JD Cymru Premier
Saturday 2nd November (KO 2.30pm)
Airbus UK Broughton v Aberystwyth Town 

Aberystwyth Town look to build on the positive momentum gained throughout an unbeaten October to climb up the JD Cymru Premier table with another positive result away to Airbus UK Broughton on Saturday afternoon.

The Black and Greens are on a high after qualifying for their first League Cup Semi Final last night with a comprehensive 3-0 win at Carmarthen, and drawing with League Leaders Connah’s Quay last Friday, and a similar performance on Deeside on Saturday could propel Aber up the League and continue the feelgood factor at Park Avenue.

Mathew Jones has scored two decisive penalties in the last week, earning a point at home to Quay, and scoring first at Waundew, before an own goal from Greg Walters and another from Joe Phillips sealed the win in West Wales. Town’s defensive performances have also been excellent of late with the likes of Connor Roberts, Adam Hughes, Wes Baynes, Paulo Mendes and Lee Jenkins all catching the eye. More good news is that Club Captain Marc Williams returns to the squad for the match at the Airfield following suspension on Tuesday.

Cymru Alliance Champions of 2018/9 Airbus are level on points with Aber after 12 games, but Town will be looking to revenge a damaging 2-1 defeat at Park Avenue back in September, so the scene is set for another exciting afternoon of JD Cymru Premier action.

Kick off at the Hollingsworth Group Stadium, Chester Road, Broughton, CH4 0DR is at 2.30pm. See you on Deeside!

Nathaniel MG Cup Quarter Final
Tuesday 29th October
Carmarthen Town 0 Aberystwyth Town 3

Aberystwyth Town thrilled their fans with a thoroughly dominant performance at Parc Waundew on Tuesday evening, which earned them a 3-0 win and a place in the Nathaniel MG Cup Semi Finals for the first time in nine years. Matthew Jones got the decisive goal for the third round running with a 42nd minute penalty, and second half goals from Greg Walters (own goal, 50 minutes) and Joe Phillips (66 minutes) sealed a morale boosting and handsome victory for the men in green.

​On a chilly night Aber started well, looking composed and enjoying most of the possession. Paulo Mendes put in a good cross but the returning Geoff Kellaway couldn’t quite connect, and minutes later Kellaway unleashed a super shot from the edge of the area, but Lee Idzi brought out a big save in Carmarthen’s goal. Edmilson was the next to threaten for Aber, sending a shot past the post, and at the other end Liam Thomas hit the post from an offside position. With Wes Baynes, Lee Jenkins and Adam Hughes all impressing with solid defending Town had a strong base to work from, and Mendes was next to fire in from 30 yards, but Idzi saved again. Phillips was denied by Idzi after unleashing a low drive, and for Carmarthen Declan Carroll fired over after a strong run. The Seasiders finally got the lead they deserved when Lee Jenkins played Baynes into the box, and his run was blocked by Chris Jones, to earn a penalty. As he had done so thrillingly on Friday night, Jones once again smashed home the spot kick to put Aber in control at the break.

After the break Carroll again threatened with a shot with flashed over Aber’s bar, but normal service was resumed as Jones’ cross played in livewire Alex Boss who snuck in at the near post to win a corner. Soon afterwards Baynes got another assist as his ball in to the box from the right was deflected past his own keeper by the unfortunate Walters, and the visitors were in control. Keeper Connor Roberts came out swiftly to deny Liam Thomas a response, and protect Aber’s second clean sheet in three matches. Jenkins then went on a buccaneering run down the middle before feeding Boss who drifted a shot narrowly over, and Kellaway set up Phillips whose effort was again saved by Idzi. Then three quarters through the game quarterback Ryan Edwards picked out Phillips with a brilliant through ball, and he homed in before nudging the ball sweetly past Idzi for Aber’s third goal, and game, set and match. Chris Jones volleyed a rare Carmarthen attempt wide and Roberts denied an own goal with another great stop after Carroll’s cross, but with Aber bossing possession and in complete control, final chances came to sub Richy Ricketts and Alex Boss, and the visitors were delighted to end with a thoroughly deserved 3-0 win.

This victory caps an unbeaten October for Aber, and the players deserve huge credit for a series of consistent performances culminating in a Semi Final to look forward to. Town will now face either STM Sports, Bala Town or Connah’s Quay Nomads in the Nathaniel MG Cup Semi Finals, which will be one-off matches hosted by the side drawn first. The draw is expected on Thursday evening, with the games to be played the weekend of November 22/23rd. Don’t make any other plans for that weekend!

