Aberystwyth Town FC is saddened to hear of the passing of Dyfrig Davies, who kept goal for the Club 392 times between 1965 and 1978, and was a key part of the Legendary Welsh Amateur Cup Winning side of 1969/70.

The Old Black and Green summarises Dyfrig’s career thus: “(He was) first choice keeper for thirteen years and the most consistent in Mid Wales over that period. He had remarkable feline agility, safe hands and an uncanny anticipation common to all top grade goalkeepers. He joined the Club from Swansea City’s ground staff and played no small part in Aberystwyth’s success. Who could forget his display against Cardiff City in the Welsh Cup in 1969, when a string of breathtaking saves kept their score down to 3-0 and earned him rave reviews in the national press the next day? (See photo, opposite). He was capped three times at youth level and was reserve Welsh amateur goalkeeper for three seasons in the 1970s.”

The Club extends its heartfelt sympathies to Dyfrig’s Family and Friends.

Word Cup Round Two
Tuesday 29th September
Haverfordwest County 4 Aberystwyth Town 1

Despite taking a sixth minute lead through Craig Williams, depleted Aberystwyth Town plunged out of the Word Cup last night, losing heavily to Haverfordwest County in a match which will not be remembered fondly by those of a Black and Green persuasion.

Things were looking promising for Aber when Ross Stephens looped the ball over County’s back line, and Williams beat the offside trap to lob keeper Craig Morris for the perfect start. Soon after Rhys Griffiths headed Williams’ corner wide, while at the other end the lively Declan Carroll drew a shovelled save out of Phil Draper from a free kick. Geoff Kellaway then drew a smart stop from Morris down to his left, and Griffiths headed over from the corner. Then within two minutes the game turned on its head. Touseled Couty midfielder Greg  Walters played John Roberts in down the right flank and he equalised with a low shot on 27 minutes; then two minutes later Carroll’s low shot from a similar position crept in under Draper to earn the lead for the homesters. Rhys Griffiths and the Bluebirds’ Jack Christopher both headed wide, and Steff Williams hit the post just before the break with a left footed drive, and half time came with the score at 2-1.

Any doubts about the game’s outcome were effectively quashed 50 seconds into the second half when Christopher turned to fire home from a corner, and Aber faced a demoralising 45 minutes. Declan Carroll went close again, before Kellaway responded with a shot saved by Morris, then Chris Venables, on as a sub, set up Griffiths who was so unlucky to see his shot cannon off the post. On 69 minutes Carroll lofted in a deep free kick which Christopher turned in at the back postto make it four. Wyn Thomas drew a save from Morris with a header from Williams’ corner, Liam Lewis almost got in down the left but was denied and Kellaway again fired over, and Aber’s Bad Day at the Office was over.

So Aber’s Word Cup Campaign for 2015/6 is over, and Manager Ian Hughes will need a much improved performance if Aber are to get anything out of Saturday’s Dafabet WPL game at home to Gap Connah’s Quay. Kick off at Park Avenue is at 2.30pm.

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We have also ordered some Orange Replica Away Shirts which we be added to the Shop in due course. Advance purchases can be made for these shirts too and supporters with any queries or feedback about the Online Store are invited to email the club at [email protected].

Since moving from Farrar Road, Bangor City’s stadium has been named Nantporth, the Book People Stadium and is currently called the Bangor University Stadium. But despite different reincarnations, they all share a common theme with regards to Aber; the Seasiders have yet to claim victory there, writes Matthew Wallace. But that changed on Friday night as a performance packed with guile, team spirit and passion earned Aberystwyth their maiden win at Bangor’s new stadium.

Ian Hughes was delighted to finally register three points at Bangor. “It’s been a long time coming! I was the assistant manager here when we lost 7-1 and that hurt. Especially being a lad from Anglesey. But it’s not about me, it’s about a great win for Aberystwyth Town Football Club. I’m delighted with the players! The work rate, the effort and they deserved to win the game! They enjoy playing for the club and they showed that with their desire out on the pitch this evening.”

Aber opened the scoring through a looping header from former Cofi player Darren Thomas that found its way into the back of the net via the post. “It’s great for him. With him being a Caernarfon boy this was an exciting game for him to be involved in. People don’t realise how good a leap he’s got. He keeps badgering me to put him into the box for corners as he thinks he can get a few more but it was a great finish from a great move. Craig Williams gives us that little bit extra at left back going forward. He put in a great cross and Darren got on the end of it.”

Although Aber were pegged back by two goals from Sam Hart and Leon Clowes, Town went into the break all square thanks to Ross Stephens’ close range volley after some excellent work from Geoff Kellaway out wide and Chris Venables to keep the ball alive.

“Ross Stephens has been doing that in training since he arrived at the club so we know he’s got that in his locker. He doesn’t get forward as much because he’s got a duty to his teammates but he’s got forward into a good position and his finish was lethal.”

The Seasiders took the lead just before the hour mark when former City striker Jamie Reed found himself unmarked six yards out to slot underneath Connor Roberts in the home goal. Reed, who was playing his final game of his current loan spell, has found the net five times over the past 28 days and with that goal scoring record to boot, Hughes is hoping to keep him in black and green for some time longer.

