Port Talbot Town Ladies 3 Aber Town Ladies 0: Report & Highlights

Sunday 1st September 2019 
Welsh Premier Women’s League Cup Group Stage 
Port Talbot Town Ladies 3 Aberystwyth Town Ladies 0 

First half strikes from Coryn Sexton, Courteney Thomas and a second half goal from Jessica Curran meant Aber left South Wales empty handed in their tough season opener at Port Talbot. 

Andy Evans and Ray Hughes’ side were aware promotion was going to mean a giant step up: facing a team that finished fourth in the league behind Cardiff Met, Swansea and Cardiff was always going to be a difficult fixture, and from the off this was clear. The hosts dominated the opening stages and opened the scoring on twelve minutes when Coryn Sexton pounced quickly to poke the ball in from the edge of the six-yard box. Port Talbot nearly doubled their lead soon after but a powerful strike was denied by a fantastic low save by Aber’s Ffion Ashman. Cat Davies nearly levelled the scores following Ashman’s long ball out but the forward was unable to get the contact on the ball she would have liked. On 21 minutes the lead was doubled: a corner was met by Courteney Thomas and a left-footed volley from close range to give Port Talbot some breathing space and a two goal lead at half time. 

The Black and Greens shot out of the blocks in the second half though and just seconds in nearly pulled a goal back. A deflected ball along the six-yard area following good work from Tania Wylde was nearly turned in by Davies but the forward’s slide was just a little too late. Wylde then saw her powerful and well-hit strike go not too far over the bar as the visitors pushed for a goal to get back in the game. The hosts were still having their own chances though and were denied by yet another top-save by Ashman and then a clearance off the line by Ffiona Evans. The South Wales team however weren’t to be denied for too much long with a third being scored in rather fortunate circumstances. Evans with another good block which the hit the back of an opposition player and straight to Jessica Curran who was able to head home from fairly close-range. 

Despite the result there were a lot of positives the Mid Wales side can take from this game going forward as they learn to adapt to the huge step up. Due to Rhyl Ladies’ withdrawal from the league, Aber will not be in action this coming Sunday and will continue WPWL Cup campaign on Sunday 15th September at home to last years’ champions Cardiff Met who have recently returned from a record-breaking performance in the UEFA Women’s Champions League. 

ABER TOWN LADIES vs Port Talbot Town Ladies: F. Ashman (GK), M. Jones (R. Thomas 73’), K. Thomas, Wylde, F. Evans (c), C. Davies, J. Pugh, E. Thomas (D. Roberts 64’), C. Cooper, C. Evans, P. Richards