You'll be able to catch Aberystwyth Town Women on a big screen near you very soon as they star in a new music video ahead of the FIFA World Cup.

Seasiders stars Elen Valentine, Gwenllian Jones and Carys Pugh-Jones feature in the video that accompanies Welsh National Opera Chorus's version of Yma o Hyd, the song that's become synonymous with the Cymru football team.

And it's intended to act as an inspirational message from WNO and grassroots football to Robert Page’s men ahead of their campaign in Qatar.

Club volunteer and first-team player Lucie Gwilt said: "It was an honour to be invited to join the project and mark Wales's historic World Cup campaign."

Wales U19 international goalkeeper Valentine added: "It was fun to be film stars for the afternoon and we hope it brings Wales massive luck in the weeks to come."

You can watch the full video on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwkMg8SqfrE&ab_channel=WelshNationalOpera

It was job done in the cups this week for Aberystwyth Town Women - through to the next round in two competitions. The Seasiders handed out a thrashing to Tregaron Turfs at Park Avenue on Thursday, winning 9-0 to make it through to the second round of the Central Wales FA Ladies Challenge Cup thanks to goals from Libby Isaac (3), Gwenllian Jones (3), Emily Thomas, Tania Wylde and Amy Jenkins.

And then on Sunday they edged a much closer encounter, travelling to Cardiff Wanderers and coming from a goal down to win 3-1, with goals from Jenkins, Sian Evans and Isaac taking them through to the Adran Trophy quarter-finals.

"We are delighted to get through in both the cups," said vice-captain Rebecca Mathias. "Our goal was to have our names in the hat for the next round in both of them. Neither game was particularly pretty but we got the results we needed."

Manager Gav Allen congratulated his team on a fine week - but reminded them it's not going to get any easier as they return to Genero Adran Premier action.

"The next couple of weeks are going to be vital. We look forward to a nice week ahead of Pontypridd United on Sunday - we all know that there's a possibility we'll be fourth after that, and that's the goal."

Photo: Emily Thomas v Tregaron, credit Steve Williams

Friday night marked a historical night for Aberystwyth Town. For the first time in nearly a decade, Town have won five games back to back in Ceredigion in the JD Cymru Premier. In this article, we look back at the events that surrounded that famous sequence of results…
 
Squad and Management
Ian Hughes (pictured) was in his second year as manager having taken over from club stalwart Tomi Morgan in 2013. He was assisted by Welsh football legend Wyn Thomas in the dugout. Many of the squad were familiar faces to the Black and Green army having been the same players who’d come within a whisker of winning the JD Welsh Cup the season before. Faces such as Chris Venables, Luke Sheborn, Mike Lewis, Stuart Jones and ex-boss Antonio Corbisiero were constants in the starting lineup.
 
Game 1: Friday 26th September 2014: Aberystwyth Town 4-0 Bala Town
A  four minute brace from marksman Mark Jones helped the Seasiders to down Colin Caton’s Lakesiders in the first match of our winning run. Further goals from Geoff Kellaway and a penalty from future Bala skipper Chris Venables cemented a comfortable win for Ian Hughes’ men.
 
Game 2: 11th October 2014: Aberystwyth Town 2-1 Airbus Broughton UK
Geoff Kellaway gave the Seasiders a one goal advantage at the break but disaster struck on the hour mark when defender Ryan Batley was dismissed. Tom Field equalised from the spot for the Wingmakers but the ever reliable Venables scored the winner for Town just four minutes later.
 
Game 3: 31st October 2014: Aberystwyth Town 2-1 Newtown
On a miserably rainy Halloween evening, Town bounced back from back-to-back away defeats in the best possible way thanks to a spot kick from Chris Venables after just 10 minutes. Despite the victory, Town had to endure a nervy stoppage time after winger Craig Williams was given his marching orders after picking up a second yellow card.

Game 4: 7th November 2014: Aberystwyth Town 4-2 Cefn Druids
Three goals in the final 8 minutes gave this game a rather entertaining slant. The home sides took the lead late into the half only to have their lead cancelled on 50 minutes. Druids’ chance of further improving their position suffered significantly seconds later with the dismissal of Craig Jones. Venables grabbed his second of the night just seconds after the red before Mark Jones and Steffan Williams gave the scoreline a rather lopsided look. Alan Bull scored Druids’ consolation.
 
Game 5: 7th December 2014: Aberystwyth Town 2-0 Rhyl FC
Two first half goals helped Town sink former Champions Rhyl in the final game of the 5 match winning streak. Craig Williams grabbed the first after 22 minutes before Venables secured all three points 12 minutes later.
 

