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UEFA Europa League
Play Off Final Sunday 17th May (ko 1pm) Aberystwyth Town v Newtown Play Off Final Cup Fever is mounting in Aberystwyth as the Black and Greens prepare to host Mid Wales rivals Newtown for a place in next season's UEFA Europa League on Sunday. Over 300 Free Advance tickets have already been snapped up by home supporters, demonstrating the excitement locally brought on by the big game. With a Cup Trophy at stake, Town's Players will be aiming to win their first senior Cup Final since April 1988, when Aber beat Newtown 3-1 in the Welsh Intermediate Cup Final at Llanidloes thanks to goals from Kevin Morrison, Tomi Morgan and Mike Davies. After last weekend's dramatic Semi Final win over Gap Connah's Quay thanks to Chris Venables' penalty, two assists from Ross Stephens and Mark Jones' last minute winner, Manager Ian Hughes expects to have a fully fit squad to choose from. Newtown are also buzzing after a last second winner at Port Talbot courtesy of Luke Boundford's header, and will be sure to give Town the toughest test yet of their Europa League credentials. This evening in conversation with atfc.org.uk Ian Hughes emphasized the importance of the game to his squad: "I've got some great players, and some good people in that dressing room. Some of our Players have won things before , while for others it hasn't happened yet. For Players looking back on their careers it's important to have won Cup Finals, and this is a big opportunity. There has been a lot of talk about the money but for us it's all about winning something together, as a team.The squad has evolved into an excellent unit over two years and after last year's pain (in the Welsh Cup Final) we now feel ready to achieve something really significant." Prior to the game the Club's legendary Caterers Ruth's Kitchen will be serving a Sunday Carvery in the John Charles Lounge from 11.30am (Adults - £5.95, Children - £3.95). Don't miss your chance to watch a slice of history on Sunday! Admission to the game costs £5 for Adults, £3 Concessions and £1 for Children. Europa League Play Off Fever is taking off in Aberystwyth with over 300 Free Advance Tickets for Sunday's home game against Newtown already snapped up.
The demand has been such that the Club has now been forced to print another run of tickets, which remain available from the following collection points (maximum two tickets per applicant): Aberystwyth University Students Union Reception (Thur, Fri 9.30am-4pm) Aberystwyth Arts Centre Box Office (Thur, Fri 9.30am-4pm) Morris & Bates Solicitors, Alexandra Road (Thur, Fri 9.30am-4pm) Ruth's Kitchen, Park Avenue (Fri 8am-2pm, Sat 10am-2pm) Around 200 Tickets will also be distributed to Academy Players and their families this evening and tomorrow night, so Park Avenue is likely to be heaving come Sunday afternoon, providing a special atmosphere as the Black and Greens bid for a place in the UEFA Europa League. The game kicks off at 1pm. Admission on the day will cost £5 for Adults, £3 Concessions and £1 for Children.  In a special preview interview for the upcoming Europa League play off final against Newtown AFC, Aber Town manager Ian Hughes spoke with the Aber Town YouTube channel and Marketing Officer Martin Smith.
