Aberystwyth Town 2 Holywell Town 0: Match Report

JD Welsh Cup Third Round
Saturday 3rd December
Aberystwyth Town 2 Holywell Town 0

A dominant performance, crowned by two first half goals saw the Black and Greens through to February's JD Welsh Cup Fourth Round, on a chilly afternoon at Park Avenue. A 32nd minute close range header from Kurtis March after Chris Jones' free kick was parried opened the scoring and was the bearded midfielder's second strike in two games. Luke Borrelli then doubled the lead by slotting the ball home in the first minute of first half injury time, having beaten the offside trap thanks to a through ball again from Jones. The home side created chance after chance in the second half but couldn't quite make it three - and finished the game worthy winners.

Within the first minute Aber had signalled their intentions with Borrelii beating the offside trap and surging straight through only to be denied by visiting keeper Paul Turner. Luke Sherbon headed over from the resultant corner and with the hosts looking assured the irrepressible Chris Jones sent in a pearl of a left wing cross which Borrelli stretched to convert, only to be flagged offside. Kostya Georgievsky was next to go close, after Cledan Davies’ ball over and although Paul Williams and Lee Healey had tame shots saved by Chris Mullock in the home goal, Aber were in the ascendancy with Holywell defending desperately. Football is a perverse game however and the Black and Greens were indebted to Mullock for two fantastic saves from Greame and Paul Williams in quick succession, only for Borrelli again to go close with another header. Then came a decisive moment in the game. Georgievsky was hacked down on the edge of the area and Chris Jones’ free kick lead to Aber taking a fully deserved lead. Mullock was alert and off his line quickly to snaffle out any half chances, then Aber went close yet again when Sherbon hooked wide from close range. Ryan Wollacott made a crucial defensive block to prevent a clear chance for the visitors, and with the game in injury time Borrelli struck to double the score. A very entertaining and positive half of football for Aber ended with the Black and Greens deservedly ahead at 2-0.
 
Aber kept the pressure on incessantly after the break with Will Bell heading over yet another Chris Jones cross. Jones then played in Geoff Kellaway who rounded the keeper but hit the post from a wide angle with mouths in the Dias Stand agape, and he went close again minutes later. Georgievsky saw a shot saved, and then sub Jack Rimmer almost picked out Borrelli with a peach of a pass but the visitors recovered in time. Chris Jones then sent a cute curling shot towards the far post but Turner managed to palm it away, and Borrelli again headed wide, this time from a Daniel Alfei cross. The game had been over as a contest since the break to be honest and half hearted efforts from Healey and Brady McGilloway reminded those present that the Wellmen were still trying: though in truth Aber’s defensive block of Davies-Wollacott-Bell-Alfei showed good positioning, good recovery and an impressive ability to pass their way out of trouble throughout and fully deserved their clean sheet. The Green tide kept coming: Kellaway surged 70 yards before picking out sub Blake Davies who crossed for Borrelli to net a beauty, but for the second time he was called offside. Kellaway found space again before missing the target, Blake Davies hooked over and then Borrelli again went close at the far post: and with that the game was over.

A 2-0 victory was the least Aber deserved for a dominant performance full of attacking intent, which bodes well for their final six games before the split, starting at home to Bangor City next Saturday afternoon (ko 1.30pm). Matthew Bishop’s men will also be pleased to progress to the last sixteen of the Welsh Cup, to be played the weekend of the 28th January. All in all - an excellent day’s work.