SWWGL Cup Quarter-Final
Sunday 10th March 2019
Penybont Ladies 1 (S. Davies 51)
Aberystwyth Town Ladies 3 (Cat Davies 47, N. Evans 55, Cooper 74)

Second half strikes from Cat Davies, Naomi Evans and Caroline Cooper put the Black and Greens safely through to the Welsh Women's League Cup Semi-Final on a cold and windy day in South Wales, writes Steven Brookes.

A week after a hard-fought victory at home to Caldicot in the league, attentions now turned to the League Cup and a visit to Penybont. With the windy conditions having a big effect, the visitors were struggling to match their high standards but were still looking the most likely to take the lead. Naomi Evans came close at the back post but was denied by a good save. Caroline Cooper and Tania Wylde saw long-range eforts comfortably saved whilst Kelly Thomas's strike went over the bar. Cat Davies nearly broke the deadlock later on in the half but the forward saw her powerful header go wide of the post after a pinpoint cross from Nia Witts.

A disappointing first half, but the Black and Greens were keen to start the second positively, and two minutes in, they were ahead! An excellent cross from Naomi Evans fell to the feet of Cat Davies who found the bottom corner to give Aber the lead. The wind was still causing a few issues and Town's keeper Ffion Ashman had to react well as the ball nearly bounced over her head and in. Penybont didn't have to wait too long to find the equaliser though and Shorna Davies poked the ball under Ashman and into the net on 51 minutes. Four minutes later Aber regained their lead. Naomi Evans' first time cross/shot looping over the home side's keeper before hitting the back of the net. The Mid-Wales side seemed in full control as time ticked on: Wylde was desperate to score for a seventh consecutive match, but it was Cooper who increased the lead further, the midfielder's excellent left-footed strike curling into the top corner with sixteen minutes remaining. Aber did push forward for a fourth but three was enough and despite not being at their very best it was another important victory for the team in green who progress to the next stage of the competition.

Aber Town Ladies will travel to the capital this Sunday as they face a difficult fixture against Splott Albion on what could be massive day in terms of the title race (ko 2pm).

Roedd CPD Tref Aberystwyth yn falch iawn i groesawi teulu a ffrindiau’r Sgoriwr Goliau Gorau yn holl hanes y Clwb, David “Dias” Williams i Goedlan y Parc nos Wener fel gwesteuon i’r Clwb.

Trefnodd gweddw Dias Margery, a’i meibion Owain a Sion taith gerdded dros 4 niwrnod oedd yn codi arian tuag at elusen Macmillan Cancer Support i goffau penblwydd Dias yn 70, a daeth dros 20 o ffrindiau ar y daith i Goedlan y Parc nos Wener, gan cynnwys cyn chwaraewr y Clwb Sion Meredith.

Ymunodd Cyfarwyddwr y Clwb Thomas Crockett y teulu ar rhan ola’r daith prynhawn Gwener, ac am hanner amswer cyflwynodd Cadeirydd y Clwb Donald Kane cist i Margery oedd yn arddangos crys Gwyrdd a Du olaf Dias.  

Mae’r teulu erbyn hyn wedi cwblhau’r daith cerdded a gallwch eu noddi yma.

​Gallwch weld fideo byr yn disgrifio ymweliad y teulu a’r Clwb ar wefan Sgorio yma.
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Aberystwyth Town FC were delighted to welcome the family and friends of the Club’s Greatest Ever Goalscorer David “Dias” Williams to Park Avenue on Friday night as guests of the Club.

Dias’ widow Margery, their sons Owain and Sion, visited as part of a four day sponsored walk in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support to commemorate what would have been Dias’ 70th birthday, and over 20 friends and family accompanied them, with onetime Black and Green midfielder Sion Meredith leading from the front.  

Club Director Thomas Crockett accompanied the family on the last section of Friday’s walk, and at half time Chairman Donald Kane presented Margery with a case containing Dias’ final match worn shirt.

The family have now completed the sponsored walk but they can still be sponsored here.

Sgorio produced a brief video showcasing the visit which can be viewed here.

Aber Town Ladies may have only played twice in February but still managed to score an impressive eight goals and this month, and it was up to Reading and Wales forward Natasha Harding to nominate the goals for Aber Town Ladies Goal of the Month.

