posted to atfc.org.uk tomorrow.

Aberystwyth Town's 3G project has been almost three years in the planning and has been an off the field roller coaster ride to rival the First Team's fortunes on the field over the same period. Club Chairman Tony Bates takes us through the process:

"The opportunity to lay a 3G field presented itself, via the FAW's Project 3G Programme (funded via UEFA's Hat-Trick facilities investment initiative), which was formally launched at Dragon Park, Newport on 27th June 2013.

Already in May 2013 we had started initial discussions with the University and Ysgol Gyfun Penglais about the possibility of developing an off site facility. However the Education Authority made it clear that funding for such a project would not be available, and the plans with the University also fell through. At this point we received a lot of help from Just Solutions who carried out an initial appraisal on 21st May 2013 and ultimately assisted us to frame a successful bid to the FAW. 

We had always felt that selling the astroturf area for a building development might be a goer for the Club, so we then started informal discussions with Tai Ceredigion along those lines. They then came back to us with an amazing 88 flat project which would have encompassed the whole of that side of the ground, and provided us with a new Stand, dressing rooms, office space, a restaurant and a Youth Centre. This project was presented to the Board on 8th November 2013, unanimously endorsed, and subsequently presented to the Public at an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Club on 19th February 2014" (please see photos right, and below).

"In reality the funding environment at that particular time made a £13M social housing project unviable for Tai Ceredigion, so the Club went back to look in earnest at its original proposal of a 33 flat development on the astroturf area.  

Meanwhile the Club's bid to the FAW for the 3G Funding was approved in February 2015 and this was announced by the Club and the FAW. Incidentally this bid, which was earmarked for May-September 2015, was renewed when the initial time scale ran out.

We were also successful in accessing a grant from the Sports Council for Wales to support the project, however of course the entire project depended on clinching the deal with Tai Ceredigion which would provide our financial contribution to the project."

Aber Town's 3G Project: The Full Story will conclude later in the week

Dafabet Welsh Premier League
Friday 11th March
Bangor City 0 Aberystwyth Town 0

Aber Town earned a crucial point away to Play Off Conference rivals Bangor last night at Nantporth, and played well enough over the 90 minutes to have deserved a win, but a stalemate ensued which keeps the Play Off intrigue going.

A strong defence was Aber’s foundation to another positive result and strong performances from the likes of keeper Mike Lewis, Centre Backs Stuart Jones and Lee Surman, and industrious Ross Stephens in central midfield ensured that the hosts were restricted to a handful of attempts on target throughout the game. The Seasiders after a cagey start began to play the ball about nicely, although clear cut opportunities for either side were hard to come by. Aber’s best two chances came down the left flank as Geoff Kellaway slipped in behind the back four only to shoot just over, before Jonathan Evans burst into the same area before appearing to be impeded in the area before he could apply the finishing touch. By half time Aber were the better side. but the score remained goalless.
 
Both sides created a few more opportunities after the break. Mike Lewis had to be at his best to deny Sion Edwards’ low shot from the left, and he and Surman combined well to deny Steve Lewis from close range. At the other end Craig Williams cut in nicely from the left to draw a sharp save from Connor Roberts with a low drive, sub Kane Owen created a good chance for Kellaway with a slide rule pass only for Roberts to excel again, and Chris Venables came closest of all to snatching a win when he hit the cross bar with a back post header late on, but it was not to be and an honourable draw was the end result.

Given the fact that Bangor were at home, and must visit Park Avenue on the last day of the season Aber must be satisfied with the point. Stand In Manager Wyn Thomas will probably also be delighted to have earned a clean sheet as the Black and Greens turn their attentions to another away Dafabet WPL game next Friday night away to Port Talbot Town (ko 7.45pm).

Dafabet Welsh Premier League
Friday 11th March (ko 7.45pm)
Bangor City v Aberystwyth Town

Aber Town look to regain their place at the top of the Dafabet WPL Play Off Conference at the Bangor University Stadium on Friday night, with a win over current top dogs Bangor City.

An intriguing three way contest to gain the final Europa League Play Off spot is developing between Aber, Bangor and Carmarthen. Following a disappointing home defeat to Carmarthen at the end of February the Black and Greens enjoyed a week off last weekend, however the Citizens were in action and their 1-0 win at Richmond Park catapulted them back to the Top of the WPL's Bottom Six.

Seasiders supporters will be hoping for a repeat of their 3-2 win up at Bangor back in September, but Aber will have to manage without Striker Rhys Griffiths who serves a one match suspension following a sending off last time around. The players are otherwise in good spirits and the Club has been buoyed by the confirmation that their 3G Project will go ahead over the summer.

Friday night's potentially crucial match kicks off at 7.45pm and the Coach leaves Park Avenue at 3.45pm. A return trip to Bangor costs just £10 for Adults and £5 Concessions. No booking required - just turn up on time!