“We’re pleased to have him. The 28 days are now over. He’s TNS’ player but obviously we’d like to keep him and I think Reedy is enjoying his football. We’ll take this week to week and see where we go with it.”

This victory makes it 7 points from 9 in the space of a week for Aberystwyth. After something of a slow start, Aber have proven over the past week that they are a force to be reckoned with in the hunt for a top 6 place, something that delights the manager.

“It’s pleasing but our dressing room is an ambitious one and we feel we deserved 9 from 9. Our second half performance, even seventy minutes of our performance against Bala warranted 3 points. It’s been coming and we’re getting stronger.  We’ve got Rhys Griffiths coming back and he showed tonight how good he is at holding the ball up. We look forward to next week already.”

Watch Matthew Wallace's post match interviews with Manager Ian Hughes and Jamie Reed on Aber Town's Youtube Channel here.

Word Cup Second Round
Tuesday 29th September (ko 7.45pm)
Haverfordwest County v Aberystwyth Town

After last Friday's crucial win up at Bangor, Aber Town return to Word Cup action on Tuesday evening as they travel to Pembrokeshire to face Dafabet WPL rivals Haverfordwest County at the Conygar Bridge Meadow (ko 7.45pm)

The Black and Greens progressed to the last sixteen with a 5-1 First Round win over Goytre United, while the Bluebirds overcame Penybont 4-0 away to set up the West Wales Derby tie.

Despite a recent improvement in form, Haverfordwest's 2-1 defeat at Airbus yesterday saw them pulled back into the bottom two, but they did beat Aber 3-2 in August's Pre Season Friendly, and ex Town players such as Jordan Follows, Declan Carroll, Ryan Batley and Steff Williams will be keen to shine.

Although they are in a very good run of form at the moment, Ian Hughes' men are in the middle of a run of seven games in 21 days, so it is quite possible that Aber will make full use of their 19 man squad, minus Jamie Reed who will be Cup tied. The game is the only all WPL tie in the League Cup Second Round, so an intriguing match beckons, and the Coach leaves Park Avenue at 4.30pm. A terrific Tuesday evening in Pembs will cost just £10 return - don't miss out!

Dafabet Welsh Premier League
Friday 25th September
Bangor City 2 Aberystwyth Town 3

Goals from Darren Thomas, Ross Stephens and Jamie Reed earned the Black and Greens a first ever win at the Bangor University Stadium last night, a big result for Ian Hughes' men which ensures a seven point haul over the last week. Resolute and clinical, Town now look back on track as they sit sixth in the nascent WPL table, and prepare for an Autumn assault on the Podium Places.

After two very positive results at Carmarthen and at home to Bala, the challenge for Aber was to maintain those high standards, and the Black and Greens looked the better team from the start. Thomas and Stuart Jones went close with early attempts, and with Aber's defensive shape looking excellent, it was no surprise when they took the lead in the 20th minute. Faultless full back Craig Williams surged down the left flank and delivered a pearl of a cross which Darren Thomas flicked into the corner of the net for a rare headed goal - and a good one at that. Back came the hosts however with a strong rally and when Christian Langos earned a contentious free kick, Sam Hart stepped up to deliver a beauty of a left footed free kick into the top corner of the net, for a 22nd minute equaliser. The Citizens now grew in belief and four minutes later visiting keeper Mike Lewis parried lively Langos' shot for a corner, from which Leon Clowes smashed home from close range at the second attempt. The game now developed into an end to end thriller: Reed went close for Aber, before Chris Jones hit the side netting for Bangor, and Lewis did well to gather Damian Allen's low shot. The three minutes before the break Geoff Kellaway sent in a deep cross from the right, which Chris Venables did brilliantly to head back for Stephens to smash home thrillingly from close range for 2-2. Lewis made another big save to deny Langos, and the half time whistle blew.

Luke Sherbon glanced Thomas' cross just past the post after the break but Town took a while to get going. Kellaway set up Venables down the left with a sweet ball, but the WPL Hot Shot's effort was cleared off the line by Adam Cummings. Then in the 59th minute Stuart Jones headed the ball down to Reed in the area, and his instinctive shot went under Connor Roberts to put the visitors ahead again. Thomas again fed Kellaway, who set Venables up in a great position, but the crossbar denied Aber a fourth, which meant a nervous last quarter for the visitors, whose defensive resolve was severely tested by the Citizens. Lewis gathered a header from Chris Jones, before denying him again with a great stop soon afterwards. Kellaway fizzed a left footed effort just over the bar, and Reed and Venables again drew saves from Roberts but at the other end the faultless Mike Lewis pulled off yet more top drawer saves to deny Allen and Jones, and after a nervy four minutes of injury time, the final whistle finally blew, and Aber had done it.   

This exciting and thrilling game, in front of a superb crowd of 802 was a great advert for the WPL and provided a result which gives Ian Hughes' side real momentum going into a busy October schedule. Next up is a Word Cup Second Round Match at Haverfordwest on Tuesday evening, with a 7.45pm kick off. The Bus leaves at 4.30pm: you know where to meet it!