Aberystwyth Town returned to JD Cymru Premier action last night following a month-long hiatus since their draw against The New Saints on the 16th of October. A 55th minute goal from skipper Marc Williams was cancelled out by a 77th minute equaliser by sub Ashton Gleed to share the spoils at Cyncoed on a bitter November evening in the capital. 

​Four changes were made to the team from their previous outing, with Connor Roberts, Louis Bradford and Mathew Jones returning to the XI alongside Deadline Day acquisition Matias Etchegoyen in place of Alex Pennock, Harri Rowe, Rhys Davies and Jonathan Foligno. 

The opening 30 minutes passed without many notable chances to speak of, with both defences keeping on top of their opposition's attacks. As he has throughout the season, Steff Davies' timing of runs in behind the defence worried the men in burgundy all night, with Veale, Etchegoyen and full-backs Rimmer and Matty Jones looping balls his way. On 30 minutes, the game's best chance at that point was created by tidy work from Etchegoyen and Veale, who whipped an inch-perfect ball around the Met left-back to Davies who bared down on goal. However, the covering defender forced Davies wide and narrowed his angle, conceding only a shot into the side-netting. A minute later, another golden chance dropped to Steven Hewitt after the Met keeper's rushing clearance didn't go far, leaving an empty net for Hewitt to attempt a difficult half-volleyed dink. Agonisingly for the travelling Town officials, the ball dropped wide of the post and the score remained level though Aber were on top.

Town never let up their relentless pressing in the middle of the park as half-time approached, with everyone doing their parts to put the home side under duress. With a single added minute, Met's best chance of the half fell to the lighting-fast Warman as he curled the ball narrowly over the bar from 20 yards. With that, the referee blew an end to an entertaining but goalless half.

The second half saw Met keep ahold of the ball to re-open proceedings before Steff Davies had a penalty shout for a bodycheck waved away by the referee on 54 minutes. However, Steff needn't wait long for a goal contribution as Jack Rimmer delivered a delicious ball down his right side to latch onto. As he sped towards the by-line, he managed to get a foot ahead of the defender to cross low to skipper Marc Williams who smartly and deftly flicked the ball past the students' goalkeeper, putting Town ahead. 

Town didn't rest on their lead however, continuing to do their part in attack as well as defensively - notably a counter-attack on 70 minutes that released the searing pace of Rimmer to coast past defenders on their heels, but his attempted cross to the recently substituted Jonny Evans was blocked smartly by last-ditch defending. Minutes later, Gwion Owen went close after good play from Mathew Jones set-up the former Rhuthin man, but wide his effort went. 

Aber were in the ascendancy to double their lead, but as is the norm in our league - no lead is safe for long. A Met corner on 77 minutes was taken short and delivered to the area where a miscued header on the edge of the box fell to the feet of substitute Ashton Gleed who hit the roof of the net to equalise with a quarter hour to go.

The introduction of Owain Jones offered Town a speedy outlet to find a winner, with Met pushing to find a clincher of their own. On 86 minutes, Mathew Jones set-up the first of Aber's final chances by fizzing a low ball across the home area but no man in green was able to react quick enough. As the game entered its 90th minute, Met were awarded a free-kick from 20 yards out to the agony of travelling on-lookers, but the ever-vocal Connor Roberts showed why he's considered one of the league's elite shot-stoppers by getting low to parry away a potential game winner from Kyle McCarthy.

Just as the game seemed to be drawing to a close, a penultimate attack from Aber garnered an excellent chance for Steven Hewitt from close range but his side-footed effort just couldn't find the corner as some members of the Green Army had flashbacks of a late winner at Cyncoed two years ago from Ashley Ruane; however, it was not to be this time. A final chance for Aber was collected by the Met keeper and the final whistle was sounded.

Certainly one of the more entertaining 1-1 draws in recent memory, Town will accept their away point against resolute opposition though must feel all three were up for grabs. The Seasiders now look forward to another difficult run of fixtures following the postponement of three fixtures versus similarly-positioned teams; Bala (H), TNS (A) and Connah's Quay (H) to come before the run-in to Christmas and New Year.

We go again next Friday night under the Park Avenue lights - it's great to be back!

Cardiff Metropolitan University vs Aberystwyth Town
JD Cymru Premier
Friday 13th November
MATCH BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
 
Aberystwyth Town finally return to action tomorrow following the firebreak lockdown. Co-incidentally our opposition is Cardiff Met – the same team we faced on our first return to Cymru Premier action back in September.
 
The Black & Greens certainly signed off for the firebreak on a positive note. The team put in a tremendous performance back on Friday 16th October at home to The New Saints and the 2-2 draw was the least that the team deserved. It was local duo Jon Foligno and Steff Davies who provided the goals that evening, which left Aber with 9 points from 9 games. Subsequent results during the firebreak have left the Seasiders in 8th position, but only two points behind Caernarfon Town in 6th.
 
