JD Welsh Premier
Tuesday 7th November
Bangor City 3 Aberystwyth Town 2

Aberystwyth Town ended up on the wrong end of a five goal thriller up at Nantporth last night which swung one way then the other before the hosts eventually came from behind to take all three points - just as they had at Park Avenue back in September. Declan Walker headed his fourth goal in five games to give Town a fifth minute lead, only for Steven Hewitt to equalise four minutes later. Luke Borrelli volleyed Aber back ahead five minutes after the break but a two goal salvo from Luke Wall (74 mins) and Dean Rittenberg (80 mins) proved decisive for Bangor on the night.

On a cold and crisp night the hosts started sharper, dominating possession and passing the ball around - however it was Aber who scored first. Walker surged down the right to win a corner, and when Ashley Young delivered the set piece into the box Walker rose highest to head home against the run of play. The hosts kept pressing and were level within four minutes, when Hewitt smashed home after debutant Guto Williams' ball in caused consternation at the back. John Owen rushed down the other end and crossed for Malcolm Melvin to head straight at home keeper Matthew Hall, but what followed was a lot of Bangor pressure and some resolute defending by the visitors. Wall was denied on more than one occasion, once by a brilliant saving tackle by Matthew Jones, Rittenberg was denied and Brayden Shaw aimed a shot straight at Chris Mullock. Back came Aber on the break as Ryan Wade set up Owen whose cross just evaded Borrelli's studs at the far post. Hewitt then ran straight through only to fire a shot wide from a great position, and had another volley deflected into Mullock's hands. Towards the end of the half the visitors again had a period pf pressure coinciding with a series of corner kicks, with Owen seeing a goalbound volley headed off the line by Anthony Miley, Walker having a header blocked before Hall pulled off a brilliant save to parry Jonny Spittle's rasping volley. Although Bangor had taken the initiative to Aber the visitors had still forged a number of dangerous opportunities and the 1-1 half time score was probably about right on chances created.      

Sunday 29th October 2017
​Welsh Youth Cup First Round
Cardiff Metropolitan 1 Aberystwyth Town U19s 5 

Sunday 5th November 2017
Welsh Premier Development League
Aberystwyth Town U19s 6 Penybont 4
 
Aberystwyth U19’s continued their fine form in the Welsh development league with an emphatic 5-1 win away against a strong Cardiff Metropolitan followed by a 6-4 win at home against Penybont. 

The victory at Cardiff was even more impressive as Aber had to leave at 7.30am for a 12.00 kick off, showing  great attitude and fitness that the team possess. The first 40 minutes was a tight affair until striker Liam Doherty put Aber ahead when he somehow found the net from a very tight angle. 

The second half was basically a clinical display from the young Seasiders, in particular by captain Jack Rimmer who found the net four times with a display of technical shooting and finishing of the highest quality, he completed his hat trick within the first 15 minutes of the second half which earned Aber a place in the next round and an excellent away win against a quality outfit. Cardiff Met did manage to score but it was too little too late as the game was all over. 
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Aberystwyth manager Bari Morgan was delighted with the result, saying “the lads played very well and we are very happy with the result considering the early kick off and the long journey down, everyone played there part but a special mention has to go to Jack who put in a captains performance today, the quality of his goals were top drawer.” 

Aber followed this up with a 6-4 home victory against a very strong physical Penybont team in weather conditions were very testing for defending with a strong side wind which made heading very difficult. Aber soon got into their stride when Jack Rimmer finished following good work down the right from Steff Gittins. The lead was increased when the in form Liam Doherty found the net, the game was firmly in Aber’s grasp but a few errors let Penybont back into the game and they scored two goals before half time. 
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Aber came out all guns blazing and again scored two goals, the first was a fantastic finish by Liam Doherty and a fantastic 20 yard free kick by Captain Jack Rimmer. They continued to create chances to put the game to bed but another lapse of concentration let Penybont score once again, putting the game was back in the balance, but great inter play down the left hand side saw the attacking full back Harri Rowe clinically punish the visitors with a great finish. The score was soon increased again when lovely play by Steff Gittins down the right produce a great cross for Tom Evans to coolly finish.  Penybont still came hard at the Aber defence and again found the back of the net with a consolation goal.
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Bari Morgan was pleased with the 3 points, stating: “Conditions were hard today, but we didn’t defend as well as we have been so we’ll work on a few things. I think it was more of a concentration thing today as we switched off a few times, we won’t dwell too much on it as our defence has been fantastic all season , the main thing today was getting the three points in difficult conditions". The Under 19s are back on their travels next week with a trip to Barry Town.   ​

