The Seasiders rounded off a busy run of three games in under a week with a great performance to overcome league newcomers Flint Town at Aberystwyth University Park Avenue. After going a goal down on the half hour mark, Gavin Allen’s young side showed superb resilience to come from behind thanks to goals from Jonathan Evans, Matthew Jones and Lee Jenkins.
 
Aber made two changes from Tuesday’s draw with Penybont as Connor Roberts and Harri Rowe came into the starting XI instead of Alex Pennock and Rhys Davies respectively.
 
The home side started the game brightly and had a very strong case for a penalty when Jamie Veale was felled in the penalty area. Referee Rob Kenny, making his first appearance in the JD Cymru Premier, was uninterested in the appeals despite the loud protestations from all in black and green.
 
Steff Davies, who was proving a handful for the Flint centre halves was instrumental in Aber nearly taking the lead in the 19th minute. A long goal kick was expertly dummied by the former Penrhyncoch man which allowed Jonathan Evans to go in one on one against the goalkeeper. However, the bus driver couldn’t keep his shot down and his effort went skyward over the bar.
 
The Silkmen had to wait until the 28th minute for their best opening as Mark Cadwallader’s free header dropped narrowly over the bar.
 
On the half hour mark, Jonathan Evans stung the palms of away stopper John Danby and from the resulting corner, the Seasiders had the ball in the back of the net only to see the linesman’s flag deny them  The ball was punched clear by Danby only to the feet of Matthew Jones who unleashed a powerful right footed volley into the net. As celebrations were in full swing, the flag was raised to the utter bemusement to all in black and green.
 
To compound Aber’s misery, just a minute later, Flint took the lead. A long ball over the top caused problems for the hosts. After a communication error from goalkeeper and defender, Connor Harwood rolled the ball home to the delight of the Silkmen’s bench.
 
With the opening half drawing to a close, Gavin Allen’s side had a glorious chance to equalise. A free kick was played into the Flint area and met brilliantly by the head of skipper Marc Williams. His powerful header cannoned off the bar with Lee Jenkins fouling the defender before he could muster a rebound.
 
But Aber didn’t have to wait long for their deserved equaliser and found themselves level just a minute before the break. Evans again the danger man for the home side, danced past the challenges of two defenders on the edge of the penalty area before superbly curling a left footed strike into the corner of the net to rapturous applause from all corners of the socially distant supporters outside the ground.
 
Aber made a blistering start to the second half and should have been in front after just two minutes. Davies was played through but somehow, Danby blocked the shot with his legs.
 
The Seasiders were offered a golden opportunity to take the lead when Davies was brought down in the box. Matthew Jones took the resulting spot kick and sent the keeper the wrong way to give Aber the lead for the first time.
 
Aber continued to dominate proceedings with both goal scorers going close again. Evans saw his shot well saved and Jones blazed a shot over the Dias stand but the best chance landed to Mark Williams. Evans played in substitute Adam Davies who squared the ball to his skipper but his shot rolled agonisingly wide.
 
After incessant pressure on the visiting goal, the hosts grabbed the third goal that their play richly deserved. A freekick from Matthew Jones was cleared back out to the taker. The former Shrewsbury youngster played the ball back into the box and whilst the attention of the defenders was taken by Louis Bradford coming back from an offside position, Lee Jenkins snuck in at the back post to slot the ball under Danby and into the bottom corner.
 
The third goal energised Flint who had two good chances in quick succession. Goalscorer turned goal stopper as Jenkins put in a superb last ditch tackle to stop Mark Cadwallader halving the deficit whilst Connor Roberts produced a smart stop to hold onto a rasping shot from the Aber right.
 
There were half chances for Mark Williams, Matthew Jones and Jack Rimmer but none of which particularly troubled the score line as Aber held out for a priceless victory.

The Seasiders now look forward to a week's break ahead of a local derby away at Newtown's Latham Park on the 25th. Thank you all for your continued support!

Aberystwyth Town Football Club are delighted to announce the return of Connor Roberts on loan from The New Saints until the end of January. The 27-year-old ex-Bangor City shot-stopper re-joins the Black & Greens for a second loan spell, having massively impressed last season before curtailment.

Connor began his professional career with Everton in 2011, enjoying a couple of loan spells before moving to Cheltenham Town a year later where he spent two seasons with the Gloucestershire club. A year with Chester was followed by a move into top-flight Welsh football when he moved to Bangor City, where he starred between 2015-18.

Connor then joined The New Saints in 2018 and has provided cover for Paul Harrison on TNS’ European ventures, including Wednesday night’s excruciating loss to B36 Torshavn of the Faroe Islands on penalties.

