Aberystwyth Town Ladies 0 Rhyl Ladies 1
Sunday 8th October 2017
Welsh Cup Round 1

A late first half goal for the visitors was enough to send the Welsh Premier League side home happy and knock Aber out of the Welsh Cup, writes Steven Brookes.

After drawing their opening two league matches, Aber’s attentions turned to the Cup to face top tier side, Rhyl Ladies. The Welsh Prem side started the stronger of the two teams, dominating early possession and creating the first chances of the match. Town goalkeeper Ffion Ashman was making her debut and was forced into making a good save after 10 minutes, tipping a shot from just outside the area over the bar. Rhyl continued to dominate possession for most of the half whilst the Black and Greens were really struggling to create any chances. It seemed like both teams would go into the half time break level but with the last attack of the half Rhyl took the lead when Paige Williams’ strike beat Ashman at her near post to give Rhyl a deserved lead.

For the third successive match, Aber looked much improved in the second half but Rhyl were still trying to double their lead. Ffion Ashman had to make a couple of good saves in goal whilst at the other end of the pitch both Sian Evans and Steph Land saw their efforts go over the bar. The hosts were pushing forward in search for an equaliser but without success. Tania Wylde’s right footed effort went wide of the post and in the 90th minute Katie Christopher’s header at the back post looped over the cross bar.

Once again, it was a much improved second half performance and possibly on another day Aber could have got the equaliser they were after. Next up is a trip to Llangyfelach Ladies for their third league fixture of the season.

JD Welsh Premier League
Saturday 7th October
​Aberystwyth Town 0 Barry Town 0

Aberystwyth Town earned themselves a point to climb off the bottom of the JD Welsh Premier League table on Saturday afternoon, as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Barry Town United at Park Avenue. Both sides missed good opportunities to win the game in the second half, but the game ended in stalemate as both managers settled for a point apiece.

Aber manager Nev Powell made one change to the starting line-up from Tuesday’s Nathaniel MG Cup defeat to Airbus UK Broughton, with John Owen replacing Cledan Davies, which meant Mathew Jones started at left back for the first time in his Black and Greens’ career. Both sides started the game cautiously, with the game lacking any real rhythm through the first 15 minutes. Barry came closest to opening the scoring on 16 minutes, as Chris Mullock somehow pulled off an instinctive point-blank save from Kayne Mclaggon’s close range shot. Mclaggon was forced off through injury shortly afterwards, and Macauley Southam fired a long-range effort over the bar for the visitors. Aber continued to struggle to get any threatening attacking play going, with Ryan Wade shooting well wide of the post on separate occasions. The half time whistle could not come soon enough for the 233 spectators at Park Avenue.

The first 15 minutes of the second half again proved to be rather uninspiring for the neutrals, as both sides struggled to create clear-cut chances. On 60 minutes, Aber’s midfield maestro Malcolm Melvin, and soon after striker Craig Hobson were introduced in place of Ryan Wollacott and Joe Phillips, with manager Nev Powell looking for some fresh impetus from his side. Aber began to slowly crank up the pressure on the visitors’ rear guard, as Ryan Wade shot straight at Barry keeper Mike Lewis, before Hobson almost converted an in-swinging Ashley Young free kick.  Barry themselves continues to look dangerous on the counter attack with the pace of wide men Tyrrell Webbe and Drew Fahiya, but on 87 minutes Aber again came close to the breakthrough as Hobson headed Wade’s cross into the side-netting. Aber looked for one last chance as the game headed into 3 minutes of added time, and they very nearly found the winner in the dying seconds as right back Declan Walker brought the ball down from the sky and fired a low shot towards goal, only for it to hit the outside of the post.

​This was another occasion where Aber have to settle for a point when it could so easily have been three, but manager Nev Powell will take encouragement from the organisation and defensive qualities his side showed today, keeping their first clean sheet in the league this season. Town now turn their attentions to their next JD Welsh Premier League fixture away to Llandudno, next Saturday 14th October.

JD Welsh Premier League
Saturday 7th October (2:30 p.m Kick Off)
Aberystwyth Town v Barry Town United

Aberystwyth Town host Barry Town at Park Avenue on Saturday afternoon, as Nev Powell’s men search for their first win in the of the season in the JD Welsh Premier League. Aber captain Jonny Spittle scored a late equaliser in the reverse fixture at Jenner Park earlier this season, and Town will again be looking to pick up points and lift themselves off the foot of the league table.

Aber fell to another disappointing home defeat in midweek in the Nathaniel MG Cup against Huws Gray Alliance side Airbus UK Broughton, and they will look to put that defeat swiftly behind them as they welcome the Dragons to Park Avenue on Saturday afternoon. A 1-1 draw at Jenner Park on the opening weekend of the season signalled a solid start to Aber’s league campaign, with an especially impressive second half performance. However, Town have picked up just one point in their six league games since then, and manager Nev Powell will be looking for a big response from his team in front of the Park Avenue crowd. Forwards Geoff Kellaway, John Owen and Craig Hobson remain doubts for Saturday’s game, whilst Malcolm Melvin remains sidelined. Joe Culshaw could feature in the league for the first time in four games.

Visitors Barry Town United have enjoyed a solid start on their return to the JD Welsh Premier League, picking up 10 points from 7 games so far, and currently lying in seventh place in the league table. Manager Gavin Chesterfield called last weekend’s 1-0 victory away at Bangor City one of the best results in the club’s history, and they will travel to Aberystwyth in good spirits.

In what was a fantastic contest on the opening weekend of the season, the sides could not be separated. Come on down to Park Avenue on Saturday and cheer on the Black and Green’s to the result they need! Kick off is at 2:30p.m, and admission costs £7 for Adults, £4 Concessions and £1 for Children. Another exciting game lies ahead!

Aberystwyth Town FC are mourning the passing of their ex Player and Manager Mr Ron Cullum.

Mr Cullum made 64 First Team appearances for the Black and Greens between 1947-53, scoring four goals and was appointed First Team Manager for the 1974/5 season. He lead the team to a Central Wales Cup win, a second place finish in the Mid Wales League and runners up in the League Cup of 1975/6, and remained in charge until March 1977. He was also highly respected in the Aberystwyth area and wider afield for his work with Aberystwyth Athletic Club and Aberystwyth Mini Minors League which continues to this day. Ron was a founder member and Secretary of both organisations and was instrumental in giving many young boys and girls the opportunity to play football in the Aberystwyth area.

In the presence of some of his family members a minute's silence was observed prior to Tuesday's match versus Airbus in honour of Mr Cullum, and Aberystwyth Town FC conveys its sympathies to Granville and Andrew, and their extended families in their sad loss. 

The photograph below, with Mr Cullum on the top left, is taken from the Old Black and Green and shows Town's Central Wales Cup winning side of 1975/6.