JD Welsh Premier League
Tuesday 7th November (7:45p.m Kick Off)
Bangor City v Aberystwyth Town
 
Aberystwyth Town travel north on Tuesday night looking to continue their recent winning run, as they face Bangor City at the Bangor University Stadium. Town are on a fine run of form, having lost just once in their last six JD Welsh Premier League games, picking up two draws and three victories either side of that defeat to league champions The New Saints. Aber’s most recent victory came on Friday night as they defeated in-form Cefn Druids at Park Avenue thanks to a 73rd minute John Owen volley. Nev Powell’s men will travel to Bangor looking for their third consecutive away victory in the league.
 
Aber boss Powell emphasised the importance of every game at this point in the season and heaped praise on his players after Friday night’s crucial victory over Cefn Druids. In an interview with Aber Town’s Youtube channel, Powell stated “every single player came off the pitch tonight with credit, and we’re at an important stage of the season now because if we can put another run of four or five wins together we won’t be far off getting in the top six”. Indeed, Town’s players will be keen to maintain their recent momentum and push themselves up the league table towards a top six league position by the turn of the year. Aber’s match winner John Owen gained much earned praise after Friday night’s victory, with manager Nev Powell labelling him “unplayable” at times, and Town’s number 10 will be keen to add to his recent flurry of goals at Nantporth on Tuesday night.
 
The reverse fixture between Bangor and Aber at Park Avenue earlier in the season was a memorable one for the neutrals out there, as the Citizens broke Aber hearts with a stoppage time winner from Steven Hewitt after Craig Hobson had pegged the score back to 2-2 in the dying seconds. Bangor go into Tuesday night’s fixture on the back of a solid 2-1 victory away at Newtown last weekend, but having only won one of their previous five JD Welsh Premier League games. The Citizens currently lie in 4th place in the league table.
 
In what is sure to be another entertaining game, kick off at the Bangor University Stadium is at 7:45p.m. Bangor City FC’s address is listed as Holyhead Road, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2HQ. As Aber’s season gathers momentum, be sure to give the boys your support as they look to close the gap on the top six! 
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JD Welsh Premier League
Friday 3rd November
Aberystwyth Town 1-0 Cefn Druids
 
Aberystwyth Town claimed a thoroughly deserved three points on Friday evening as they notched their first home victory of the JD Welsh Premier League season against Cefn Druids. In what was an entertaining game, a 73rd minute volley from John Owen was enough to give Aber victory and send the rain-sodden Town supporters home happy.
 
As the heavens opened at Park Avenue, Aber started the game brightly with John Owen starting as the lone striker and captain Jonny Spittle coming back into the heart of the defence after missing last weekend’s win at Prestatyn through suspension. Malcolm Melvin and Ryan Wade both looked sharp in the opening stages as Town searched for the breakthrough, but it was Aber full back Declan Walker who went closest to opening the scoring. After a marauding run down the right flank, Walker cut inside the penalty area and fired a low shot towards the bottom corner but Druids ‘keeper Michael Jones saved brilliantly with his outstretched leg. The visitors were next to go close as first Ilan ap Gareth and then Ashley Ruane both forced fine saves from Chris Mullock in Aber’s goal. After 25 minutes, Aber began to dominate possession and created another good opportunity when Walker got on the end of Ashley Young’s free kick only to head the ball over the crossbar. Soon afterwards, Ryan Wade sent an inviting cross into the penalty area, which the energetic Matthew Jones was inches away from connecting with, but at half time the game remained goalless despite both teams going close.
 