In recent years Harding has featured for the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool but the Welsh international with 50 caps to her name currently wears the blue and white of Reading FC Women in the FA Women's Super League. The London-based side finished 4th in last seasons campaign in England's top tier, just 6 points off a UEFA Women's Champions League spot.

Natasha was shown all eight goals and below are her three favourite as well as a brief quote on what she thought of each goal:

Voting Opens at 9am on Monday 11th March and will close at 6pm on Thursday 14th March.

Aber Town Ladies are very grateful to Natasha for agreeing to take part.

JD Welsh Premier League
Friday 8th March
Aberystwyth Town 3 Carmarthen Town 2

On a wet night when Aberystwyth Town paid fitting tribute to their greatest ever goalscorer, David "Dias" Williams, the Black and Greens did him proud by earning a vital 3-2 victory which keeps their quest for a UEFA European Play Off alive going into the last five matches of 2018/9. Ryan Wollacott tapped in Town's opener on 6 minutes, and just five minutes later Geoff Kellaway blasted home a second (right). Luke Bowen brought Carmarthen back into it on 28 minutes, and the visitors pressed for long periods only for an own goal from Lee Surman to make it three-one with 22 minutes remaining. Liam Thomas pulled one back in the 81st minutes but Town held on for a big win which keeps Aber in eighth place and equals last season's tally of 37 points with five games to go.

After their fantastic win over Cardiff Met last time out the Black and Greens made one change with young keeper Adam Walters coming in to make his debut in place of Terry McCormick. After sitting deep the hosts enjoyed a dream start when Wes Baynes’ deep cross fell for Declan Walker, and his low shot was parried by Lee Idzi right into the path of Wollacott, who tapped home from close range. Geoff Kellaway then burst through down the right and hit the side netting, but the visitors were not so lucky on eleven minutes when Kellaway played a beautiful one-two with Ashley Ruane before slamming home yet another Gol y Mis contender first time from out on the right. Town now looked supremely confident passing the ball round, though to be fair to Carmarthen Mael Davies sent one effort over the bar, and Luke Cummings brought a smart save out of Walters. Ruane almost capitalised on a sloppy back pass but then Cummings again burst down the right and crossed for Bowen to tap home a response, and the visitors were right back in it just before the half hour. Walters in Aber’s goal twice denied his namesake Greg Walters, and Wollacott pulled off a great tackle to deny a goal, while at the other end Kellaway just failed to control a super ball from Mattie Jones, and Steff Edwards went wide also. In injury time Carmarthen’s Liam Thomas headed wide from a free kick in a dangerous area and an entertaining half ended with Aber ahead thanks to some clinical finishing.
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Carmarthen dominated the early stages of the second half with Aber sitting back on their lead, and some determined tackling from the likes of Paolo Mendes and Man of the Match Declan Walker restricted their chances. Walters sent a shot wide, Lee Surman glanced a header over from Cummings’ free kick, Liam Thomas tapped wide from Jordan Vickers’ cross and Vickers’ shot from out wide was touched home from a corner. It was becoming clear that the next goal would be crucial and Mattie Jones’ surges down the left were resulting in some dangerous crosses, one of which just evaded Ruane. The ever industrious Marc Williams turned on the edge of the area and curled an effort just over, and then another excellent cross from Jones skewed into the back of the net off the unfortunate Surman’s foot for the killer third goal, and Aber were surely safe. There was however a quarter of the game still to play and although Mendes hooked over from a corner it was a rather nervous ending to the game for Aber. Walters saved from Bowen but then with nine minutes left Thomas made the most of a defensive mix up to cut the deficit once again. The hosts however defended stoutly through the remaining nine (plus five) minutes, and Mattie Jones, picked for the Wales C Squad in midweek, could have even capped a super few days with a goal when Kellaway played him in, but with the Dias Stand primed to celebrate, his shot skewed just wide. It did not matter however, Aber held on for another crucial victory.

The Black and Greens are enjoying life in the Play Off Conference and ten points since the split is equalled by only one other Club in the whole League, namely leaders Connah’s Quay Nomads. If Aber can keep up their super form they could be looked at a very exciting end to the season, with a UEFA Europa League Play Off place up for grabs. Matchday 28 takes Town up to Llandudno on Friday 22nd March (ko 7.45pm). In this form, it can’t come soon enough!

