JD Welsh Premier League Saturday 6th January Cardiff Met 1-1 Aberystwyth Town Aberystwyth Town gained a thoroughly deserved point as they battled to a 1-1 draw against Cardiff Met in front of the TV cameras on a chilly Saturday evening at Cyncoed Campus. In what was one of Aber’s finest away performances of the season, John Mckenna flicked in Ashley Young’s free kick in the 59th minute to cancel out Eliot Evans 45th minute opener for the hosts. The point keeps Aber in 10th place in the JD Welsh Premier League table, but moves the seasiders to within two points of Newtown and eight points adrift of seventh placed Llandudno. Aber manager Nev Powell made two changes to the starting line-up from Town’s New Year’s Day defeat to Carmarthen, with midfielders Malcolm Melvin and Tom Owens replacing Craig Hobson and John McKenna. Town started the game brightly and dominated the early stages of possession whilst maintaining an excellent defensive shape. On 7 minutes, Aber new boy Tom Owens flew into a tackle with Met full back Kyle McCarthy; a challenge that emphasised the aggression and intensity that the visitors had perhaps been lacking in their past three matches. The first chance of the game came in the 19th minute, as Ryan Wade sent a long-range effort just over the crossbar. Soon after, Malcolm Melvin went even closer as his shot sailed inches over, after an excellent cut back from the right flank by Declan Walker. Aber were playing with a confidence and verve that had been missing in recent weeks, and they created another good opportunity on 36 minutes when Melvin was again in the thick of the action, producing a wonderful pivot turn and volley inside the penalty area that narrowly missed the crossbar. However, on 45 minutes the hosts took the lead with their first meaningful chance of the game. Met were awarded a contentious free kick on the edge of Aber’s penalty area, after a nasty clash of heads between Ryan Wollacott and Met striker Dan Spencer, which resulted in both players having to leave the field (with Wollacott being replaced in defence by John McKenna). Eliot Evans stepped up and curled an inch perfect strike into the top corner, leaving Aber goalie Chris Mullock with no chance, to make it 1-0 to the hosts. The goal meant Town went in behind at the break, despite their first half dominance, and left Nev Powell’s side with work to do in the second half. Aber came out for the second half with a similar tempo and intensity to their play that they had shown in the first half, as Malcolm Melvin and Ashley Young bossed the midfield with some slick passing. On 56 minutes, the equaliser somehow evaded Nev Powell’s side as Tom Owens latched on to John Owen’s back-heel to rattle the crossbar before the rebound struck the knee of Luke Borrelli and ricocheted wide of the post. The rub of the green seemed to be with the hosts as they survived another scare on 57 minutes when Melvin again sent an effort wide of the post. But on 59 minutes, Aber finally found the equaliser they so thoroughly deserved; Ashley Young delivered a wicked ball into the penalty area from a free kick on the left flank, and John McKenna was left unmarked to glance the ball into the bottom corner to make it 1-1, and send Aber’s vocal supporters into raptures. The goal seemed to give Town yet another boost in confidence as they continued to dominate possession and create opportunities in attack. On 63 minutes, the visitors very nearly took the lead as Luke Borrelli rose at the far post to head the ball inches wide from Declan Walker’s deep cross. Geoff Kellaway and Craig Hobson were introduced from the substitutes bench to try and find the winning goal the seasiders deserved, but to their credit Cardiff Met dug in their heels and stood firm. Aber’s final attacks of the game came from a succession of corner kicks that were dangerously whipped into the penalty area by Ashley Young, but it wasn’t to be for Nev Powell’s side as they settled for a valuable point away from home. A much-improved performance from the visitors, whose