The second half started in similar fashion, with Aber looking the more likely team to find the breakthrough. On 47 minutes, Walker went close for the third time as he headed wide from a corner and on 52 minutes the ball somehow stayed out of the Druids goal as Matthew Jones first saw his goal-bound shot blocked, and then saw his header fly inches wide of the far post. It looked as if it might be one of those nights for Aber, as they continued to press for an opening goal. At the other end, Druids were being restricted to very few chances as Aber’s Ashley Young and Malcolm Melvin marshalled the midfield, and the central defensive trio of Wollacott, Spittle and McKenna snuffed out any danger being posed by the visitors’ strike partnership of Ruane and Buckley.
Then, on 73 minutes Aber finally got the breakthrough they deserved. Ashley Young lofted a free kick into the penalty area and after winning the first header, striker John Owen was on hand to volley home a left-footed strike into the bottom corner much to the delight of the Town supporters. At 1-0 up, Aber continued to boss the game as Luke Borrelli tested ‘keeper Michael Jones with a long-range shot, before both Wade and Owen again caused major problems for the visitors’ defence with weaving runs into the penalty area. Nev Powell’s men defended their lead brilliantly as Borrelli made way for Joe Phillips and the game headed into the final five minutes. Druids tried their best to pressurize the home defence with long balls into the penalty area, but captain Spittle led the back line superbly and Aber held out for another crucial three points.
 
Aber certainly deserved their victory on the night and all twelve players involved in the victory must be credited for the work rate and energy shown in their performance against an in-form Cefn Druids side. Manager Nev Powell will be delighted to have seen his side pick up their first home victory of the season, and will be hoping for more Park Avenue nights like this in the months to come. Aber must now recover quickly and turn their attention to Tuesday night (7th November) when they will travel to face Bangor City at Nantporth in the JD Welsh Premier League with a 7:45p.m kick off. 

JD Welsh Premier League
Friday 3rd November (8p.m Kick Off)
Aberystwyth Town v Cefn Druids
 
Aberystwyth Town will look to emulate their recent away form and pick up their first home victory of the season against Cefn Druids at Park Avenue on Friday night. Town go into the game off the back of another fine victory away from home at Prestatyn last weekend, with late goals from John Owen and Declan Walker securing all three points. Manager Nev Powell will now be looking for a similar outcome at Park Avenue on Friday night to kick-start Aber’s home results in the JD Welsh Premier League.
 
Aber head into Friday night’s clash in a rich vein of form, having picked up eight points from their last five league games, with seven of those points coming away from home. Aber boss Nev Powell will now be looking for an improvement in his side’s home form, as they search for their first victory of the season at Park Avenue. In an interview with Aber Town’s Youtube channel last weekend Powell stated, “The spirit and the character we’ve got inside that dressing room goes a long way, and we’re starting to play with a lot more freedom and the lads are enjoying their football now”. Indeed, Aber’s manager will be looking for similar performance levels to that in their previous home game, where Town were cruelly beaten by league champions The New Saints.
 
Aber captain Jonny Spittle is back in contention for Friday night’s game after missing last weekend’s victory at Prestatyn through suspension, whilst Geoff Kellaway remains sidelined as he continues to recover from a groin injury.
 
Cefn Druids travel to Park Avenue in fine form themselves, having won 1-0 away at Bangor City last weekend and currently lying in 4th place in the JD Welsh Premier League. Cefn Druids ran out comfortable 2-0 victors against Aber in the reverse clash earlier in the season at The Rock.
 
Kick off is at 8p.m on Friday night, in what is sure to be a Halloween Humdinger of a game! Get yourselves down to Park Avenue and cheer Aber on to climb up the JD Welsh Premier League table. In what is a Halloween Special, supporters turning up in fancy dress will only be charged half price for entry, meaning that those still in costume can enjoy Welsh Premier Football for a bargain of £3.50 for adults, £2 concessions and 50p for kids. You don’t want to miss out! 
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