Aberystwyth Town FC are delighted to announce that joint top scorer Luke Borrelli has signed a Contract to remain at the Club until the end of the 2017/8 season.

Luke signed from Haverfordwest County in June 2016, joining Aber along with three other ex Bluebirds and Assistant Manager Wayne Jones, and his form up front has been a vital ingredient in Town's quest for a Top Six finish this season. He has played much of the season as Town's main striker, and his six goals in the Dafabet WPL make him joint top scorer along with Geoff Kellaway as things stand.

Llanelli-based Borrelli's intense work ethic, allied to match winning goals against Carmarthen, Airbus, Cefn Druids and Holywell have made him a firm fans favourite this season, though he also assisted Town's huge match winner against Newtown on Monday.

Luke is a product of Afan Lido's Academy and a Boys Clubs of Wales International. He has represented Afan Lido, Pontardawe, Port Talbot and Haverfordwest, where he shone in 2015/6 finding the net 8 times. He arrived at Park Avenue with a sterling reputation, and was familiar to the Green Army having found the net three times against the Seasiders in an impressive campaign last time around. Having begun his career at Afan Lido, the 25 year old has played at Welsh Premier League level for both Haverfordwest County and Port Talbot Town and has made a total of 93 WPL appearances, scoring 24 goals.

Everyone at the Club is delighted that Luke will remain with us through to next season and we are sure he will be a major figure in the Club's success in the Dafabet Welsh Premier League in years to come.

Photo courtesy of Jordan Payne

With the Mid season split in touching distance, Aberystwyth Town ensured that they put themselves in the strongest position possible for a final assault on the upper reaches of the division thanks to a 1-0 victory over Mid Wales rivals Newtown at Park Avenue yesterday afternoon.

A crowd of nearly 500 roared the Black and Greens on to victory, although the win took until the final minute of the allotted ninety when Kurtis March latched onto Kostya Georgievsky’s cross from the left hand side to spark scenes of wild jubilation.

“I’m delighted. Clean sheet and three points; A massive three points. The boys are desperate to get into that Top 6. It’s in our hands. If we get the results we want, then we’ll be in there” Manager Matthew Bishop told Aber Town's Youtube Channel after the game.

“It’s a nice way to do it. It doesn’t give them much time to get back into it. On the run of play, I felt we deserved that today. We created a lot, got the ball into the box but haven’t got that finishing touch. It was a great move. Kostya did well down the left hand side. It’s a great ball in to Kurtis March who’s done well to finish it off. I’m delighted with the three points.”

Aber were able to secure a victory thanks in part to a solid defensive performance to earn Town a clean sheet; their seventh shutout this season.

“Sam [Rodon] has come back in today as has Ricky [Watts] after the sad death of his mother. We’ve done everything we can to support him through this difficult time and I thought he was exceptional today, as was Sam. The defensive unit looked like a rock today against a very good front line that Newtown have.”

With Carmarthen and Llandudno dropping points over the Boxing Day Fixtures, Bishop’s men sit in a strong position with three fixtures left to fulfil, knowing that seven points from their last three games will confirm a Top Six spot. Town's Manager knows that only the best performance will see Aber retain the Mid Wales bragging rights in Saturday's reverse Mid Wales Derby at Paveways Latham Park.

“We’ve got another tough game next Saturday back at Newtown who will be trying to make sure we don’t do what we’ve done today. We’re back in training on Wednesday and it’s about making sure we pick up as many points as we can.”

Watch the full post match interview with Matthew Bishop on Aber Town's Youtube Channel here.

Photo courtesy of Chris Howells

Dafabet Welsh Premier League
Monday 26th December
Aberystwyth Town 1 Newtown 0

Kurtis March's 89th minute winner in front of a joyous Dias Stand was the least the Black and Greens deserved today after a strong defensive display and a territorial domination which looked like being in vain, until the effervescent midfielder popped up at the back post to convert Kostya Georgievsky's left wing cross and snatch it at the death. Another large Park Avenue crowd of 476 saw Town gain a crucial Boxing Day victory which keeps Matthew Bishop's young side firmly in the running for a top six spot, with just three games left before the split.