confidence will no doubt have been restored after a tricky few weeks over the festive period. Great credit must be given to all of Town’s players, most notably captain Jonny Spittle who was awarded the Man Of The Match award by Sgorio. A special mention must also be given to the fantastic and vociferous away supporters, who once more highlighted the fantastic following that Aber are fortunate to receive whenever they play away from home. Town now have seven days to recover before their next JD Welsh Premier League match at home to Connah’s Quay Nomads at Park Avenue next Saturday. JD Welsh Premier League
Saturday 6th January (5:30p.m Kick off) Cardiff Met v Aberystwyth Town Aberystwyth Town will look to bounce back from three consecutive JD Welsh Premier League defeats as they travel to face Cardiff Met at Cyncoed Campus in front of the Sgorio cameras on Saturday evening. Town suffered their worst run of results over the festive period for five years, falling to defeats away at The New Saints and Carmarthen Town, before being beaten at home by the Old Gold on New Year’s Day. The onus now lies with Nev Powell’s side to turn results back around in their favour and climb the table towards the seventh placed finish that would secure a first round play-off game for a place in the Europa League at the end of the season. Aber manager Nev Powell emphasised his disappointment at Monday’s result against Carmarthen in an interview after the game, stating “It was desperately disappointing from us because we knew the first goal would probably win the game. We should have got a result, but we haven’t, and we’ve got a tough few weeks ahead of us now”. Indeed, Town’s players and supporters must now rally together in order to end the team’s losing streak and stay in touch with the pack of teams above them in the league table. Despite not picking up any points in their three games over the festive period, Aber still lie in 10th place in the table, just three points adrift of rivals Newtown and nine points off seventh placed Cefn Druids. With Town facing those teams around them at home and away from home once more in the second half of the season, there is still much to play for as they turn their attentions to finishing in that lucrative seventh placed position; which keeps their hopes alive of challenging for a place in the Europa League. One factor Nev Powell and his side will be counting on this weekend is the vociferous away support of their loyal fans once again, whose numbers are always bolstered whenever Town play in South Wales due to the large number of Cardiff based supporters that the club are proud to boast. Aber also hope to be boosted by the arrival of new signing Tom Owens, with the attacking midfielder hopeful of making the squad pending international clearance on his transfer from Radcliffe Borough FC. Saturday’s hosts Cardiff Met go into the game on the back of an excellent 3-0 victory against top six rivals Barry Town last weekend; a victory that was much needed for the Archers after going five games without a win prior to that. They currently lie in fifth place in the JD Welsh Premier League, and are of course managed by former Aberystwyth Town Welsh Cup finalist Christian Edwards. In what is sure to be a cracking game under the lights at Cyncoed Campus, kick off is at 5:30p.m and admission costs £6 for adults and £3 concessions. Cardiff Met FC’s address is listed as Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cyncoed Campus, Cyncoed Road, CF236XD, with the stadium located directly behind the NIAC Indoor Athletics Track. Don’t forget – Saturday’s game is also being broadcast live on television by Sgorio, with coverage starting at 5:15p.m on S4C. If you want to view the game in High Definition, then we suggest you get yourselves up to Cyncoed Campus and cheer on the Black and Greens to the result they need! Aberystwyth Town FC extends its deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Dave Humphreys, who sadly passed away today after a long struggle with motor neurone disease.