“We’re confident of getting Cledan Davies back after he picked up a slight knock on Sunday and Antonio Corbisiero is in with a chance of being back as well, so we’re looking at being full strength on Sunday. We haven’t been full strength for quite a while now, but I think the better players are coming back into form at the right time and we’re getting everyone back fit which is important.” After a long hard gruelling season, Hughes reflected upon the team’s targets set at the start of the season. “I certainly hoped we’d be challenging (for European qualification) and thought we might do that because of the faith and trust that I have in the players. I think that the togetherness of the players, liked we demonstrated on Sunday to come back after being 2-1 down to win the game 3-2, demonstrates that there’s a togetherness and a belief in the squad. So I’m not surprised where we are, because I know of what we have in the dressing room, we have good players with good attitudes and that’s what will hopefully get us through on Sunday.” With Aber duo Chris Venables and Geoff Kellaway named in the Welsh Premier League’s Team of the Season for the 2014/15 season, Ian Hughes spoke of his delight for the two Aber men but also of his surprise at the exclusion of club captain Stuart Jones in the team. “It was great to get two in, Chris and Geoff are no brainers really. Stuart Jones was unlucky to miss out as I thought he deserved to be in there as did a couple of others as well. It’s great to know that other managers are looking at our players, because maybe 3 or 4 years ago when we were finishing 3rd or 4th from bottom maybe they (the players) didn’t get the accolades that they may have deserved. They are now putting in consistent performances week in week out, and it’s great that we’ve got them here." The conversation then went onto another key Aber Town player, the ‘12th man’ in the starting line-up, the Aber Town supporters. “We need their support, we need the fans support, it’s been a long season and they’ve supported us throughout. Hopefully we can do it, and if we can do it for anyone, it’ll be for the fans as they have been excellent all throughout the season. The atmosphere is usually better on a Friday night, but we need to create that Friday night atmosphere now on Sunday. The fans need to make sure that there’s plenty of atmosphere and that we create a hostile environment because our players do well when they're supported.” When asked what a victory in Sunday’s game would mean to the club, Hughes replied “It’s not only a game for the club; it’s a game for the town and the community. This area is a hotbed of football, there are many good footballers that have come from this region in the past and will come from here again, we have a strong academy and it’s a game for everyone. If we can win the game and get through to Europe it’ll be an outstanding achievement. We need to get the job done, it’s been a long 12 months leading up to this game and we’ve given ourselves a great chance, but we take nothing for granted. Newtown are an excellent team and Chris Hughes has done a great job. He’s galvanised them and got some really good, strong physical players. We have to make sure that we’re at our best and hopefully if we are, we’ll be ok.” Hughes revealed his emotions after Mark Jones' winning goal against Gap Connah's Quay on Sunday. “It was strange to score in the last minute, it felt like we had won the game but more than that. However, in the grand scheme of things it was a win in the semi-final of a cup, this is now the cup final and there’s a cup to win. There are some very good players in that dressing room, some very good players that have won things in the past and there are some other good players who haven’t quite won anything, me being one of those people, so we probably need to win something for our own good! We’re looking to win a cup and that’s what it is, it’s a cup final, it’s at Park Avenue. It’s great if we get into Europe, but it’s a cup final and we’re looking at winning it as a cup final.” The full interview with manager Ian Hughes is available to watch on the Aberystwyth Town YouTube Channel here, by clicking on the "Videos" tab and the latest video. Tickets for Sunday's game are available for free (limited at two per applicant) at the following locations and times around Aberystwyth. Aberystwyth University Students Union Reception (Wed, Thur, Fri 9.30am-4pm) Aberystwyth Arts Centre Box Office (Wed, Thur, Fri 9.30am-4pm) Morris & Bates Solicitors, Alexandra Road (Wed, Thur, Fri 9.30am-4pm) Ruth's Kitchen, Park Avenue (Wed 9am-2pm, Fri 8am-2pm, Sat 10am-2pm) Admission on the day will cost £5 for Adults, £3 Concessions and £1 for Children.  Congratulations from everyone at the Club to Chris Venables, who after being nominated by all 11 opposing WPL Managers, made the Corbettsports WPL Team of the Season, as announced by welshpremier.co.uk yesterday morning.
Venners illustrated his importance to the Club by tucking away a vital penalty in Sunday's Play Off victory against Gap Connah's Quay, his 29th WPL goal of the season from 29 starts, and it was a major boost to everyone at the Club when he signed a new two year deal with the Black and Greens last week. Livewire winger Geoff Kellaway is also held in huge regard throughout the WPL, and he was named in the same team, as a Substitute: a reward for a season in which he too has made a massive contribution to the team's European Quest. Last week Sgorio revealed that Kellaway had created more WPL goals than any other player in 2014/5. Three more players were nominated for the Team of the Season, namely Central Defensive Rock Stuart Jones, who was very unlucky not to be selected after receiving no fewer than six nominations, along with skilful midfielders Luke Sherbon and Craig Williams who received one nomination each. Aberystwyth Town FC commend all their Players on their tremendous contributions this season, and wish them all the best for Sunday's Play Off Final against Newtown.  Aberystwyth Town are offering a limited number of free advance tickets for Sunday's vital UEFA Europa League Play Off Final at locations around Aberystwyth, from tomorrow morning.
