Dafabet Welsh Premier League
Sunday 14th August (ko 3pm)
The New Saints v Aberystwyth Town

Aberystwyth Town have a positive outlook ahead of Sunday afternoon's big Dafabet Welsh Premier League Kick off, away to The New Saints (ko 3pm). 

After an extremely positive pre season comprising five away wins out of five, Matthew Bishop's men can be confident in their own form leading up to their toughest test so far on Sunday. The positive vibes have come from positive performances leading to consecutive victories at Caernarfon Town, Caersws, Porthmadog, Penrhyncoch, and Afan Lido with a combined scored of 12 goals to 2.

Bishop told atfc.org.uk earlier this week: "I'm pleased we've won all 5 games. Of course it's not the be all and end all, there's still a few things we need to work on and we'll do that in the training sessions leading up to TNS this week."

Striker Johsua Bull has been released from the Squad having found the travelling incompatible with his work demands, and Carl Lamb was also released last week, so the Full Squad looks at follows: 1 Dominic Richards, 2 Ricky Watts, 3 Cledan Davies, 4 Sam Rodon, 5 Will Bell, 6 Joe Clarke, 7 Geoff Kellaway, 8 Luke Sherbon, 11 Luke Borelli, 12 Greg Walters, 13 Ryan Wollacott, 14 Jack Rimmer, 15 Jonathan Evans, 16 Kostya Georgievsky, 17 Kurtis March, 18 Lewis Coyle and 21 Chris Jones. 

Aber gained a memorable 1-1 draw at Park Hall last December and TNS warmed up for Sunday's test with a behind closed doors friendly match against EPL Champions Leicester City this week - which they lost 2-1 to a last minute winner. Bishop paid tribute to TNS' credentials this week, but also confirmed his players were looking forward to the game:

"TNS are the champions and worthy champions. It's going to be a stern test but it gives us a chance to see where we are in terms of the champions. They've had a good preseason with three good results in the Champions League qualifiers and they're a very good team. We've got a few things in our mind about how we'll play against them which we'll work on in training this week ahead of the big kick off on Sunday which the lads are all really excited about."

The Coach Leaves Park Avenue at 11.30am on Sunday and a return trip to Oswestry will cost just £10 for Adults and £5 Concessions. Black and Green supporters are invited to join the bandwaggon and to get excited too! 

Aberystwyth Town Manager Matthew Bishop was in a positive mood reflecting on last Friday night's 1-0 win at Afan Lido, in conversation with atfc.org.uk's Matthew Wallace:

"I'm pleased we've won all 5 games. Of course it's not the be all and end all, there's still a few things we need to work on and we'll do that in the training sessions leading up to TNS this week."

"What is satisfying was another clean sheet, we should have scored more but it was a stern test for us on a different kind of pitch against another different opposition. and we've done what we needed to do to win the game. People have had minutes on the pitch ahead of next week's game against TNS."

Looking back on pre season Bishop was keen to praise the group of players he has been working with: 

"From day one since I've come in, the players have had a focus, they've had an energy about them, and a willingness to do well. They enjoy each other's company which is a massive help but even in training, there's a willingness to win and to do well. they all want to play and play in the right way. It's not always easy to do that with a new group of players and get that work ethic but we've got that. There's a lot of quality in the side but they're also a young squad and there's a lot to come from them."

Aber Town visit Dafabet Welsh Premier League Champions The New Saints in their League opener on Sunday and Seasiders' Manager is under no illusions as to the massive task facing his side:

"TNS are the champions and worthy champions. It's going to be a stern test but it gives us a chance to see where we are in terms of the champions. They've had a good preseason with three good results in the Champions League qualifiers and they're a very good team. 

We've got a few things in our mind about how we'll play against them which we'll work on in training this week ahead of the big kick off on Sunday which the lads are all really excited about."
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Stay close to atfc.org.uk for a match preview in advance of Sunday's Big Kick Off at Park Hall. 

Pre Season Friendly
Sunday 7th August
Port Talbot Town Ladies 3 Aberystwyth Town Ladies 5

A second win of their pre-season saw Aber Ladies come away feeling very satisfied from Margam on Sunday with a win against fellow Welsh Premier side Port Talbot.

The hosts started very strongly and only a couple of smart saves from Katie Christopher in the Aber goal kept the hosts out in the first 10 minutes. However it was Aber who struck first against the run of play when a corner was heading in by Gabi Hughes to give them the lead. Talbot again came back strongly and equalised in the 15th minute when a good deep cross was finished off to bring the scores level. The Aber girls now had to work hard and good interchange between Hughes and Amy Jenkins saw Becca Williams through on goal to finish off and make it 2-1 in the 23rd minute. Back came Port Talbot to equalise within 2 minutes when a towering header from a Talbot corner was converted to make the score 2-2. Talbot were now passing the ball around with aplomb and from another fine move they went in front in the 35th minute to make it 3-2 to Port Talbot.  The Aber ladies rallied and young Helen Evans along with returning Nia Jones having been out injured for over 2 years making a comeback they restored parity when after good work by Hughes, Jenkins let fly from 30 yards to score a screamer in the 41st minute to make it 3-3 at half time.