Dave was a stalwart defender and midfielder for the Club during one of the most successful periods in its history, making 306 appearances and scoring 7 times between 1978 and 1989. Club Chairman Donald Kane said: "It is with great sorrow that today came the news of Dave’s death and on behalf of everyone here associated with Aberystwyth Town and all his friends we pass on our thoughts and prayers to the Humphreys family." "For Kevin Morrison and myself as Directors, Dave was a team mate and friend. We were all fortunate to play in a good trophy winning side under Meirion Appleton in the 1980s. Indeed Meirion can take great pleasure and credit in turning Dave into a left back, culminating in Dave earning his Welsh Amateur Cap In 1986." "Always smiling and laid back, Dave would play the game and enjoy nothing more after the game than a lot more than a few drinks afterwards. He displayed no ego but his playing record will speak for itself. Dave was a great player and character and will be sadly missed at the Club." Aberystwyth Town Manager Neville Powell has moved quickly to strengthen his squad one day into the January transfer window, with the signing of attacking midfielder Tom Owens from Radcliffe Borough. 26 year old Tom hails from Liverpool and is a goalscoring midfielder with 3 from 9 appearances for Radcliffe in 2017/8, during which he also gained three Man of the Match nominations. He has previously played with Preston North End (2003-10) and FC London before moving to the States where he played for Michigan Bucks. Tom currently coaches with Liverpool FC International Academy and has a Master of Communications from Quincy University. The Black and Greens are awaiting international clearance for Tom and hope he will be able to join the squad for Saturday's match at Cardiff Met. JD Welsh Premier League
Monday 1st January 2018 Aberystwyth Town 1-2 Carmarthen Town Aberystwyth Town fell to another desperately disappointing JD Welsh Premier League defeat at the hands of Carmarthen Town on a blustery Monday afternoon at Park Avenue. A bizarre 66th minute goal from Carmarthen goalkeeper Lee Idzi, followed by a late Liam Griffiths strike were enough to hand the Old Gold all three points, despite a consolation goal by Aber’s Matthew Jones in added time. The defeat leaves Aber in 10th place in the JD Welsh Premier League and mathematically ends Nev Powell’s side’s hopes of finishing in the league’s top six positions ahead of the second half of the season. Visitors Carmarthen Town came into the game having won just two of their previous nineteen league games, but buoyed by their Boxing Day victory over the seasiders. Nevertheless, it was the hosts who started the game strongest, with the gale force wind at their backs, as Declan Walker fired an early shot straight at Lee Idzi in the Carmarthen goal. Aber continued to dominate the early stages as Craig Hobson volleyed over the bar before Ashley Young’s in-swinging corner came inches from crossing the goal line. On 28 minutes, Aber again went close as Walker tried his luck from long range once more, before Jonny Spittle fired an effort wide of the post. The visitors struggled to get a foothold in the game as the strong winds significantly impacted both teams’ efforts. As half time approached, Luke Borrelli swivelled on the edge of the penalty area before unleashing a shot that was deflected straight into the grateful arms of Idzi, as the first half ended in stalemate. Aber came out in the second half playing into a stiff breeze, but there appeared to be more urgency in their play. On 55 minutes, Town created the best chance of the game as Luke Borrelli’s goal bound effort was cleared off the goal line after a scramble inside the penalty area. However, the turning point in the game came on 66 minutes as Carmarthen took the lead through the most unlikely of scorers. Goalkeeper Lee Idzi collected the ball inside his penalty area before launching an innocuous clearance downfield, which got caught in the wind and looped over the head of Aber ‘keeper Chris Mullock and into the back of the net to make it 1-0. Nev Powell sensed it was time for changes as he introduced Joe Phillips and Malcolm Melvin to try and create some added goal threat. On 77 minutes, Aber again went close, as Declan Walker broke free down the right flank before narrowly shooting over the bar. Aber were becoming increasingly desperate as they searched for an equaliser, and on the stroke of full time Carmarthen delivered the sucker punch goal that finished the game. Keiran Lewis played in substitute Liam Griffiths who slotted a neat finish past Mullock to make it 2-0. Town were able to grab a consolation goal before the full time whistle as Matthew Jones tapped in Ryan Wade’s cross at the far post, but it was too little too late for Nev Powell’s side. The defeat confirms Town’s place in the league’s bottom half for the remainder of the season, as the seasiders now aim to finish in the lucrative 7th place come the end of the season and the potential for a European play off game. Aber must now turn their attentions to their next JD Welsh Premier League fixture, away at Cardiff Metropolitan University on Saturday in a 5:30p.m kick off, live on TV in front of the Sgorio cameras. |
Gem Nesaf
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Ebost / Email: AberTownFC@live.co.uk
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