Llandudno 0-1 Aberystwyth Town: Match Report

JD Welsh Premier League
Saturday 20th October
Llandudno 0-1 Aberystwyth Town 

Aberystwyth Town earned their first away league win of the season as they took a crucial three points at the Giant Hospitality Stadium on Saturday afternoon. In a game of few clear cut opportunities, Declan Walker's 81st minute penalty was enough to see the black and greens home with a massive victory that closes the gap to just two points on the JD Welsh Premier League's top six. 

There was one change to the starting eleven which drew at home to Caernarfon last weekend, with Wes Baynes coming in at right back in place of Jack Rimmer. Despite playing into a strong headwind during the first half, Aber started the game brightly as Paulo Mendes and Mathew Jones dominated the early stages in central midfield. Ryan Wollacott was first to register an attempt towards goal as he headed Wes Baynes' free kick narrowly wide before Mark Connolly fired a set piece over the crossbar from a decent position on 10 minutes. The hosts gradually grew into the game with the wind at their backs, and went close on 24 minutes as Terry McCormick rushed out of his goal and produced a top save to smother George Harry's close-range strike, before he was called into action again minutes later as he punched Connolly's corner kick clear from under the crossbar. On 32 minutes came Aber's best chance of the half as Baynes delivered another dangerous free kick which Declan Walker met with great power, only to see his header rattle the bar and bounce down on to the goal line. As half time approached, Walker threatened again as he got a nick on Baynes' front post cross only for Llandudno 'keeper Shaun Pearson to tip the effort over the crossbar. It was a first half of few chances, but Aber were pleased to get in with their clean sheet in tact and the wind at their backs in the second half. 

The seasiders started the second half on top, as Baynes whipped another free kick into the penalty area where the slightest of touches would have diverted the ball goalbound. On 54 minutes, Ashley Ruane had his first sighting of goal as he struck a 20 yard piledriver towards the top corner, only for goalie Pearson to parry the shot out for a corner kick. Soon after, the hosts had a good opportunity of their own as Leo Smith brought the ball down in the penalty area before spinning and sending his shot over the crossbar as the game threatened to open up. On 68 minutes, Joe Phillips was introduced in place of Rio Ahmadi, and soon after Ryan Edwards produced a neat one-two with Phillips before curling an effort into the palms of Pearson in goal. Both sides continued to struggle to retain any meaningful possession, but Aber began to look the more likely side to find the breakthrough. On 79 minutes, Pearson did well to deal with Mathew Jones in-swinging corner kick before on 81 minutes came the game's pivotal moment. Ash Ruane latched on to a loose ball in the penalty area before receiving a needless shove in the back from Kai Edwards resulting in the award of a penalty kick. Captain Declan Walker stepped up and slotted the ball straight down the middle to give Aber the lead and send the travelling fans into delirium behind the goal. The seasiders had 10 minutes to see the game out as Llandudno began to throw the kitchen sink at Terry McCormick's goal. On 85 minutes John Owen raced through on goal before being forced wide by McCormick, before Steve Thomas' follow up was well blocked by Steff Edwards as Aber began to sit deeper and deeper, hoping to see out their lead. Then, on 90 minutes Llandudno's Zyyac Edwards, who was already on a booking, appeared to lash out in frustration as he threw his boot into the terracing on the side of the pitch, resulting in a second yellow card and sending off. The visitors managed to see out the four minutes of additional time with relative ease, as Goodall and Wollacott stood strong with McCormick providing a calming influence in goal, and Aber took home all three points in what was a huge victory. 

The win pushes the black and greens on to 14 points, just two points off the league's top six, as they head into another crucial away fixture next Friday evening away at Llanelli Town. 

Teams:
Llandudno: Pearson, Connolly, M Pearson, K Edwards, Thomas, Webb (80), Hughes, Smith (66), Z Edwards, Harry, Owen. Subs: T Jones (66), Hewitt, Fosu-Mensah (80), M Williams, T Williams, O Jones

Aberystwyth Town: McCormick, Baynes, Wollacott, Goodall, S Edwards, Walker, Jones, Mendes, R Edwards (85), Ahmadi (66), Ruane. Subs: Lei Jenkins, Lee Jenkins, Rimmer, Kellaway (85), Blake, Phillips (66), Coleridge