Tickets will be available from the following locations and times, limited to two per applicant. Aberystwyth University Students Union Reception (Wed, Thur, Fri 9.30am-4pm) Aberystwyth Arts Centre Box Office (Wed, Thur, Fri 9.30am-4pm) Morris & Bates Solicitors, Alexandra Road (Wed, Thur, Fri 9.30am-4pm) Ruth's Kitchen, Park Avenue (Wed 9am-2pm, Fri 8am-2pm, Sat 10am-2pm) Admission on the day will cost £5 for Adults, £3 Concessions and £1 for Children. UEFA Europa League
Play Off Semi Final Sunday 10th May Aberystwyth Town 3 Gap Connah's Quay 2 Irrepressible Aberystwyth Town thrilled their supporters this afternoon with an amazing comeback, scoring twice in the final six minutes to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, and set up a UEFA Europa League Play Off Final at Park Avenue at home to Newtown next Sunday (ko 1.00 pm). Sean Miller game the visitors the lead on the quarter hour, but Town equalised four minutes later through a Chris Venables penalty. Steve Evans appeared to have won the game for the Nomads with a 69th minute header, but then Evans himself deflected a Ross Stephens effort past his own keeper with six minutes left, and then Mark Jones capped a superb performance by sneaked in behind the back four to snaffle a 92nd minute winner for the Black and Greens, causing mayhem in the Dias Stand! The huge importance of this game led to a rather cagey start, notable mainly for a succession of free kicks conceded in dangerous areas, none of which lead to any real chances. Mark Jones then drew a save from Terry McCormick in Gap's goal with a left footed effort, but then on the quarter hour the livewire Miller sneaked in behind Aber's defence to poach a goal which put the Nomads one up. Aber responded superbly and within 4 minutes Craig Williams had been fouled in the box, and Venables' penalty was strong enough to creep past McCormick's grasp. The visitors looked composed without creating any real openings, with Stuart Jones in particular looking sharp and clinical at the back for Aber. Ryan Fraughan saw a lofted shot gathered by Mike Lewis in the home goal, and Mark Jones shot just over after a surging run - and a tight half ended at 1-1. Geoff Kellaway had two attempts saved early in the second half but then Connah's Quay had a good spell of pressure. George Horan's goalbound header was comfortably gathered by Lewis, and then Chris Davies was there in the nick of time to clear a dangerous cross from Miller. Finally the pressure paid off on 69 minutes when Steve Evans rose to head home Fraughan's corner, and with Aber struggling to settle, an away win looked on the cards. However, to their eternal credit the Black and Greens retained their self belief and kept attacking. Craig Williams' cross almost dropped into the net only for McCormick to gather, and minutes later the same player volleyed wide from the edge of the box. When Stuart Jones' overhead kick was saved it was starting to look like Aber's European Dream was on its deathbed, but then with just six minutes left Ross Stephens' speculative ball into the box was deflected into his own net by Steve Evans, and the teams were all square again. Kellaway had another low effort gathered, but then in the second added minute of three, with extra time looming, a long ball down the right channel found Mark Jones, and his brilliant first touch put his marker Evans out of the game. Jones still had the presence of mind to slot a pinpoint shot under McCormick from a narrow angle, to win the game for the Black and Greens. The Port Talbot poacher was immediately submerged under a joyous pile of green shirted heroes, and Town held on for an amazing win. In a tight game Aber managed to find a way to win, when it really, really mattered. This result against the odds must give them team huge self belief running up to next Sunday's Play Off Final at Park Avenue, and after the excitement of this afternoon, that is an occasion that no self respecting Football Fan in Ceredigion will want to miss. See you all next Sunday! |
Gem Nesaf
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