JD Cymru Premier
Friday 30th December
Newtown 6 Aberystwyth Town 1
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Aber Town confirmed an extremely disappointing December with a fifth consecutive defeat away to Newtown by six goals to one.  An own goal from Niall Flint in the 14th minute gave the hosts a head start but four goals in 15 minutes after the break more than settled the outcome. Aaron Williams (penalty 50 minutes), Nigel Aris (54 and 64 mins), and Nick Rushton (56 and 73 minutes) made it six before Jonathan Evans hit back with ten minutes to go to reduce the arrears somewhat.

On a mild evening for the time of year suspended captain Jack Thorn began the game with the supporters in the stand, and the visiting fans were singing early on with an even start to the game. Louis Robles volleyed wide for Newtown but then Iwan Lewis had a shot blocked and Evans sent a high volley wide for Town. Disaster struck however just before the quarter hour when a right wing cross was diverted into his own net by Flint, and the hosts were ahead. Aber then had to survive a long period of pressure, pinned back into their own half. Lewis Webb in Aber’s goal punched clear a free kick and denied Robles again, although Sam Litchfield almost connected with Jack Rimmer’s long free kick at the back stick, but just couldn’t control a bobbling ball. Robles failed to convert a header from a promising position and Webb got down well to deny Rushton, but then there were some promising signs for Aber with Alex Darlington and Jon Owen combining well – though they were unable to unlock the home defence. Harry Arnison had a shot blocked and a Lewis through ball just evaded Owen, and although Aber went into the break a goal down, they had done enough to suggest they were still in the game.

Sadly this state of affairs did not last for long. Arnison did play in Jon Owen to burst through down the right, and he sent in a near post shot which was parried by Dave Jones but then a foul on Aris was penalised by a penalty, which Williams converted down the middle to double the lead. Williams blasted wide, but then a left wing cross from Callum Roberts was headed home by Aris for three nil. Two minutes later Rushton found the top corner for four, and Ryan Sears almost converted a cross with a diving header. A right wing cross fell nicely for Aris to volley into the roof of the net for five, and yet another ball into the box was smashed home by Rushton with seventeen minutes to go to complete Aber’s humiliation. A Rimmer free kick just eluded Darlington in the box, and then Aber did finally score when sub Charley Edge’s low volley from the left was parried by Jones for Evans to pounce from close range for his fourth goal in six games.  The game however fizzled out with the outcome long decided in the hosts favour.

A tough December run of four away games in five, and four top six opponents in five has lead to five defeats which have mathematically ended all hopes of a top six finish for Anthony Williams’ men. The Black and Greens will now focus on getting results in some key matches before the split, but they do at least have a week’s break before their next assignment away to Flint Town United on Friday January 6th (ko 7.45pm). Hope springs eternal!

What better way to end the year than with episode 3 of the Aber Town Women Q&A? And this time it's the skipper Kelly Thomas answering the questions.

When were you happiest?
On the way home from Port Talbot away last season when we secured fourth place! Three points, top four, beers and karaoke - what more can a gal ask for?!

What is your greatest fear?
The dentist!

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Panicking on the ball.

Where would you like to live?
It would be nice to live somewhere with better weather and New Zealand has always been a maybe as I have family there!

What makes you unhappy?
Losing football matches.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
Not many without swearing apart from “Nice you".

Cat or dog?
Dog - specifically Yeppi the world's cutest shih tzu and Maya the bounciest Dalmatian you’ll ever meet (apart from when she tries to lick my ears).

Who is your best friend in football?
If I say Gav, will he keep me in the starting 11?

Friday 30th December (KO 5.45pm)
JD Cymru Premier
Newtown vs Aberystwyth Town
 
Aber’s fixtures for 2022 conclude tomorrow with the second part of a double header against Mid-Wales neighbours Newtown. The Robins ended Aber’s best home run in eight years with a 2-1 victory at Aberystwyth University Park Avenue on Boxing Day, courtesy of a Kieran Mills-Evans double after Jonathan Evans had given Anthony Williams’ side the lead.
 
That result leaves Aber in 10th position going into this game, whilst the Robins’ good form of late has seen them climb to 5th over the past few weeks. The goals of Aaron Williams and Louis Robles have been a key factor in their ascent up the table, with Williams bagging 5 goals since the start of November to take his seasons total to 12, whilst Robles has hit 4 to take his total to 8.
 
As always in this fixture, there will be familiar faces on both sides. Jack Thorn, Sam Litchfield, Niall Flint and Sam Phillips have all spent time at Latham Park during Chris Hughes’ reign whilst current Robins’ Captain Craig Williams spent two years at Park Avenue under Alan Morgan from 2010 to 2012 and Mathew Jones spent five years with his hometown club before making the move to Newtown in the summer.
 