Manager Gavin Allen had a busy end to the transfer window before the lockdown, with no less than four new players arriving at Park Avenue, all announced over the break. Argentinian midfielder Matias Etchegoyen joins from Gibraltar National League club Mons Calpe SC, Zimbabwean forward Shama Bako arrives having most recently played in Germany, Ethiopian winger Amin Ahmed joins from Goole FC and Cardiff-born Louis Gerrard most recently played for Goytre United before his move to Ceredigion. A warm welcome awaits all four new signings and fans of the Black & Greens will no doubt be looking forward to seeing them in action soon!
 
Our previous meeting this season with Cardiff Met saw Aber lead twice through Jonathan Evans and Rhys Davies, only for a late Ollie Hulbert double to add to an earlier Elliot Evans strike, which meant that Met left Park Avenue with all three points.
 
Friday’s opposition have played the same amount of games as ourselves and sit one place below us with a point less. Their most recent result was a 2-1 home victory against Flint Town United on 17th October. Former Seasider Dylan Rees was the headline maker before the firebreak, scoring twice in two games, whilst Ollie Hulbert is Met’s top goalscorer this season with three goals (two coming at Park Avenue in September).
 
It will be great to have some football again after four long weeks and although no supporters can be admitted into the ground for this game, supporters can once again follow all the action on our Twitter platform @AberystwythTown. The Black & Greens are back!

ER COF ANNWYL AM CHWARAEWYR Y CLWB HWN A SYRTHIODD YN Y RHYFEL MAWR

1914-1918

IN MEMORY OF THE PLAYERS OF THIS CLUB WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR
Bdr. Thomas Cartwright, Royal Field Artillery 
Pte. Ambrose Davies, Devonshire Regiment
Pte. John Richard Davies, Royal Welsh Fusiliers
Sjt. David Rees Davies, Kings Shropshire Light Infantry
Sgt. George Henry Davies DCM, Cheshire Regiment
Capt. Edward Dickinson, Yorkshire Regiment
Lt. Anwyl Ellis, Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve
2nd Lt. Ceredig Ellis, Royal Welsh Fusiliers
Lt. Oswald Robert John Green, Welsh Regiment 
L/Cpl. Richard Boycott Hinckesman, King Edwards Horse
Pte. James John Herbert Howard, Royal Welsh Fusiliers
Capt, Evan Brindle Jones, Royal Welsh Fusiliers
L/Cpl. Leigh Richmond Roose MM, Royal Fusiliers
Pnr. Hugh Owen Rowe, Royal Engineers
2nd Lt Henry Smith, Queens Own Worcestershire Hussars
HEFYD YN YSTOD YR AIL RHYFEL BYD

1939-1945

ALSO DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR

L/Sjt. Brinley Edwards, Royal Horse Artillery 
Capt. Linus Evans, Royal Welsh Fusiliers

MEWN ANGOF NI CHANT FOD

Aberystwyth Town Football Club are pleased to announce a further three additions to our ranks ahead of season resumption, with 28-year-old midfielder Louis Gerrard, 20-year-old striker Shama Bako and 22-year-old winger Amin Ahmed putting pen to paper.

Cardiff-born Louis progressed through the youth teams at Fairwater FC before joining Taffs Well FC in 2011 for a 2-year spell, then representing Caerau Ely from 2013 to 2016. Louis joined Barry Town in March 2016 and proved an instant hit with the supporters due to his honest and hardworking style, making 83 appearances and scoring 14 goals for the club;  winning Division 1, securing promotion to the JD Cymru Premier, and qualifying for the Europa League. He then enjoyed short spells at Pontypridd and Goytre Utd before curtailment.

A graduate from the University of South Wales, Louis won the BUCS championship twice and has represented Wales at university level, including a tournament hosted in Dubai. Louis works in the Coach Education Department at the Football Association of Wales.

Born in Harare, Zimbabwe, Shama spent 10 years at Birmingham City’s academy before completing a scholarship at Northampton Town. A Zimbabwean U23s international, Shama most recently gained experience after making the move to German 4th tier FC Phönix Lübeck, where he represented their U19s and senior side. Operating mainly as a striker, Shama moved back to the UK after a year and a half in Germany and has decided to make the move to the Cymru Premier.
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Born in Ayisayeta, Ethiopia, Amin has lived the majority of his life in Leeds and Manchester where he was part of City’s academy for six years before release. A speedy, skilful, and nimble winger, Amin has since spent time at Scarborough, Mousehole AFC, Macclesfield Town and most recently Goole FC. Recently, Amin has been invited by the Ethiopian Football Federation to feature in the senior side’s double header of African Cup of Nations 2021 qualifiers vs Niger and subsequent World Cup 2022 qualifiers.
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A warm welcome awaits our 3 new additions – welcome to Park Avenue! / Croeso i Goedlan y Parc!

Marc Williams' strike in stoppage time away at Cefn Druids has won the club's October's goal of the month. 

The goal, Aber's second of the evening, racked up the most votes on the club's social media since the vote opened last week. The ex-Wrexham man's curling shot earned him 34.1% of the vote.

The skipper's goal narrowly beat Jon Foligno's header and Steff Davies' finish, both against TNS, into second and third place respectively.

Llongyfarchiadau mawr i ti Willo!