Nathaniel Cup Quarter Final
Tuesday 29th October (ko 7.45pm)
Carmarthen Town v Aberystwyth Town

Aber Town are gearing up for only their second Cup Quarter Final in five years as they prepare to visit Richmond Park for Tuesday night’s Nathaniel MG Cup Quarter Final away to Carmarthen Town.

The Black and Greens’ last Quarter Final, a Welsh Cup clash in March 2018, also took place at Richmond Park and Aber prevailed that night with a 3-1 win which took them to the epic Semi Final at Bala, against Newtown. The Seasiders will be hoping for a similar result on Tuesday, and go into the game on a high following Friday night’s thrilling draw against JD Cymru Premier League Leaders Connah’s Quay, courtesy of Matty Jones’ 90th minute penalty.

Three players missing on Friday will be absent again on Tuesday: injured Captain Marc Williams is suspended having received yellow cards in both previous rounds, away to Cambrian & Clydach (4-3) and Cardiff Met (1-0), Luke Boundford is recovering well but not yet fit to play, while Ryan Wollacott has left the Club to join Alvechurch.

Carmarthen have saved their best form this season for the Nathaniel MG Cup having beaten Cwmamman United (home, 4-1) and Briton Ferry away (2-0) to reach the Quarters. The sides met in the League just nine days ago and after a tight 0-0 draw, another close game is likely.

Kick off at Waundew is at 7.45pm. There will be no extra time and with a place in the Semi Final at stake, the match will proceed straight to penalties of the scores are level after 90 minutes. Exciting times!

JD Cymru Premier
Friday 25th October
Aberystwyth Town 1 Connah’s Quay Nomads 1

Mattie Jones’ 90th minute equaliser from the penalty spot gave the Black and Greens the point they so richly deserved after a gutsy and dominant performance against League Leaders Connah’s Quay, at a sodden Park Avenue last night. Jamie Insall had given the visitors the lead against the run of play seven minutes before the break but justice prevailed as Jones’ spot kick brought delight to the majority of the 276 brave souls who had defied the downpour.

​In truth Quay started well and had the first two opportunities. Priestley Farquharson’s right wing cross just about evaded his strikers and the post, and Insall saw a header cleared off the line with barely two minutes on the clock. Aber needed to settle, and they did. Wes Baynes sent in a cross after an overlapping run which Lewis Brass held well, then Mattie Jones’ left wing cross dropped nicely for Tom Price, who lost his footing in a good position. Price then did get a volley in which was deflected for a corner, then Ricketts turned beautifully to send in a cross, and Joe Phillips’ goalbound header was pushed on to the cross bar by Brass, with Morrison’s men rocking. With Stuart Jones nullifying the fading Michael Wilde Nomads were reduced to half chances, and Farquharson missed the target again from the right wing. The improving Price played a one two with Ryan Edwards before smashing in a volley which flashed over the post, and Brass again had to grab a promising Baynes cross. Wilde headed wide from Danny Holmes’ cross, then Joe Phillips again brought a save out of Brass with a curling effort. Then suddenly Michael Bakare dashed down the wing and sent in a cross for Insall to edge home from the edge of the area, and against all odds the Nomads were ahead. They again had to desperately clear off the line from a Paulo Mendes header in injury time, and went in a goal to the good.

Nomads again started the second half strongly and Insall missed a great chance to put the game to bed. Back came gutsy Aber, defending set pieces bravely and causing problems themselves too. Lee Jenkins went on a thrilling 50 yard run before unleashing a rocket shot from 30 yards which had Brass scrambling the ball away for a corner, and Richy Ricketts sent a volley wide too. Matty Jones sent in another beauty of a cross to Phillips at the back post, but somehow his header scraped wide with Brass’ goal enjoying a charmed life. Mattie Jones’ free kick then found Stuart Jones’ head, and a goal seemed certain, only for Brass to pull off a brilliant point blank save to protect his lead. Another ball in from Baynes just evaded Stuart Jones, with Aber unlucky again. Price volleyed over, then the impeccable Jenkins picked out Baynes on the right with a super crossfield pass, but the right back fired wide. With Aber so dominant, surely one last chance would come their way? So it proved, when sub Alex Boss’ goalbound shot was handled by Holmes, and Jones smashed home the penalty to bring huge cries of delight from the massed fans huddled against the incessant rain in the Rhun Owens Stand.

