Central Wales FA Womens Cup Final
Friday 3rd May (KO 7.30pm, at Park Avenue)
Aberystwyth Town Ladies v Aberystwyth University

As the season edges closer to its end, relegations are confirmed and titles winners are named. This Friday at Park Avenue one trophy will be returning to the seaside town as the Black and Greens will come up against the University in the CWFA Womens Cup Final.

Aberystwyth University and Aberystwyth Town have had close connections for many years now for both the male and female teams. Over the years the Park Avenue-based side have had players wear the famous Black and Green shirts whilst attend the town's university.

The Uni knocked out Penrhyncoch and Lampeter on the way to the final whist Town beat reigning champions Llanfair United before Felinfach were unable to field a side for the semi-final fixture.

On what could be a big day for Women and Girls football in Aberystwyth, the Welsh Women's League Champion' captain, Ffiona Evans hopes to see a good crowd attend this Friday as the recently promoted side hope to complete a league and cup double:

"This has been a very successful season for us, with already gaining promotion back into the Welsh Premier league but we hope to get the double by winning the Central Wales cup on Friday. We unfortunately lost in the Final last season so we want to regain the trophy this season. It won't be easy though as any local derby is tough, and the university will battle hard too. Its exciting that both teams in the final are in Aberystwyth, so I'm hoping this will attract a decent crowd to come support local women's football."

Admission will cost £3 for Adults and £2 Concessions. A large crowd is anticipated for this local derby Cup Final so don't miss out!

Please click Here for the facebook event link!

JD Welsh Premier League
Friday 26th August
Carmarthen Town 6 Aberystwyth Town 2

Aberystwyth Town's topsy turvey 2018/9 season ended on a downer at a wet and windy Richmond Park yesterday, as four Carmarthen goals in nine second half minutes turned a defeat into a hammering. Jordan Knott's 6th minute opener for the hosts was equalised by Paolo Mendes on 29 minutes, and Ceri Morgan re-took the lead for Carmarthen seven minutes after the restart. Liam Thomas's quickfire hat trick (61, 66 and 67 minutes), followed by another strike from Declan Carroll (70 minutes) devastated Aber's evening, and although Jamie McDaid responded on 72 minutes, tonight was a bad night at the office for the Seasiders and no mistake. 

The Seasiders gave youth its chance with Under 19s stars Harry Cottam, Niall Coleridge and Carwyn Morgan all earning first ever starts for the Black and Greens. A lively start saw Liam Thomas going close for Carmarthen before a Steff Edwards cross allowed Coleridge to flash an effort past the post. The hosts then took the lead: Mael Davies surged down the right and brought a decent save from Terry McCormick, but when the ball came back in Knott landed in the right place at the right time to finish with aplomb. Luke Cummings sent a shot over the bar then was denied by McCormick, while Marc Williams’ header from a Coleridge cross was off target. With Carmarthen dominating possession they seemed to be on top but Geoff Kellaway hit the post with a cross as Aber tried to get back into it. Cummings again tried a lob which McCormick picked up, and Thomas contrived to miss from another Davies cross, but then the visitors came back strongly. Coleridge dinked another effort just wide after some trickery from Paolo Mendes,  and then just before the half hour Aber were level when Wes Baynes’ deep cross caused consternation at the back and Mendes pounced to score with a low volley – yet another goal in Carmarthenshire for the powerful midfielder! Carwyn Morgan brought home keeper Lee Idzi into the game with a shot but as the rain eased off so did the goal chances, and having improved after a poor start the Black and Greens went in level at half time at 1-1.

The second half began brightly enough with Baynes crossing for Coleridge, but the effort went wide. Carmarthen got their heads back in front on 52 minutes when the evergreen Craig Hanford’s cross fell nicely for Ceri Morgan to head home at the back post. The visitors then endured a nightmare 15 minutes when it all fell apart at the back. Davies again set up Cummings to fire over, McCormick kept Aber in the game with a fine save low down and then Ceri Morgan slotted wide from a great position. Just past the hour Thomas found space in the box to make it three, and with Aber giving the ball away and Carmarthen showing real energy from midfield in their attacking moves, sub Declan Carroll crossed from the left for Thomas to score again. With the hosts cutting through at will Thomas got his hat trick on 67 minutes, only for Carroll to make it six, smashing home from the right with fully twenty minutes to go. Jamie McDaid did salvage a modicum of respect for Aber, cutting in from the right wing and finishing nicely with his left down into Idzi’s bottom corner, but from now in the game was about damage limitation for Aber, and despite Knott and Carroll’s late salvos the game ended at 6-2, which in truth was a very poor ending to an otherwise respectable season for the Black and Greens.