Connor joined Aber last summer on a season long loan from the champions, demonstrating his quality throughout the season – including a Man of the Match performance in a 0-0 away draw at Latham Park in December 2019. His highlights on that day can be seen HERE.

On the international stage, Roberts has represented Wales at U19s level four times with six appearances for the U21s. In 2014, he received a call-up to the senior squad for a friendly against the Netherlands, and was selected to the Cymru C squad in March 2020 alongside teammate Lee Jenkins to face England C. However, the match was not able to go ahead for obvious reasons.

Connor will be eligible for selection for tomorrow night’s JD Cymru Premier clash with Flint Town – travel permitting from the very misty Faroe Islands!

Croeso nol, Connor!

Aberystwyth Town vs Flint Town United
JD Cymru Premier
Friday 18th September (KO 19.45)
MATCH BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

The Black & Greens hectic start to the 2020/21 season continues tomorrow night (Friday) with the visit of newly promoted Flint Town United.

Long-time supporters of the Cymru Premier will be delighted to see Flint back in the top flight, with the club having been present for each of the first six seasons of the league, after being founder members back in 1992. They marked their return with an impressive 1-0 win at home to Newtown, despite being reduced to ten men just after the break.

Manager Niall McGuiness is no stranger to the Cymru Premier, having had a spell in charge of Rhyl in 2016/17. He has added to his side that finished 2nd in the Cymru North last season, with Rob Hughes & Nathan Craig both astute signings with experience of the league. It was indeed Craig who secured their victory on Saturday, with a well taken first half free-kick. One opposition player that will need no introduction to Aber supporters is Wes Baynes, who makes a swift return to Park Avenue having departed the club in the summer. Wes made a solid contribution during his two years in Ceredigion, making over 50 appearances and scoring a number of impressive goals.

Some of Aber’s own new additions have made important contributions themselves in the opening two games, with debutant Louis Bradford the latest to add his name to the scoresheet in Tuesday’s 1-1 draw at Penybont, following Jonathan Evans & Rhys Davies opening their accounts last Saturday against Cardiff Met.

Gavin Allen’s ambitions to build a young, hungry and predominately locally based squad were once again evidenced in Bridgend, with goalscorer Bradford part of a back line that had an average age of 19.2 years old, and over 50% of the matchday squad Ceredigion based.

As with Met’s visit to Park Avenue at the weekend, Tuesday’s match at The SDM Glass Stadium was played behind closed doors, although supporters would have struggled to see much of the action in any case, as a thick mist descended around half an hour into the game. This may have contributed to referee Bryn Markham-Jones’ baffling decision to send off Mathew Jones for two bookable offences, despite the first yellow card never actually being shown!

We can confirm that Mathew’s red card has been rescinded by the FAW, meaning he will be available for selection for Friday’s game. Referee Bryn Markham-Jones has acknowledged his mistake in noting #2 Louis Bradford as #7 Mathew Jones for a bookable offence in the 37th minute.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, Aber saw out the final 10 minutes and registered their first point of the season. The Seasiders’ points total is yet to reflect the return that their performances deserve however, but Friday’s game is the perfect opportunity to rectify this ahead of next week’s Mid-Wales derby at Newtown.

Friday night football under the lights returns to Park Avenue, although unfortunately supporters cannot be admitted due to COVID-19 guidelines. Our Twitter feed @AberystwythTown will once again provide in-depth coverage of the game however, and whilst the Black & Green Army are sorely missed at Park Avenue at this current time, all at the club do appreciated your continued support.

The Seasiders got off the mark in the JD Cymru Premier on Tuesday night as an equaliser from TNS loanee Louis Bradford on 46 minutes cancelled out Nathan Wood’s first half strike for the hosts. After going down to 10 men in very unfortunate circumstances on 82 minutes, Aber held on to secure a point at the SDM Glass Stadium.

With centre back Sam Barnes pulling up in the warm-up, Jack Rimmer was recalled to the starting XI as Louis Bradford moved inside to replace the injured veteran. A back five of Pennock, Rimmer, Jenkins, Bradford and R. Davies (of which Bradford and Davies were deputising) meant Aber fielded a backline and keeper with an average age of 19.2 – surely a record of late! Despite the team’s youth, Aber got off to a brighter start with Gwion Owen continuing his energetic displays by covering every blade of artificial grass from the first whistle to the last. Aber’s first chance came from an excellent piece of skill by ex-Hereford left back Rhys Davies who got the best of his opposing full back to deliver a ball to the powerful forehead of Steff Davies who was unable to direct it goalward. Soon after, with Gwion Owen being scythed to the ground several times already, Jamie Veale delivered an indirect free-kick into the Bont area which was smartly cleared by the hosts.

