Bumper Boxing Day Crowd Sees Newtown Prevail in Close Match: Aber Town 1 Newtown 2 Match Report

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!