While this particular result will leave a sour taste in the mouth, the game was somewhat of a dead rubber as the Black and Greens had already secured their eighth place finish with a four game winning streak in March and early April. A points tally of 44 is a definite improvement on the previous season which means that Matthew Bishop and Gavin Allen have a base to develop over the summer to ensure an even better season next time round. Thanks to all our magnificent supporters who have followed the team the lengths and breadths of Wales this season: enjoy the break and we will see you back for pre season in July!

JD Welsh Premier League
Friday 26th April (ko 7.45pm)
Carmarthen Town v Aberystwyth Town

Aberystwyth Town travel to Carmarthen Town on Friday night looking for a win which would ensure their highest points tally for four years, as their JD Welsh Premier League season for 2018/19 comes to a close with a Dyfed Derby.

After a commendable season Aber currently stand on 44 points from 31 games, knowing that 47 would ensure their highest return since 2014/5, when they finished fourth and hosted the UEFA Europa League Play Off Final. It would also represent a third best finish since the WPL reverted to a 12 team structure in 2010/11, giving the Club much to look forward to next season.

The Black and Greens' lingering hopes of a UEFA Europa League Play Off spot were dashed last Saturday in the heat of Cyncoed, as a 1-0 defeat ensured Cardiff Met's seventh placed finish, to Aber's eighth. The inevitable disappointment was palpable at the end of the game, but 2018/9 has been a massive improvement on the two preceding seasons, and Matthew Bishop's players can confirm forward momentum with a positive result on Friday. 

Assistant Manager Gavin Allen underlined the positivity emanating from the season in conversation with Sgorio after Saturday's match: "We're developing a new team and hopefully we'll be a Top Six team next season."

Carmarthen ensured their safety with a victory over Llandudno a few weeks back and have also improved on last season's performances, so with nothing to lose for either side a keen tussle is likely. The two sides drew their phase 1 games, 2-2 at Carmarthen and 1-1 at Park Avenue, with Aber prevailing 3-2 in March in another close game.

Carmarthen's Richmond Park ground is addressed in Priory Street, with a post code of SA31 1LR, and kick off is at 7.45pm. Come along on Friday to show appreciation for a positive season at Park Avenue - you'll miss the Welsh Prem when it's gone!

Welsh Women's League
Sunday 21st April 2019
Aberystwyth Town Ladies 4  (N. Evans 20', Wylde 54', Cooper 88', Cat Davies 90+8') Cascade YC 1  (K. Davies 45+6')

Aberystwyth Town Ladies will be back in the Welsh Premier Women's League as of next season following a 4-1 home victory against an in-form Cascade YC side at Park Avenue, writes Steven Brookes.

Despite finishing the 2017-2018 League season unbeaten, Aber Town Ladies missed out on promotion by a single point. But on a warm and sunny Sunday afternoon in April 2019 the team in green knew a win would guarantee them a spot in the top tier for next season. Their opponents Cascade were in a positive mood ahead of the match following highly-impressive victories over Aber's promotion-rivals Barry Town United Ladies and League Cup Finalists, Caldicot Town. With neither team able to create any clear-cut chances in the opening stages it took until the 20th minute for the deadlock to be broken, Naomi Evans scoring her fourth goal in six games when smashing the ball inside the near post after a good pass from Cat Davies. Unlike Aber Town's fixture vs Splott Albion last week, shooting opportunities were hard to find thanks to good defending from both sides. Due to a drinks-break midway through the half (thanks to the heat) a large amount of time was added on and in the sixth minute of injury-time the visitors were level, Katie Davies' superb free-kick finding the top corner of the net.

Nine minutes into the second half, the hosts were back ahead. A perfectly timed through ball from Naomi Evans put Tania Wylde through on goal and the attacking midfielder calmly slotted the ball past the keeper and into the bottom corner to take her goalscoring tally to 25 in 22 games. Cascade pushed forward for an equaliser but thanks to some good defending (which included a vital tackle from Josie Pugh) the away side couldn't find the game's fourth goal. With a couple of minutes of 'normal' time remaining the Black and Greens all but sealed promotion. Caroline Cooper picked up possession in the centre of the pitch and dribbled though the defence before finding the back of the net when one-on-one with the Cascade keeper. Deep into injury-time, forward Cat Davies put the icing on top of the promotion cake, sliding to poke the ball into the back of the net from close range after some good work down the left by Ella Ramseyer-Bache.