What happened next? 
The 2014/15 season remains the only term in which Aber have earned a Top 6 berth since the creation of the Super 12 in 2011/12 season. This run of results played a huge part in the second place finish in January that Hughes' men earned.

Anthony Williams' squad have their chance to go one better than the class of 2014/15 and earn a 6th consecutive home victory when high-flying Penybont visit Aberystwyth University Park Avenue on the 16th December.


Photo Credits: Chris Howells
 

JD Cymru Premier
Friday 18th November
Aberystwyth Town 2 Pontypridd United 1

Aber Town gained their fifth home League win in a row last night at home to Pontypridd United, a result which took them into the uncharted waters of the Top Six with eight games left before the split. The Seasiders’ best home run since 2014 was confirmed by a double strike from local lad Jonathan Evans, who scored on 3 and 32 minutes, with a response coming from Clayton Green on the half hour, and the Black and Greens defended stoutly thereafter to hold onto the precious three points.

On a wintry evening in Aber, with the change of season confirmed by the fair’s presence in Town, the hosts started on fire, competing for and winning their challenges and had already had a corner from Niall Flint cleared off the line when Jack Thorn’s throw in was headed on for Evans to pounce in the box and smash home a volley into the near post for one nil and a dream start. The hosts went on to thoroughly dominate the first 45, with the indefatigable Flint just clearing the far post with a low volley, Steff Davies heading wide, the returning Harri Horwood seeing a ball in gathered by Ash Morris, and Evans also firing wide. Sam Litchfield and Louis Bradford were defending heroically at the back, but then Ponty scored with their first effort on target as a decent save from Leigh Jenkins was recycled for Green to volley home an equaliser, against the run of play. However two minutes later another throw from Thorn was flicked on by Davies for Evans to score again with a left foot swinger which faded away from the keeper into the net, and Aber’s legendary bus driver celebrated joyously in front of a rapturous Nark’s Corner. Flint volleyed wide with Aber threatening to kill the contest, and then had another cross deflected for a corner. Ponty threatened when a right wing cross fell nicely for Ben Ahmun, but his header brought another decent save from Jenkins and Aber ended the half deservedly ahead, though the match was by no means won yet.

The second half developed into a more defensive effort for the Black and Greens, with Ponty threatening from set pieces. The hard working Harry Arnison seemed to be on the wrong end of some tough challenges, with the game lacking in real quality. Jon Owen returned from injury to replace Evans, but then had to be replaced by Alex Darlington after just eleven minutes, then the visitors’ Kieran Lewis rattled the crossbar with a free kick to add to the home nerves. Ahmun was again denied by the impeccable Jenkins as Ponty enjoyed a purple patch, and Green volleyed over soon afterwards. Aber were inches away from a third when Darlington’s free kick flew just past the post, then Jenkins saved a low shot from Twamley, with the home defence holding out manfully. There was widespread relief when another free kick from Lewis from a dangerous position flew over the bar in the nineteeth minute, then in the five and a half minutes of injury time Steff Davies flashed a shot past the post for Aber, Darlington headed off the line from one corner, then Jenkins was fouled in saving another attempt, and Aber held out yet again for a huge result which had them dancing on the ceiling in the dressing room after the game!

This fifth home win in a row leaves Aber on eighteen points from fourteen games, and standing proud in sixth place overnight, with Cardiff Met and Flint still to play on Saturday. Irrespective of what happens in those matches, Anthony Williams and his hard working side can go into a two week break extremely proud of their record so far this season, and looking forward confidently to a decisive December. With Aber’s job done, all attention turns to the World Cup. C’mon Cymru!!

Photos courtesy of Rhys Barron

Aberystwyth Town Women manager Gavin Allen is taking nothing for granted as his side prepare for two cup games in the space of four days.

On Thursday night, they face Tregaron Turfs at Park Avenue in the first round of the Central Wales Cup, and then travel to Cardiff Wanderers in the last 16 of the Adran Trophy on Sunday.
"In the cup, anything can happen on the day," he said. "We have to be professional to progress to the next round."
But he added that he has faith in his players to get the job done - despite the tight turnaround.
"It's been a fantastic couple of weeks for the girls," he said. "A draw with Swansea and a couple of wins and the confidence is developing.
"After changing our system, I think we're looking good in all departments. Defensively we look strong, we're winning the first balls and the second balls. What's been evident is our attacking process, we do look as if we're causing problems and about to score every time."
And although the Seasiders are focused on the cups this week, he thinks his team are well placed to make moves in the league as well.
"We're still in the mix," he said. "Our goal was to be in the top four and we have some crucial games coming up, with two of the big three coming to Aberystwyth [in January]. I've got full belief in our squad."