The second half saw Aber getting a foothold in the game and by stopping Talbot’s fluid game they were now more in the ascendancy and it was after a period of sustained pressure that Josie Pugh’s cross was converted by a fine header from Jenkins. Further pressure by Aber did not result in a goal and Talbot were now having to revert to the long ball to clear their lines and from one clearance Talbot should have equalised in the 80th minute however Aber had the final say when in the 89th minute a Gabi Hughes header sealed the win for the Ladies. With a number of players unavailable for the trip competition for a green shirt in the first game on Sept 5th against Cyncoed is hotting up.

Next up for the Ladies is a friendly fixture in aid of Air Ambulance next Sat at Cae Baker Penrhyncoch when a mixture of Aber and Penrhyn Ladies take on a team from London at 2.30pm then on Sunday is the launch of the Women’s Welsh Premier season with a 9 a-side competition at Blaendolau.

Match Report Courtesy of Kevin Jenkins

Pre Season Friendly
Friday 5th August
Afan Lido 0 Aberystwyth Town 1

Lewis Coyle's 65th minute strike, set up by a great pass from Luke Sherbon, brought Aberystwyth Town a fifth pre season win out of five at Afan Lido this evening after a tough test against a very competitive Welsh League Division One side.

New signing Chris Jones started for Aber in midfield and they attempted to impose their game, but a rather bobbly surface inhibited good passing football somewhat on the evening. Geoff Kellaway had an early left footed shot saved by Rory McCreesh and then Lido's Jordan Edwards was denied by the rock solid Sam Rodon. Sherbon nicked the ball in the 'D'  and curled a shot just over, Luke Borelli sent a shot wide from distance and Kellaway brought another save from McCressh with a volley, and the Black and Greens were on top. The impressive Jones played a brilliant lob in for Borelli but an unfortunate bounce deflected the ball away, and then had a shot deflected over himself. Kellaway and Sherbon fired over the bar, and then just before the break Carl Evans came close to opening the score for Lido but headed wide, and the first half ended as it had started, at 0-0.  

Aber again took the initiative after the break, dominating possession but Lido were defending well and it took a number of attacking substitutions to turn the game. Forwards Carl Lamb, Josh Bull, Coyle and Kostya Georgievsky all came on around the hour mark and after Ryan Wollacott went close with a header from close range, reacting to Kurtis March's corner, the deadlock was finally broken. Sherbon was again pulling the strings in Central Midfield and he it was who picked out Coyle down the right hand channel; the striker from Salford's low shot from a fair distance out surprised McCreesh in goal, and nestled into the bottom corner for a game changing strike. Bull, a busy presence with his low centre of gravity, was next to go close, hitting the side netting, and he had the next chance too when he brought the ball down with a lovely touch but sub keeper Chris Curtis was equal to the shot.Josh Webber had a decent shot deflected to safety for the home side, and Aber knew they would have to tough it out to win the game. Rodon cleared off the line, then at the other end Coyle hit the apex of crossbar and post with a volley, before heading the rebound just wide.Bull and Coyle were again denied as the visitors did well to close down the game,and the referee's final whistle brought proceedings to a close at 1-0 to the Black and Greens.

Aber can play better than they did tonight, but it is churlish in the extreme to complain about a record of five wins from five pre-season matches, all away from home against redoutable opposition from the second tier. Manager Mathew Bishop and his Assistant Wayne Jones have done brilliantly to put together a coherent squad with a strong identity at such short notice and Aber Supporters can look forward to 2016/7 with optimism. Eight days to go ... see you all at Park Hall, home of Champions The New Saints, next Sunday afternoon!   

Aberystwyth Town FC are delighted to announce the signing of hugely influential midfielder Chris Jones.

26 year old Chris was a big presence at Port Talbot in the Dafabet WPL last season, but joins the Black and Greens having spent the summer with Canadian Club Thunderbay Chill. After making seven appearances as a youngster for Swansea City, Jones played on loan at Cambridge United before moving on to Grimsby Town; but he came to prominence after joining Neath FC in January 2010. Chris scored a hat trick on his debut for the Eagles against Porthmadog and emerged as probably the most exciting winger in the Dafabet Welsh Premier League, scoring 14 goals in two and a half seasons at the Gnoll. He then moved to The New Saints in 2012 and was an ever present for two seasons, winning two Dafabet WPL Championship Medals and scoring 8 goals in the process. He was also in the TNS side which beat Aber Town in the Welsh Cup Final of May 2014. Jones briefly moved on to Gloucester City before returning to South Wales with Port Talbot in 2014/15. Equally proficient on the wing and behind the strikers, Skewen' based Chris has made 174 WPL appearances scoring 27 goals.

Chris made his unofficial debut in Black and Green at Penrhyncoch on Friday night (see photo, above left) but will be hoping to make his debut proper at his previous Club TNS next weekend. Everyone at the Club welcomes Chris to Park Avenue and we look forward to a significant contribution from him in what is sure to be an exciting season.

Photo courtesy of Beverley Hemmings