On a chilly but sunny December day, Ricky Watts and Sam Rodon returned to bolster Aber's defence, and Town were right on the attack with Dan Alfei sending in the first of a seemingly endless stream of brilliant crosses to find Luke Borrelli's head, but visiting keeper Dave Jones saved well. Cledan Davies and Watts curled shots wide as Aber made the most of the wind advantage, forcing corner after corner and dominating posession. A Luke Sherbon cross almost dropped in only for Jones to save again, March hit the post with a shot, and Sherbon saw another low shot saved, but the chance would not come. It would be unfair to suggest that Newtown failed to create their own chances, as home keeper Chris Mullock saved from Shane Sutton before brilliantly denying Luke Boundford right at the death, with Neil Mitchell and Jason Oswell also missing the target, and the half ended goal less, with Aber possibly ahead on points.    
The visitors pressed for a spell after the break and Mullock was again needed to deny Steff Edwards' effort, before Craig Williams fired wide after cutting inside. Borrelli sent in a brilliant cross from the right which somehow evaded every player in Green, and then with Sherbon limping off, Jack Rimmer and Kostya Georgievsky were introduced to play, to good effect.With an hour gone a tight intriguing game was in the balance and it looked like one mistake would decide the game: and fortunately it was the Black and Greens who finished stronger. March played a classy one two before finding Borrelli in space but Jones was out to deny him again, Georgievsky headed wide from Chris Jones' corner, then Joe Clarke headed agonisingly wide at the other wide of the goal from Georgievsky's cross. Borrelli was again released down the left channel only to be denied again by Jones, and Georgievsky curled wide. Then  just when it seemed like time was about to run out, Borelli played the livewire Georgievsky in down the left and his cross found March at the far post, and the joyous scenes following the winner were a sight to behold as the goalscorer climed the steps of the Dias Stand in triumph. Aber's brilliant defence held firm for almost five minutes of injury time, and the Black and Greens had a huge and priceless win.

The value of the two extra points was underlined as Llandudno and Carmarthen both dropped points later in the afternoon, meaning that Aber are now just two points off sixth place in the Dafabet Welsh Premier League with a game in hand. A Top Six place is up for grabs and the next challenge for Matthew Bishop's triumphant team is to face Newtown again on Saturday afternoon, this time away at Paveways Latham Park (ko 2.30pm). It's On!

Photo courtesy of Jordan Payne

Aberystwyth Town Football Club would like to wish all our supporters a very happy Christmas today, which is filled with lots of excitement, happiness and festivities.

All at the club would like to thank you, the supporters, for your continued and fantastic support of the club through a roller coaster of a year. One of the many highlights was the successful grand opening of our new state of the art 3G pitch in October.

We're keen to end the year on another high and with a possible top six finish still in our hands, there is one to be had!
With one game in hand and three games out of the four remaining at home, we need your support more than ever.

On Boxing Day, we face local rivals Newtown AFC at Park Avenue (1.30pm KO) in a game that is sure to be a cracker!

Next games at Park Avenue:
Monday 26th December - 1.30pm kick off - Newtown AFC
Saturday 7th January - 1.30pm kick off - Cefn Druids AFC
Saturday 14th January - 5.15pm kick off - Cardiff Metropolitan University FC

So wrap up warm and wear your new Aberystwyth Town shirt, hat and scarf with pride and head down to Park Avenue for our festive fixtures. With lots at still to play for, you definitely do not want to miss out!z

Monday 26th December (ko 1.30pm)
Dafabet Welsh Premier League
Aberystwyth Town v Newtown

Crunch time is approaching for Aber Town in this year's Dafabet Welsh Premier League with two Top Six berths remaining and four teams seemingly in the running to fill them. With four games left Cardiff Met are almost there, but Carmarthen (23 points), Llandudno (22 points) and Aber (19 points with a game in hand) are sparring for the final spot. 

A huge 3-0 win at Cefn Druids last Friday was a massive boost to Matthew Bishop's men thanks to classy goals from Geoff Kellaway, Luke Borrelli and Kostya Georgievsky, and Aber can ensure that Tuesday's home defeat to Bangor was nothing more than a hiccough but earning a positive result at home to Newtown on Boxing Day.

The Black and Greens have an excellent record against Bottom Six sides this season, having earned sixteen points from a possible twenty one, so they have earned the right to be confident going up against a surprisingly inconsistent Newtown side one place below them in the table.  

However, Newtown's last two visits to Park Avenue have been frankly speaking disastrous for the Black and Greens. In May 2015 Chris Hughes' men won the UEFA Europa League Play Off Final by two goals to one, and just under a year ago in January 2016, another 2-1 win for the Robins was the final nail in the coffin for the Black and Greens' hopes of a Top Six spot. So much has changed since those games in terms of Aber's playing squad, but supporters will be desperate to see some sort of retribution exacted on Monday afternoon.

Kick off at Park Avenue is at the earlier time of 1.30pm and Admission will cost £6 for Adults, £4 Concessions and £1 for Kids. Aber's home matches against Newtown have ended up being season defining in the past two campaigns. A positive result on Monday could set them up for a great final push for Top Six Glory. Don't tell your friends you missed it!