​Photos courtesy of Colin Ewart

Welsh Women's League
Sunday 3rd March 2019
Aberystwyth Town Ladies 3 (Thomas 3, Wylde 36 (pen), Cooper 39)
Caldicot Town Ladies 2 (Cutler 54, Lockwood 69)

Despite a second half scare, the Black and Greens edged even closer to their target of a league title and promotion to the Welsh Premier Women's League with a hard-fought victory over a last season's Welsh Prem side Caldicot Town Ladies, writes Steven Brookes.

For the majority of the season Caldicot have been one of Aber's big promotion rivals along with Barry Town United, but the South Wales based side were recently deducted 29 points, leaving them just outside the relegation zone and ending their promotion hopes. Three minutes into this match Caldicot were behind thanks to a mistake in defence, combined with a determined Kelly Thomas, Aber had broken the deadlock. After closing down the defender and winning possession, the midfielder slotted the ball past the keeper as the hosts made a perfect start. Both sides were struggling to play to their potential but chances were still being created. Caroline Cooper saw her shot saved and Naomi Evans came close at the back post. At the other end, the away side missed a good opportunity in a one on one as the ball went wide of Ffion Ashman's post. The next goal was going to be crucial and 36 minutes into the game it was the Ceredigion-based side that doubled their lead. Following a foul on Cat Davies, Tania Wylde stepped up to convert a penalty right into the corner and out of reach of the visiting goalkeeper. Two soon became three on 39 minutes. From out-wide, Caroline Cooper cut in on her right football and her outstanding effort beat the keeper and ended up hitting the back of the net.

Despite Aber's lead, both sides were desperate to improve in the second half. The hosts came agonisingly close when Tania Wylde's strike hit the post but it was the visitors who scored the goal they needed. Kelly Cutler found herself behind the Aber back line and with a calm finish ended she Ffion Ashman's run of clean sheets. Nerves seemed to kick in for the Seasiders as the visitors grew in confidence. The hosts were looking far from their best and things got worse 21 minutes from time when a free kick was turned in from close range by Hazel Lockwood to ensure the Black and Greens were in for a tough battle if they wanted to keep their vital lead. The hosts did eventually find a way out of the bad spell though and it was in-fact them that looked the most dangerous team once again. Kelly Thomas had a goal disallowed after an excellent Wylde strike bounced of the post before falling to the feet of the midfielder and later on Stevie Cook was denied a goal of the season contender thanks to the post. With the hosts coming close on numerous occasions an equaliser would of been unfair but this Aber side would remain strong and were delighted when the final whistle blew.

A very difficult test but yet another three points for Aberystwyth who remain five points clear of second place Barry Town United, with the latter having played one game less. Aber Town Ladies will now look forward to a League Cup Quarter-Final fixture against Penybont on Sunday 10th March.

Level Playing Field Weeks of Action– celebrating ‘Access for All’
 
Aberystwyth Town Football Club is pleased to support the 2019 Level Playing Field (LPF) Weeks of Action. This annual initiative, now in its 15th year, aims to celebrate access and inclusion for disabled sports fans across England and Wales.
 
Disabled people constitute the largest minority group at around 15%-20% of the population and this number is increasing year on year. Naturally, a large number of disabled people are football fans too and we are pleased to take this opportunity to thank our own disabled fans for their continued loyalty and dedication to this great club.
 
This year we are celebrating the matchday experience for disabled fans. We want to shine a light on the positives of attending a live matchday and in turn help remove those barriers and promote a culture of accessibility and inclusiveness within sport.

​This campaign we are joining together with sports clubs, fans and organisations across England and Wales to celebrate the #WeeksOfAction to not only promote the positive experience had by disabled fans but also the message of access and inclusion for all.
 
For more information about Level Playing Field (LPF) and this year’s Weeks of Action, please visit www.levelplayingfield.org.uk email [email protected] or call 01923 545370.
 
Alternatively you may wish to send a message of support to @lpftweets on Twitter using the hashtag #WeeksOfAction