An impressive first 15 was soon forgotten however, as some miscommunication at the back resulted in Nathan Wood picking up the ball from 25 yards and walloping it home past Pennock. Further attempts to play out of defence remained unfruitful, as Bont were in the ascendancy with the ball at their feet. Ex-Aber winger Kostya Georgievsky looked his usual energetic self down the Aber left, causing concern among the Aber faithful with a rasping effort just wide of the post on 23 minutes.

As the mist continued to roll in, Welsh football fans were reminded of a certain never-to-be-spoken-about game in the Faroe Islands some weeks back, though not quite the same rewards awaited the victors in this case. A chance for Rhys Davies on 32 minutes was against the balance of play as Bont continued to pressurise – Gwion Owen and Lee Jenkins standing strong especially. On 34 minutes came Bont’s best chance of the game to double their lead, as a ball over the top escaped Jenkins and left the on-rushing striker 1-on-1 with young Pennock. Luckily for the Green Army, the bounce of the ball caused problems for the attacker as his half-volleyed effort flew well past the post towards McArthur Glen Retail Park.

The visitors were brandished some yellow cards by referee Bryn Markham-Jones who subsequently waved away penalty shouts from the visiting players when Jonathan Evans was caught by keeper Ashley Morris. Aber went into half-time just one goal down, knowing better was needed in the second. A half-time rinsing from manager Gavin Allen seemed to do the trick right away, as Aber returned to the field a different team. Just 2 minutes into the half, a corner was dropped into the danger area, where 18 year old Louis Bradford (initially *unknown player* due to the mist) latched onto the loose ball to volley home, and suddenly it was Aber who were in the ascendancy. Steff Davies saw a glancing header painstakingly miss the post to double the lead before a knock on a Bont player required treatment and slowed Aber’s momentum.

The final 30 minutes was a rollercoaster, with Pennock making an excellent stop from a Bont volley and another headed effort from Davies not quite finding the net. A number of changes for Aber followed who saw two more chances thwarted, the best coming from skipper Marc Williams who chipped the on-rushing keeper, only for Morris to recover well and flap the ball to safety.

The final 10 minutes presented an enormous obstacle for the Seasiders, as Mathew Jones was wrongfully shown a 2nd yellow card when he had not been shown a 1st. Despite rampant protests by his teammates and general confusion among the very few on-lookers trying to make sense of the misty human-shaped blobs in the distance, Aber were down to 10 and forced to hold on for dear life. Having, quite literally, weathered the storm for the game’s final moments, the 4 added minutes went by without concern as excellent game management from Allen’s men saw an end to a game that had it all.

With the run of the green firmly against them, Aber battled hard to come away with a deserved point that kickstarts the campaign. The Black & Greens turn their attentions to a Friday night duel with newly-promoted Flint Town who make the journey to the Ceredigion coast. Again, the game will be held behind-closed-doors and thus admission for fans will not be permitted, though the fence-watching and bus-parking genius of the Green Army knows no bounds! Diolch yn fawr iawn i chi gyd am eich gefnogaeth parhaus – thank you all for your continued support! 

PENYBONT vs ABERYSTWYTH TOWN: MATCH PREVIEW
 
Penybont vs Aberystwyth Town
JD Cymru Premier
Tuesday 15th September (KO 19.45)
MATCH BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
 
Following Saturday’s 2-3 home loss against Cardiff Met, the Black & Greens make a swift return to action tomorrow night (Tuesday) for their first away match of 2020/21.
 
Despite not registering any points from Saturday’s opening game, it was an encouraging display from Aber’s new look side. After Jonathan Evans netted the first post-lockdown Cymru Premier goal – a superb individual strike – and Rhys Davies netted on his debut, the Seasiders looked good value for all 3 points. Unfortunately, two late Cardiff Met goals spoiled what would have been a terrific result for Gavin Allen in his first match as Manager.
 
Saturday was also the first competitive match played under strict COVID regulations and although credit must go to all of those involved for their impeccable adherence to the new rules, this did mean there was no admittance for supporters. Had the Black & Green Army been allowed into Park Avenue, they would have no doubt been delighted to see no less than six local players in the starting 11, with another 2 on the bench!
 
Penybont also started their season on Saturday, and gained a credible 1-1 draw at Caernarfon Town, Mael Davies’ 75th minute goal was cancelled out by a Mike Hayes strike 8 minutes before full time.
 
One-time Seasider Rhys Griffiths looks to be building a strong squad at The Kymco Stadium and Penybont will be looking to improve on last season’s 10th place finish in this, their second season in the league.
 
