Tref Barri/Barry Town United 1 Tref Aberystwyth Town 2: Adroddiad Gem/Match Report

Sadwrn Awst 5ed/Saturday August 5th 
Ail Rownd Cwpan Nathaniel MG Cup Second Round
Tref Barri/Barry Town United 1 Tref Aberystwyth Town 2

Dechreuodd Aber eu tymor cystadleuol yn y ffordd gorau posib drwy droi’r gem ar ei phen i guro Tref y Barri i ffwrdd ac ennill lle yn 16 olaf Cwpan Nathaniel MG. Ar ol hanner cyntaf ddi sgor, aeth Barri yn y blaen trwy Kayne McClaggon ar ol 59 munud, ond yn ol daeth y Gwyrdd a’r Duon gyda’r eilydd aur Alex Darlington yn unioni’r sgor o fewn deg munud gyda cic cornel. Naw munud cyn y diwedd rhanodd Billy Kirkman a Darlington pas clyfar cyn i Kirkman sleifio drwy’r anddiffyn i sgorio gol buddugol gwych.   

Aber Town started their competitive season in the best possible way yesterday, coming from behind to defeat Barry Town United away to earn a last 16 place in the Nathaniel MG Cup. After a goalless first half Kayne McClaggon gave the hosts the lead on 59 minutes, but the Black and Greens were level ten minutes later when supersub Alex Darlington scored directly from an inswinging corner, and nine minutes before time the returning Billy Kirkman played a deft one two with Darlington on the edge of the box before waltzing through to score a super winner.​

On a day of sun, rain and strong wind the Black and Greens benefitted from their usual good walk up for South Wales games and Anthony Williams’ young side was cheered onto the field. The match saw Aber debuts for Dave Jones, Ben Woollam, Harry Owen, Owen Taylor and Akeem Hinds, with a core of last season’s side made up by Louis Bradford, Jack Thorn, Iwan Lewis, Mark Cadwallader, John Owen and Kirkman. The hosts benefitted from a strong wind in the first half and Chris Hugh sent in an early left wing cross which McClaggon headed wide, before Jones saved another McClaggon effort.  McClaggon send an acrobatic effort over the bar but Aber were threatening from set pieces, with Taylor earning a number of free kicks with his hard work in midfield, and Kirkman went closest with an effort at the near post. Evan Press headed wide at the back post for Barry, Ollie Hulbert failed to connect with a cross in a great position, and Hugh blasted over from distance but despite the hosts’ dominance in terms of goalscoring chances the half ended 0-0.

Into the second half and Barry started strongly, another cross from High evaded Hulbert before Barry’s new signing missed another great chance, angling a header wide from between the posts. Barry repelled a couple of Aber free kicks but then finally the Black and Greens got going when Cadwallader sent in a goalbound shot which was parried by Mike Lewis to safety. Minutes later however Barry took the lead when another left wing cross from Hugh was expertly side footed home by McClaggon, and Aber were up against it. Anthony Williams’ men sparked into action with Darlington coming on in centre mid: Cadwallader nearly sneaked in to equalise, then found himself straight through only to hit the post with a big chance. Owen Taylor’s ball in was hooked clear for an Aber corner, and Darlington used the strong wide to float in a set piece with drifted past everyone and into the net! With Aber’s tails up and their supporters singing, holes were starting to appear in the hosts’ defence. Kirkman’s left wing cross just evaded Owen, and then the young left wing back on his Aber return strode towards the box, played a clever one two with the evergreen Darlington and calmly slotted home from ten yards to send the visiting fans into rapture, two one Aber! Callum Huxley and Steff Davies came onto bolster the front line and the later, known and loved for his headers at this ground, almost connected with a Darlington flick. Huxley took on his full back and won a corner, then Kirkman pulled off a super trick before smashing an effort which Lewis parried for a corner. Jones collected a deep cross well, Taylor had a low shot saved, then deep into injury time Davies cleared off the line for Aber, and Jones pulled out a super stop to deny Hulbert at the death, and Aber had held on for a great win.

The Seasiders’ thrilling come from behind win gives Anthony Williams the perfect preparation for next Saturday’s Cymru Premier Kick Off at home to Cardiff Met (ko 2.30pm) and earns the Black and Greens a place in the last sixteen of the Nathaniel MG Cup. Town remain in the Southern side of the draw and the Third Round is due to take place on Tuesday 19th September. The FAW will announce the draw date in due course. Oh Aber Town!