JD Cymru Premier
Friday 20th December Aberystwyth Town 0 Barry Town 1 In a close, competitive game at Park Avenue last night Kayne McLaggon’s 65th minute headed goal proved crucial as Barry Town sneaked a vital victory to prevent Aber making it three wins in a row for the first time this season. Marc Williams went closest for the Black and Greens late on but the result leaves Aber in ninth, while Barry move back into the Top Four. On a chilly night a number of Christmas wassailers had stopped by Park Avenue on their Carol signing route, none more so than a sizeable contingent of visiting supporters, who fair play to them, sang all night and gave their side a superb backing in the Dias Stand from start to finish. Jordan Cotterill sent an early free kick over the bar for Barry, while Wes Baynes’ set pieces were dangerous for the home side, with Lee Jenkins heading a corner wide early on. Geoff Kellaway then headed just over from another Baynes free kick, and in a tight and competitive game Aber were well in it. The home side were incensed when Cotterill, already on a yellow card, appeared to barge Richie Ricketts into the advertising hoardings, but he escaped further punishment. Jonathan Hood lobbed over, and Cotterill volleyed wide, then Lee Jenkins made a great challenge to deny McLaggon at the near post. Edmilson Vaz’s low goal bound shot was gathered by Mike Lewis, before Paulo Mendes played a one two with Williams, but his near post effort was deflected, agonisingly wide for a corner. Stuart Jones headed inches wide from Baynes’ corner, and a Jon Hood cross bounced off the crossbar, but neither side could break the deadlock, and with Barry ahead on possession and Aber ahead on the shots on goal count, the score remained 0-0 at the break. Into the second half and the pattern of the game remained the same, with Tom Price working hard to protect Aber’s back four in central midfield. Connor Roberts pulled off a good save to deny Sion Spence’s dangerous free kick, and at the other end the lively Joe Phillips forced Lewis into another save with a low fizzing shot from 30 yards. Baynes’ free kick just evaded Stuart Jones at the back post, and with Aber keeping a nice defensive shape the game was in the balance. Alas for the home side, Luke Cummings then found space down the right to cross for McLaggon to head home at the far post, and the Linnets had a crucial lead. Roberts denied McLaggon again, and Aber made an attacking change with Luke Boundford sent on up front to impose a more physical threat; however the visitors were slowing the game down well – and then the floodlights went out! Six minutes later the game restarted, with ten minutes of injury time indicated, and Ricketts went on a buccaneering run before unleashing a low shot with deflected nicely into Lewis’ hands. Williams then curled a cute effort towards the far corner but Lewis got down well to protect his side’s three points. A late Boundford long throw was cleared, before Williams volleyed over from distance, and Barry survived the late onslaught for a crucial three points. So a game with a nice competitive edge to it was won by the visitors, who probably just about deserved it on the balance of play: however the margins of victory were very small, and the Black and Greens should be confident that this level of performance will gain results as the season goes forward. Town’s next match is on Boxing Day away to Newtown (ko 2.30pm). Join the Bank Holiday Caravan over Plynlimon! JD Cymru Premier Friday 20th December (ko 7.45pm) Aberystwyth Town v Barry Town United Aber Town bid to brighten up the shortest day of the year and turn it into a Black and Green Friday Night with a positive result against UEFA Europa League contestants Barry Town United, at Park Avenue in 48 hours time. The Black and Greens’ players are entitled to enter the festive period with their confidence high, following two wins in a row and two late winners in a row, which always makes victory feel that little bit better. Their Welsh Cup win over Ruthin was a good result considering Town played for three quarters of the game with ten men. Geoff Kellaway opened the scoring, but thoughts were definitely turning to extra time when Ruthin scored a penalty. Then in injury time up stepped Wes Baynes with an absolute worldie to put Town into Round Four. Sgorio nominated Baynes in their Team of the Week, and his strike for Goal of the Week. Last Saturday’s win at Cardiff Met was a victory for Town’s disciplined tactics, which frustrated the homesters. Conceding in the seventieth minute spurred Aber into action, and within two minutes Richie Ricketts went on a buccaneering goalbound run, found Marc Williams and he played in in-form Geoff Kellaway for a stunning equaliser. Then with just five minutes to go Joe Phillips danced down the left touchline to square for Kellaway again to fire home via a deflection – and a huge win, which has really inspired optimism at Park Avenue. Kellaway, like Baynes, was nominated in the Cymru League and Sgorio Teams and Goal of the Week. Barry Town started the season with an excellent run – including a 3-1 win over Aber in August – but are currently enduring a slump characteristic to European Qualifiers since the nights drew in, and have lost six of their last seven games, culminating in a 4-1 home defeat to TNS last Friday. Nevertheless they are