It is appropriate that this fixture will bring the curtain down on Cymru Premier football for 2022 as both clubs celebrated significant milestones together this year. 2022 saw the 30th anniversary of the formation of the Cymru Premier (then League of Wales) and only Aberystwyth Town and Newtown have unbroken membership of the league since that first season. Both clubs also celebrated their 1000th matches in the league this year, becoming the first clubs to do so.
 
Please note that the kick-off time for this match is 5.45pm to facilitate live TV coverage on Sgorio. The programme starts at 5.25pm on S4C. You can’t beat actually being at the match though, and Latham Park can be found by using postcode SY16 1EN. Tickets are priced at £7 for Adults, £5 for Concessions and £1 for Under 16’s. Join us at Latham Park as the Seasiders look to see out 2022 in style! 

Aberystwyth Town would like to thank their supporters for a fantastic turn out at Park Avenue on Boxing Day for the JD Cymru Premier local derby against Newtown FC. The attendance, on a cold and windy day was a season high of 451 and it was wonderful to see so many local supporters in attendance showing their support for the Black and Greens.

The crowd was the second highest of all JD Cymru Premier matches over Christmas, and takes the Park Avenue’s season total to 2996, or an average of 333 over the nine matches played to date.

Aber’s loyal fans were possibly attracted by Aber’s best home run in eight years of five consecutive JD Cymru Premier Park Avenue wins since September. That run sadly came to an end on Monday, however Town have two more home matches forthcoming before the mid season split, on Tuesday 10th January against Penybont (KO 8pm) and on Saturday 21st January versus Caernarfon Town (KO 5.15pm), and Aberystwyth Town FC is grateful for the continued support of Ceredigion’s soccerati.

Aber Town’s JD Cymru Premier season tickets have been reduced to include the seven remaining league games at Park Avenue in 2023. A half season ticket will cost £40 for Adults and £30 for Students and over 65s, and can be purchased here.

Photos courtesy of Ifor Roberts and Owain Evans.

JD Cymru Premier
Monday 26th December
Aberystwyth Town 1 Newtown 2
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Park Avenue’s biggest crowd of the season, a whopping 451 souls, defied a chilly Boxing Day afternoon for some JD Cymru Premier action, but most went home disappointed as visitors Newtown earned a narrow 2-1 win to leave Aber Town looking for revenge on Friday evening at Latham Park. Jonathan Evans gave Aber the lead on 27 minutes but Kieran Mills Evans then struck twice before half time (29 and 43 minutes) and despite the Seasiders’ best efforts that scoreline stuck until the end.

Despite a rather scrappy start to the game chances were on the way. Newtown’s Callum Roberts sent in a testing cross which just evaded Louis Robles, before Nick Rushton had a shot blacked and saved soon after. Jack Rimmer for Aber then had a goalbound header saved before Niall Flint’s promising ball in just evaded Evans. Harri Horwood had an attempt blocked for a corner, then Louis Bradford went close so it was no great surprise when Aber took the lead, Steff Davies beating Shane Sutton to flick the ball on, and Evans nipped in at the far post to touch the ball home before celebrating in front of a joyous Nark’s corner! Sadly the joy did not last long and in their next move Newtown equalised when Mills Evans back headed Ryan Sears’ long throw in from half a yard. Long throws and corners from both sides were repelled, then came a crucial moment when another Davies flick on was again converted by Evans – only for the linesman to disallow the goal for a foul. Mills Evans had a low shot blocked on the line, and he then sneaked in at the far post to touch home Matty Jones’ corner. Another long throw from Sears hit the post and the visitors went in at half time two goals to one ahead.

Newtown used the wind well in the second half to force a series of set pieces, and Shane Sutton blasted over from Jones’ corner early in the second half. George Hughes’ free kick was caught by Lewis Webb in the Aber goal, then Rimmer lifted a ball forward and Jonathan Evans thrillingly shot into the side netting to give notice the game was still hanging in the balance. Jones sent a free kick over the bar for the Robins, then sent a shot in which was parried by Webb and cleared to safety. Alex Darlington and Jon Owen came on to try and force a comeback, but the Black and Greens were struggling to create real chances. Jack Thorn got Nark’s corner singing when he sent a volley over the bar from Horwood, but more and more long throws and corners from Sears and Jones kept Aber pinned back. Owen turned his man down the left and sent in a super cross, but Sam Litchfield’s goalbound header was blocked a home defender, and a Niall Flint from the other side was caught by Dave Jones. Jones collected further balls in from Horwood and Flint with time running out, with Sam Phillips’ free kick and corner also in vain, and streetwise Newtown held on for a big Christmas win.

Home Manager Anthony Williams will feel hard done by to see his team walk away with nothing having competed well for the third match in a row, but more points are needed between now and the mid season split, and the quest continues in the return match at Newtown this Friday evening, December 30th. Please note the early kick off time of 5.45pm, which will facilitate live TV coverage on S4C. Thank you for your fantastic support and keep the faith!