Many of those present judged this to be the Black and Greens’ best performance of the season, and against the League leaders this must be a shout. A sign of Aber’s dominance was that Quay had six players booked to Aber’s none, and Mathew Bishop’s men can be proud of themselves even though they didn’t quite manage a momentous victory. The point takes Aber up to ninth in the JD Cymru Premier and puts them in a great mood ahead of their Nathaniel MG Cup Quarter Final tie at Carmarthen on Tuesday night (ko 7.45pm). Come on Aber!

JD Cymru Premier
Friday 25th October
Aberystwyth Town v Connah's Quay Nomads (ko 7.45pm)

Aberystwyth Town welcome JD Cymru Premier League leaders Connah’s Quay Nomads to Park Avenue on Friday evening, looking for a win to consolidate a recent improved run of results, especially away from home. Four of Aber’s last five games have been away and having lost only one of those games Town have proved themselves to be hard to beat. An away win and a home draw against Cardiff Met also showed that the Black and Greens can get results against Top Six opposition, and they will need to be at their best to beat the Nomads on Friday night.

Aber’s improvement has been built on defensive solidity, with goalkeeper Connor Roberts earning a place in Sgorio’s Five a Side team for the past three weeks running. The outstanding keeper said in an interview with TNS TV this week: “As a team we’re doing a lot better now, we’ve managed to pick up three draws out of the last three and things are starting to look more positive.” Centre Back Lee Jenkins also picked up a Sgorio award, as Man of the Match last Friday night at Carmarthen, at the heart of a strong defensive performance which gained a 0-0 draw.

The Seasiders’ supporters were delighted to see Geoff Kellaway return to the squad from injury, and with Luke Boundford looking to return in the next couple of weeks, manage Matthew Bishop will have a stronger squad to choose from as the nights close in.

Nomads are unbeaten in the League so far this season with seven wins from 11, and after a solid performance were the recipients of a huge stroke of luck last weekend when poor Brad Woolridge’s 94th minute own goal gifted them a win at Cardiff Met, to take them Top of the League.

The Black and Greens will be looking to summon up the spirit they showed back in January 2018, when a Joe Phillips hat trick earned them a 4-2 win and their last victory over the Nomads. A similar return on Friday night would do nicely. Admission for this JD Cymru Premier clash will cost £7 for Adults, £4 for Concessions and just £1 for Kids. See you on Friday night!

FAW Women's Cup - First Round
Sunday 20th October 2019
Aberystwyth Town Ladies 1 (Wylde 60')
Cascade YC (A. Davies 45+3)
*A.E.T - Aberystwyth Win 3-1 on Penalties

With two penalty saves in a nail-biting shoot-out, it was Aber's keeper Ffion Ashman who became the hero of the day as the Black and Greens held their nerve to book a place in the second round of the FAW Women's Cup. Tania Wylde was on target in the 60th minute to cancel out Abbie Davies' first half stoppage time strike, writes Steven Brookes.

Facing the Black and Greens in the First Round of the competition was Welsh Women's League leaders Cascade YC with the top tier side hopeful of not being on the receiving-end of a cup upset.

In a frustrating first half for the hosts it was the tier two side that looked the most likely to break the deadlock but bar one great opportunity from inside the area that went narrowly wide of the post Cascade were mainly limited to strikes from outside the box, but so were the team in Green. In the third minute of added time the South Wales side were awarded a free kick following a handball from Nia Witts. The inswinging free-kick was unfortunately spilt and it was Abbie Davies who reacted quickest to open the scoring in what was the final action of the first half.

After a few half time tactical changes the hosts looked a lot more lively after the break, Naomi Evans coming close to levelling twice with one shot just off target and another pushed wide of the post. With 30 minutes remaining the scores were levelled. Last season's goal-machine Tania Wylde's right-footed effort found the back of the net from distance after an unfortunate error from the visiting goalkeeper. Bethan Roberts nearly turned the game around when her strike hit the post whilst debutant Carly Pegg's powerful effort smashed the cross bar as Town pressed for a winner.

With 90 minutes up the game went to extra time but not even an added 30 minutes could separate the two sides, so the dreaded penalty shoot-out was needed. Ashman got Town off to a perfect start with a save to her right. Wylde scored for the hosts before Cascade's second penalty was fired over. Caroline Cooper's strike was just about converted despite the visiting keeper getting a hand to the ball. Cascade got off the mark with their third penalty but a successful spot kick from Gabi Hughes put the pressure on the visitors fourth taker. Ffion Ashman became the hero of the day though saving with her feet to put the hosts into the second round.

Andy Evans' side's penalty shootout success has been rewarded with an away trip to Cardiff City Women. Town will need to be at their best to defeat a very strong side but as many will know, In cup games anything can happen.