sitting pretty in fifth place on 30 points with a Top Six spot tantalisingly close, and have not turned into a bad side overnight. Barry Town will provide a very tough challenge for Mathew Bishops’ men, who are yet to beat the Linnets since their return to the Welsh Prem three seasons ago. The John Charles Lounge will be open from 6pm for those who wish to kick start their evening early, and admission for this JD Cymru Premier clash will cost £7 for Adults, £4 for Concessions and just £1 for Kids. Join us as we turn Black Friday into Black and Green Friday at Park Avenue! Everyone at Aberystwyth Town FC wishes Volunteer Steven Brookes all the best on his retirement from his Media duties at the Club. Club Media Director Thomas Crockett said: "Steven has make a fantastic contribution at Aber Town, and his role of duties at the Club were extensive, and evident from Aber Town’s Youtube Channel, for which he has contributed around 80 videos – both for the Ladies and the First Teams. You can view them all here. Steven has also contributed Match Previews and Reports to the atfc.org.uk and Matchday Programme, re-designed the Ladies section of the website and has carried out extensive work on social media promoting the Club. He has a real talent and dedication for Media Work which I am sure will serve him well in the future!" Thank you very much for your contribution and good luck for the future Steven! JD Cymru Premier
Saturday 14th December Cardiff Met 1 Aberystwyth Town 2 Two late goals from Geoff Kellaway earned Aber Town a fantastic win from behind, away to UEFA Europa League participants Cardiff Met on Saturday afternoon. The goals earned the Black and Greens back to back wins and kick started their season ahead of some crucial Christmas crackers. Elliot Evans gave Met the lead with fourteen minutes to go but Kellaway’s double strike on 78 and 85 minutes thrilled the visiting supporters and proved crucial. On a chilly, windy but sunny afternoon the pattern for the game was set early on as Aber sat back to allow Met to dominate possession with the wind advantage, and Will Evans blasted, and headed over early on. Visiting keeper Connor Roberts then did brilliantly to deny Will Evans from point black range. Jordan Lam set up Elliot Evans to fire wide yet these were merely half chances and Aber’s midfield, personified by the excellent Paulo Mendes, were keeping the hosts at arms length. Elliott Evans picked out Joel Edwards who brought another save from Roberts with a header, but then the tide started to turn with Marc Williams’ goalbound shot blocked, and the visiting fans calling for a penalty. Elliott Evans brought Roberts in to another save, and at the other end Matthew Jones curled a quick free kick inches over the bar, before completing a superb move by aiming a shot at home keeper Will Fuller. Improving Aber threatened again as Fuller saved Williams’ header from Wes Baynes cross; Met survived another handball penalty shout, Joe Phillips and Mendes were denied, and with Aber’s tactics seemingly working well the visitors went in goalless at half time. The second half started in a similar vein and apart from Mael Davies’ shot which Roberts again saved well, chances were few and far between. Brad Woolridge and Will Evans had two more efforts from outside the box, without overly testing the marvellous Roberts, and then Captain fantastic Marc Williams, who was causing all manner of problems against four defenders with his sheer hard work, appeared to be rugby tackled in the box, but once again Town’s penalty claims were in vain. Davies headed wide from Elliott Evans’ cross, and with Aber defending valiantly, with Lee Jenkins and Stuart Jones standing firm, a scoreless draw looked inevitable. Football however is a perverse game and with less than a quarter hour remaining a simple long throw into the box by sub Dan Spencer was pounced on by Evans who fired high into the top corner, to the despair of the visiting side. However just two minutes later a surging run from sub Richie Ricketts from the left fed Williams, he picked out Kellaway out on the right; and the veteran goal getter found the bottom corner with a low volley to equalise. Seven minutes later Joe Phillips did brilliantly down the left wing to beat his man and cross for Kellaway on the right, and his goalbound volley deflected into the net via a home defender, to gain Aber a crucial lead, and finally rouse the numerically challenged visiting supporters into songs of support and celebration. Edwards headed over for Met in injury time, and Stuart Jones blocked Elliott Evans, whose subsequent shot was inevitably saved by Roberts, and Aber had gained a third win in four visits to the Cyncoed Campus. This 2-1 win constitutes a game changer for the Black and Greens’ Cymru Premier season. Coming from behind to win a second match in a row gives Mathew Bishop’s men a huge platform to kick on now. After a Capital performance by the Black and Greens today with Town cementing their ninth place spot, those of a Black and Green persuasion will be delighted of another opportunity to cheer on their side on Friday evening as Barry Town come to Park Avenue. It can’t come soon enough! Photos courtesy of Peter Hewett Saturday 14th December (ko 2.30pm)