When the final whistle came so did confirmation of Aber's outstanding promotion to the Welsh Premier League with two games still remaining. The club would like to say a massive thank you to Cascade YC for applauding the Aber players after the result and for all the messages of congratulations from other WWL clubs. Thank you to everyone who has supported the the team this season and we hope to see you at the remaining games which include a Cup Final against Aber Uni on Friday 3rd May. But next up is another league fixture against Rhos this coming Sunday (28th April).

Fundraisers on the Dias sponsored walk, which visited Park Avenue in March, have broken the £10,000 mark ahead of a special auction that will see some great items up for grabs.

Last month Aberystwyth Town FC were delighted to welcome the family and friends of the Club’s Greatest Ever Goalscorer David “Dias” Williams to Park Avenue 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.  

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.

Their fundraising efforts have paid off after it emerged that they have already beaten the £10,000 mark with John Meredith, one of the fundraisers, saying that everyone was “very pleased” to have received so much support.

Donations are still being taken and a special auction with a host of items will be taking place at Llety Parc on Friday, 3 May.

The event, which will see a sit down event with a buffet, will see items including a Welsh shirt signed by two of the country’s greatest ever number 11s - Gareth Bale and Ryan Giggs.

Anyone who would like to lodge any bids or get information about attending the event can email John at [email protected].

JD Welsh Premier League
Saturday 20th April
Cardiff Met 1 Aberystwyth Town 0

Aberystwyth Town’s dreams of European football were dashed this afternoon at Cardiff Met, as a 1-0 defeat which came as a result of an unfortunate own goal by Declan Walker confirmed the Students’ seventh placed finish, with the Black and Greens now certain to finish a commendable eighth. Matthew Bishop’s men tried their hardest on a hot afternoon in the capital but failed to find the net and with Town keeper Terry McCormick on top form Met were worthy winners on the day.

On a beautiful afternoon the hosts almost made the perfect start as Chris Baker broke through and hit the post within the first minute. With Aber set up to sit back and hit Met on the break, and the hot weather slowing the pace of the game down, chances were at a premium in the early stages. Met’s Elliot Evans sent a free kick narrowly over the bar, and at the other end Walker’s free kick feel nicely for Will Fuller in the home goal. Ash Ruane then made a super dash down the right wing and his cut back gave Geoff Kellaway a chance, but his header was saved. Aber’s tactics seemed to be working well but then a spot of bad fortune proved crucial when Kyle McCarthy’s left wing cross deflected into Aber’s net off Walker’s heel, and 27 minutes in it was 1-0. Kellaway released Ruane, whose shot was saved and then McCormick pulled off a superb stop to deny Adam Roscrow in a one on one. Kellaway curled a good effort wide before McCormick denied Roscrow again. Aber’s super stopper then pulled off another tremendous save to deny Will Evans from point black range and once Marc Williams had headed Wes Baynes’ free kick wide for the visitors, the half ended at 1-0.
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In truth Aber needed to do more in the second half to earn the win they craved and Matthew Jones moved into midfield to push the team forward. Paolo Mendes made a last ditch tackle to deny Met and then Kellaway burst down the left released by Marc Williams, but his low drive was saved. With Town getting some useful balls into the box they were looking more threatening, but Cardiff Met were also dangerous, with Will Evans sliding the ball inches past the post at the other end. McCormick did well yet again to deny the selfsame Evans another strike, before Baynes’ dangerous ball in just evaded Ruane at the back post. Elliot Evans brought another save from MCormick with a free kick and a Baynes corner lead to a scramble in Met’s box which was cleared. It was a tough day to be chasing the game and try though they might, Aber could not find the vital opening. Roscrow fired inches wide for Met giving Aber another let off, and although Walker was sent forward, Met cleared a late Baynes free kick to hold on for that all important three points.

It has to be said that for all Aber’s laudable efforts, Met were the better side at Cyncoed this afternoon, and deserved their win and the resultant shot at a UEFA Europa League Play Off. After a transitional pre-season the Seasiders have done very well to maintain a push for Europe until the penultimate hurdle, and Friday’s last WPL match of the season at Carmarthen will give the Black and Greens the chance to end a season of highs and lows on a positive note. See you there! 

Photo courtesy of Colin Ewart