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JD Cymru Premier
Monday 30th December Aberystwyth Town 1 Newtown 2 Aberystwyth Town endured injury time heartbreak at Park Avenue in last night’s last home game of 2019, as George Harry’s 94th minute header condemned them to defeat in a match they truly deserved to draw, following a super second half comeback. Lifumpa Mwandwe gave the visitors the lead in the third minute, only for Mathew Jones to level the scores with an 84th minute penalty: but Harry’s late late show ensured the Robins took all three points. On a clear night the visitors got away with one early on when Sean McAllister’s challenge on Marc Williams in the area was not punished with a penalty, and seconds later the lively Mwandwe capitalised on a defensive mix up to prod home a crucial goal for Newtown, and deflate the home side. After an awful start Mattie Jones’ left wing cross saw Geoff Kellaway head just wide, but in truth the visitors were the better side early on, dominating possession, with Jack Kelly heading wide from Alex Fletcher’s corner. Joe Kenton sent in a dangerous cross, and then had a shot cleared while Stuart Jones in the home defence did well to deny Fletcher another opportunity. Kieran Mills-Evans headed wide from another corner, while Town’s efforts were failing to hit the target, other than Edmilson Vaz’s 35 yard volley which Dave Jones did well to grab at the second attempt. George Harry fired over for Newtown, while for Aber Lee Jenkins headed over from Wes Baynes’ corner. Mathew Jones also had a volley deflected for a corner, which was then cleared, but in truth after a fairly limpid performance Aber were glad to be still in the game at the break with a 0-1 scoreline. The Black and Greens were transformed after the break and thoroughly dominated proceedings. Williams won a corner in the first seconds, and soon afterwards the combative Tom Price sent a cross which Stuart Jones headed back for Williams to nod goalbound, only for Jones to save the day again. Williams then saw a shot deflected for a corner, and Wes Baynes’ long range volley was touched onto the crossbar by the busy Jones. Mwandwe sent a volley wide but Aber were winning every ball, bossing the game and pressing for an equaliser. Williams headed wide from another Baynes delivery, and with the Dias Stand singing in appreciation of an improved performance, Paulo Mendes did brilliantly to gather the ball, turn and unleash a shot which fired just wide. Williams was denied another penalty, and Mwandwe called Connor Roberts into action for a routine save before normal service resumed. Lee Jenkins was next to volley wide from a Baynes free kick, and then saw another attempt cleared off the line. Finally, Baynes’ ball in was headed back by Mendes, and a penalty was awarded for a challenge in the box. Up stepped Mattie Jones to equalise with aplomb from the spot and it seemed at last that justice had been done. Ryan Edwards volleyed wide for Aber in injury time, and then right at the death Harry popped up in Aber’s box with a back headed which somehow crawled over the line, to the utter dismay of Aber’s loyal home supporters, and the game was won. This result was very, very cruel on the Black and Greens who can be proud of an excellent second half performance: however Aber will be focused on getting results as January 2020 and Phase II homes into view, with Town in ninth place in the JD Cymru Premier.  JD Cymru Premier
Monday 30th December (ko 7.45pm) Aberystwyth Town v Newtown Aber Town look to end the year - and the decade - on a positive note on Monday evening with a win against Mid Wales rivals Newtown which will stand them in good stead for the challenges ahead, in the JD Cymru Premier Play Off Conference. The Black and Greens defended stoutly to earn a good point away to Newtown on Thursday’s Boxing Day clash at Latham Park, and Manager Mathew Bishop will be looking for his side to go one step further on Monday evening, boosted by the return of influential right back Wes Baynes from suspension. A Man of the Match performance from goalkeeper Connor Roberts was the highlight of Thursday’s game from a Black and Green perspective, with Stuart Jones and Lee Jenkins also solid at centre back. Tom Price and Mathew Jones both did their jobs at full back too, but Town will need to be more clinical going forward if they are going to earn three points on Monday night. Newtown had the majority of possession and chances on Thursday with Alex Fletcher in midfield particularly standing out. They are still competing for a Top Six place, but having completed the double over Aber in last Christmas’ matches, the Robins will not repeat that feat in 2019, after the draw on Matchday 19. Both Clubs agreed to move the match from New Year’s Day in the hope that an evening match will attract a bigger festive crowd to Park Avenue. Admission for this JD Cymru Premier clash will cost £7 for Adults, £4 for Concessions and just £1 for Kids. Remember this your last chance to see the Black and Greens before the 2020s so don’t miss out! Kick off is at 7.45pm.  JD Cymru Premier