JD Cymru Premier Cardiff Met v Aberystwyth Town Aber Town will be looking to harness their excellent Cup Form on Saturday as they travel back to the capital to face Cardiff Met on Matchday 17 of the JD Cymru Premier’s 2019/20 iteration. The Black and Greens prevailed against adversity in last Saturday’s Welsh Cup Third Round tie at home to Ruthin Town, winning 2-1 thanks to a stunning 91st minute strike from Wes Baynes, and also won on their last visit to Cyncoed, 1-0 in September’s Nathaniel MG Third Round tie. All told Town have won four of their five Cup ties this season, all but one played away, and Mathew Bishop’s men will now be looking to replicate those impressive stats in their Cymru Premier campaign. Last weekend’s scorers Baynes and Geoff Kellaway will both be hoping to feature again, and Adam Hughes’ suspension applies only to Welsh Cup matches, so he will be available too for Aber’s match this weekend. Prior to last weekend’s matches both Aber and Cardiff Met’s form had been amongst the poorest in the Cymru Premier, but Met also managed a 1-0 Welsh Cup home win over Pontypridd Town, so the two sides will be looking forward to a more positive Christmas period. Town have an excellent record away to Cardiff Met, having won three and drawn one of their six visits to the University Campus since Met were promoted to the Top Level. Kick off at the Cyncoed Campus on Saturday will be at 2.30pm. A match in the Capital guarantees a good walk up of the Black and Green fanbase, so come along and bring the noise! Saturday 7th December JD Welsh Cup Third Round Aberystwyth Town 2 Ruthin Town 1 Wes Baynes’ 91st minute thirty yard wonder strike from out on the right won this JD Welsh Cup Third Round tie for the Black and Greens, who battled brilliantly with ten men for 69 minutes after the sending off of Adam Hughes. Geoff Kellaway had given Town the lead in the 8th minute, but Ian Hughes equalised for Ruthin Town in 89th minute from the penalty spot, only for Baynes’ moment of magic to win the day. The visitors started brightly with William Owen hitting the side netting with their first attempt, however before ten minutes had past the hosts had struck. Connor Roberts’ clearance found Geoff Kellaway in space down the left channel, and Aber’s Top Scorer last season found the net again with a cute finish across the goalkeeper. Owen fired wide again after a nice move with Ruthin seeing plenty of the ball, but at the other end Joe Phillips had a shot clocked and Baynes’ free kick almost fell nicely for Stuart Jones – but not quite. Ilan Hughes sent in a nice free kick which Kevin Evans headed wide and then a superb Lee Jenkins clearance denied Llyr Morris a strike on goal. Then came a contentious moment when Adam Hughes was adjudged to have fouled Morris on the edge of the area, and a red card was issued to the TNS loanee with less than a quarter of the game gone. With Ruthin dominating possession Aber needed to defend well from now on and Paulo Mendes was doing an excellent job of blocking off the midfield area. Jones’ header from a free kick was saved by Ryan Goldston in the visitors goal, and he later also denied Baynes from a free kick. Ex Bow Street player Garmon Hafal called Roberts into a save with a grass cutter, but Aber went in a goal to the good at the break. The ten men started the second half well, looking to kill off the game, and Luke Boundford volleyed wide before Marc Williams also had a shot blocked. At the other end Osian Davies had a shot saved and Morris’ bete noire Lee Jenkins again blocked his path to goal. Aber were defending well and even controlling possession at times, and Gwydion Ifan’s shot did not unduly trouble Roberts in the home goal. Kellaway had two shots on goal blocked down the left, before Boundford crossed from the right for Mendes to flick a header inches wide, and the game remained in the balance. Ilan Hiughes hot the side netting before Morris got into a great position only to fluff his shot, and Kellaway brought Goldston back into action with a cute near post effort deflected for a corner. The chances kept coming: Ifan’s shot was parried to safety by Roberts before Jones forced Goldston into yet another stop at the other end. Morris again shot at Roberts from a good position before heading over, and then subs combined as Ryan Edwards’ killer ball to Matty Jones was just too strong. With Aber defending bravely it looked like they would hold out but an 89th minute foul right at the edge of the area resulted in a penalty being awarded to the visitors, and Hughes scored to bring the entire visiting bench onto the field in joy. Two minutes later however the emotions were reversed as Baynes picked up the ball out right and sent in an amazing volley which fairly flew into the top corner, and deserved to win any cup tie. Hafal fired wide from Ruthin’s last attempt and the job was done. Mathew Bishop’s men deserve huge credit this afternoon for earning a victory from the jaws of adversity: getting an injury time winner after playing three quarters of the game with ten men shows admirable battling qualities. Credit to the visitors Ruthin who created plenty of chances and will doubtless feel hard done by, but it is the Black and Greens who move forward to Monday evening’s Fourth Round Draw (on S4C’s Heno at 7pm), and the last sixteen round, to be played the last weekend of January. We can’t wait! Photo courtesy of Colin Ewart |
Gem Nesaf
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