So far this summer they have added Ashley Morris, Ben Ahmun, Ian Traylor, Lewis Baldwin, Mael Davies – (Ceredigion native and former junior teammate to some current Seasiders), Lewis Clutton, Connor Davies and Sam Snaith to their ranks, although two names that will be familiar to Aber fans still remain; both Kane Owen & Kostya Georgievsky had brief spells at Park Avenue in 2016.
 
A Wes Baynes free-kick secured an away point for the Black & Greens in this fixture last season, and Gavin Allen will hope his new-look squad can go one better than that this time around, as the exciting new Cymru Premier season continues tomorrow night.
 
Due to COVID-19 regulations, there will be no admittance to supporters at The SDM Glass Stadium. However, once again, there will be comprehensive coverage of the match on our Twitter feed @AberystwythTown.

​Diolch yn fawr i’r Dorf Werdd am eich cefnogaeth parhaus!

Two late goals from Cardiff Met saw them come from behind to defeat Aberystwyth in the opening game of the 2020/1 season.
 
Aber had twice led after excellent goals from Jonathan Evans and Rhys Davies before Met equalised with Eliot Evans and a brace from Olly Hubert saw them leave the Ceredigion coast with all three points.
 
With Aber lining up with six local based players on the field and two on the bench, the first ten minutes allowed both teams to feel each other out before Aber took the lead on the 13th minute. A long cross field pass found Jonathan Evans in acres of space. The former Penrhyncoch man, now in his third spell with Aber, cut inside his man before rifling a shot into the top right hand corner to the delight of the supporters gathered on a double decker bus and on top of a white van at the far end of the ground.
 
A succession of corners, freekicks and long throws into the Aber box saw the Archers attempt to pressurise Pennock’s goal but the centre half partnership of Sam Barnes and Lee Jenkins dealt well with the pressure.
 
On a gloriously hot autumnal day, the temperature on the pitch threatened to overtake the conditions off it. A mix up over a throw in saw Jamie Veale and Chris Baker tangle resulting in a twenty man tussle in the Aber half; certainly not in keeping with social distance rulings. Harry Warwick and Veale were the recipients of yellow cards for their actions.
 
With two minutes to go until the interval, Aber were fortuitous to still hold the lead as Met carved out their best chance by some distance of the opening stanza. Barnes’ pass was intercepted in the Aber half. The ball was quickly worked out to the right hand side and crossed in the box but Warwick was only able to
 
On the stroke of halftime, the Seasiders were denied by a brilliant stop from away keeper Alex Lang and the cross bar. A freekick on the edge of the box was sweetly struck by Veale. His curling effort was saved superbly by Lang and who was able to force the ball onto the bar and away to safety to round off a positive half for the Seasiders.
 
The second half started much like the first with no real chances of note for either side. Both sides looked to utilise their respective right flanks and the visitors nearly saw some joy from one such move. The dangerous Eliot Evans cut in from his wing and saw his shot blocked. Despite strong protestations from the Archers, referee Rob Jenkins remained uninterested.
 
Met got their equaliser half way through the second half. Pennock was only able to parry the ball after a shot with the ball falling to the feet of the grateful Evans who tucked the ball underneath the Aber keeper to level the scores.
 
The goal rejuvenated the hosts as they nearly retook the lead immediately. The right hand side was again the avenue for the attack with Evans being the outlet. His shot was well stopped by Lang in the middle of the post but the rebound was hooked clear by the Met defence before the onrushing Rhys Davies could get a touch.  
 
But just five minutes later, the Seasiders were in front. Some sterling hold up play from tireless Steff Davies upfront played in his namesake Rhys who took one touch to compose himself before drilling the home across the keeper to spark jubilant celebrations on and off the field.
 
Met were still dangerous and came close to a second leveller. Warman attacked down the left before crossing into the box however Pennock made amends for his earlier parried shot saving smartly and holding onto the cross ahead of the onrushing Olly Hulbert.
 
They did get their equaliser with less than ten minutes to play. Met deployed their long throw tactic  from the arsenal of weaponry and a flick on at the near post allowed Hulbert to hook the ball home.
 
And it was heartbreak for Aber in the final few minutes. The long throw was again the method of attack. This time, Hulbert connected with the first ball. The ball hit the inside of the post and dribbled over the line despite Marc Williams’ valiant effort to keep it out to break the hearts of those in Black and Green.
 
This will be an undoubted disappointment for Gavin Allen’s men who deserved more from the final game. However, there will be no time to wallow in self pity as preparations begin for Tuesday’s trip to Penybont.