Thursday 26th December Newtown 0 Aberystwyth Town 0 Aber Town continued their excellent away form since October with a clean sheet and a hard fought draw this afternoon away to Newtown, who had won their previous three games in a row. Alex Fletcher hit the crossbar with a free kick for the hosts, while Paulo Mendes went closest for the Black and Greens on a day when defences were on top. On a rainy Boxing Day afternoon the hosts went close early on through George Harry, who was denied by the impeccable CR1 Connor Roberts, and Lifumpwa Mwandwe headed Joe Kenton’s cross over minutes later. Aber settled and Mathew Jones’ testing cross was palmed away by Dave Jones, and his subsequent beautifully flighted free kick was deflected back to Jones off a home defender. The hosts benefitted from another kind deflection to take the sting out of Tom Price’s dangerous right wing cross, then Joe Phillips played a nice trick on Kenton before surging goalbound and bringing another save out of Jones with a low volley. Jones then denied Luke Boundford with Aber well in the game. At the other end Harry brought an acrobatic save from Roberts, before Mwandwe’s effort was brilliantly blocked on the line, and Kenton’s shot was saved. Back came the visitors with Marc Williams controlling Boundford’s ball in only for Mattie Jones to fire wide. Jones then delivered for Boundford to head wide and with chances coming thick and fast. The otherwise excellent Edmilson Vaz fired wide twice in quick succession for Aber, as did Niall Flint for Newtown, but with Stuart Jones and Lee Jenkins strong in the air for the Black and Greens, a goalless score at the break was no surprise. Home captain Kieran Mills-Evans fired over for Newtown early on in the second half, Phillips got a shot in for Aber, then Matthew Jones’ corner was punched clear to Mendes, whose ball back in was volleyed over by Jenkins. The home side however went on to dominate possession and chances for long periods of the last half hour, with Town defending heroically. Mwandwe was denied by Roberts again from close range, and the very impressive Fletcher sent in a dangerous free kick which evaded everyone, and at the other end Mathew Jones’ cross was met by Mendes, but his goalbound header was cleared for a corner. With the rain now coming down things were getting nervy for visiting fans as Fletcher hit the crossbar with an excellent free kick 30 yards out, Flint and Kenton had shots blocked and Fletcher fired over. Sub Alex Boss set up Williams on the break for Aber, but his flick was saved and then down the other end Harry blasted wide from a good position. Mathew Jones’ cross was cleared off Newtown’s line with Aber threatening to steal the points, but Jack Kelly’s injury time effort for Newtown was deflected wide, and Aber held on for a very commendable result. The draw means that Aber’s mathematical chances of making the Top Six are finally extinguished, but on a positive note Mathew Bishop’s side have now lost only one of their last six away Cymru Premier matches, and are seven points clear of the bottom two in ninth place. The Black and Greens will now be looking to improve on their home form in the return match as Newtown visit Park Avenue this coming Monday, 30th December (ko 7.45pm). Photo courtesy of Colin Ewart  JD Cymru Premier
Thursday 26th December (ko 2.30pm) Newtown v Aberystwyth Town Aberystwyth Town aim to continue their excellent away form on Boxing Day when they visit Latham Park for a JD Cymru Premier clash with Newtown, kicking off at 2.30pm. The Black and Greens have lost just one of their last five away games and with eight points gained from wins at Airbus and Cardiff Met, plus draws at Carmarthen and Penybont, only three other Cymru Premier Clubs have better away form over the period. Their strong away record should give Mathew Bishop’s men confidence ahead of the Boxing Day challenge, and a good cohort of Black and Greens supporters are certain to cross Plynlimon to show their support as Aber aim to end Phase I of the 2019/20 season on a high. Barry probably just about deserved to win last Friday night’s clash at Park Avenue, but the Black and Greens were in the contest from start to finish and went close to gaining a point in injury time. Their last away game nine days ago at Cardiff Met was a much more enjoyable experience, with Geoff Kellaway’s late double strike earning a big victory for the Ceredigion men. Thursday’s opponents are on a good run of form, having won their last four games away to Barry Town (twice), at home to Carmarthen and away to Penybont and as a result find themselves in the running for a Top Six position with four matches remaining until the split. The Robins scored a Christmas double over Aber last season, so the Black and Greens will be desperate to improve on that record come Thursday afternoon. Admission to Latham Park will cost £7 for Adults, £5 for OAP/Age 16 to 18/students (Students must show their pass on the gate), and £1 for Under 16s, and the postcode is given as SY16 1EN. Join us on the Black and Green Bandwaggon!  Aberystwyth Town’s final JD Cymru Premier Phase I fixture, at home to Penybont, has been moved and will now be played on Saturday, January 18th with a 5.15pm kick off.
Originally scheduled for Friday 17 January, the Matchday 22 fixtures have been moved at the request of broadcast partners S4C, who have selected the 17:15 slot on the Saturday for their MD22 live match. All fixtures in MD22 must kick-off simultaneously ahead of the split, which necessitates the moving of the full round of matches to the Saturday. Town’s JD Welsh Cup Fourth Round tie away to The New Saints will be played the following Saturday, January 25th with a 2.30pm kick off. The Black and Greens’ Fixture List for the remainder of the season is as follows, with Phase II fixtures to be confirmed in the days following the Penybont match. DECEMBER Thursday 26th Newtown (Away) Ko 2.30pm Monday 30th NEWTOWN (Home) Ko 7.45pm JANUARY Friday 10th Caernarfon Town (Away) Ko 7.45pm Saturday 18th PENYBONT (Home) Ko 5.15pm Saturday 25th The New Saints (Away) Welsh Cup Round Four Ko 2.30pm FEBRUARY Saturday 8th* Matchday 23 Saturday 15th* Matchday 24 Saturday 22nd* Matchday 25 Saturday 29th* Welsh Cup Round Five (Quarter Finals) MARCH Saturday 7th* Matchday 26 Saturday 14th* Matchday 27 Saturday 21st* Matchday 28 Saturday 28th* Matchday 29 APRIL Saturday 4th* Welsh Cup Semi Finals Saturday 11th* Matchday 30 Saturday 18th* Matchday 31 Saturday 25th* Matchday 32 MAY Saturday 2nd* Welsh Cup Final Tuesday 5th UEFA Europa League Play Off Quarter Final Saturday 9th* UEFA Europa League Play Off Semi Final Saturday 16th* UEFA Europa League Play Off Final * Indicates matches will be played this weekend: precise dates to follow from January 2020 |
Gem Nesaf
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