Match Report: Newtown 0-4 ATFC

Newtown 0-4 Aberystwyth Town
Saturday 15th May 2021
JD CYMRU PREMIER
 
Aberystwyth Town rounded off the 2020/21 Cymru Premier season with an emphatic victory at Latham Park against Playoff Qualifiers Newtown. On a rain-soaked afternoon in Powys, goals from Matthew Jones (p), Jonathan Evans, Owain Jones and Harry Franklin ensured the Seasiders completed their fixture list on a positive note going into the summer break.
 
There was only one change made to last weeks starting XI, with Owain Jones replacing John Owen in attack, whilst youngsters Richy Ricketts and Joe Saunders were added to the bench. Newtown, with one eye on next weeks Playoff Semi-Final at Penybont, made a number of changes themselves.
 
The opening period was slow, with both teams cancelling each other out. Jonathan Evans tested young Robins’ keeper Kham Steventon early on before Louis Bradford had to be alert to stop a Newtown attack after 7 minutes. Evans, who was to put in one of his best performances of the season, then delivered a teasing cross into the box, but no one in Black & Green was able to connect.
 
On 22 minutes, Owain Jones was played through one on one with Steventon and was brought down by the young goalkeeper. Mathew Jones stepped up confidently and gave Aber the lead from the spot.
 
Jonathan Evans then had the chance to double Aber’s lead on 31 minutes, as he produced a chip from the edge of the box, which hit the crossbar. He was again involved two minutes later, as his flicked header went narrowly over onto the roof of the net.
 
The first half then filtered out without any incident bar a somewhat harsh yellow card for Aber Captain Lee Jenkins, and the Seasiders went in at half time a goal to the good.
 
The second half started in eventful fashion as Jonathan Evans got the goal that his tireless work deserved on 48 minutes. A delicious through ball from Jamie Veale in his own half saw Evans find some space between the Robins’ defenders, and he prodded the ball past Steventon to give Aber a 2-0 lead.
 
Three minutes later, it was 3-0 as Owain Jones capitalised on a poor back pass to calmly slot the ball home for Aber’s third and end the match as a contest. Jones could well have added another moments later after being set up by some more excellent play from Jonathan Evans down the right, but Steventon produced an excellent block.
 
The exciting second half continued as Nick Rushton tested Connor Roberts with a low drive on 56 minutes before Jamie Veale curled a shot over from distance and then Callum Roberts had an effort which hit the bar for Newtown.
 
Owain Jones was then involved in the action again on 70 minutes, as he was played through one on one, but Steventon was there again to deny the striker his 5th goal in the last 6 games.
 
Aber did not have to wait long for their next goal however, and they were saving the best until last! Jamie Veale’s superb outside of the foot pass found Louis Bradford pushing forward on the right. The New Saints loanee drove forward and crossed for Harry Franklin to tuck the ball home for Aber’s fourth, which wrapped up the win and secured all three points to end the season.
 
There was just enough time for Richy Ricketts and Joe Saunders to both make brief appearances off the bench before the referee sounded the whistle and brought the curtain down on Season 2020/21.
 
This win means that Aberystwyth Town finish the season in 10th place and ensures that the Seasiders proud record of never finishing in the bottom two of the Cymru Premier continues.
 
Next season will be the 30th since the inception of the Cymru Premier (then League of Wales) in 1992. Only two clubs will have played in every season and Aberystwyth Town are extremely proud to be one of those (yesterday’s hosts Newtown being the other). Let’s hope next season is a successful one on the pitch, but more importantly, one that we can all enjoy together with the gates of Park Avenue open again and our wonderful Black & Green Army inside cheering on the lads. It just has not been the same without you!
 
FULL TIME: NEWTOWN 0-4 ABERYSTWYTH TOWN
 
NEWTOWN: Steventon, Phillips, McAllister, Mills-Evans, O’Neill, Mitchell (Downs), Rushton, Breese (Hesden), Ofori, Edwards (A. Jones), Roberts.
 
Subs not used: D. Jones, Evans, Fletcher, Mwandwe
 
ABERYSTWYTH TOWN: Roberts, Bradford, Jenkins, Kearney (Saunders), Franklin, M. Jones, Veale, R. Davies (Ricketts), Evans (Reed), O. Jones (J. Owen), Thorn.
 
Subs not used: Pennock, Horwood, Rimmer
 
Goals: M. Jones (23’p), Evans (48’), O. Jones (51’), Franklin (84’)