Two ex Aberystwyth players, photographed here, are currently ploughing their trade with League One Walsall FC. Atfc.org.uk recently highlighted the progress of Academy product Tom Bradshaw, who appeared up front for the Saddlers in the Johnson's Paint Final at Wembley. Photographed with Tom is Elfyn Edwards, who more senior supporters will remember making 27 appearances in Black and Green between 1975-95, including Aber's Welsh Intermediate Cup Final win over Newtown in Llanidloes in April 1986. Centre back Elfyn played most of his football in England, for Tranmere Rovers and Macclesfield Town, and he is currently working at Walsall's Academy, whilst residing in Sutton Coldfield. He was a guest of Club Director Donald Kane at last Friday's game at TNS and everyone at Aberystwyth Town wishes him good luck in his coaching career. One thing is for certain watching Aberystwyth Town these days, you cannot leave early as you’re sure to miss some of the action as yet again, another late strike secured Aber a valuable and potentially priceless point away at champions in waiting TNS, writes Matthew Wallace. Trailing 3-0 at half time, Town’s remarkable comeback came courtesy of a second brace from Mark Jones and a header from skipper Stuart Jones. Whilst the overall outcome of the match pleased first team coach Antonio Corbisiero was disappointed to even find his side in a position where that comeback was needed. “It’s a good result in the end for us but we were very disappointed to be 3-0 down at half time. We had a couple of good chances in the first half and didn’t take them, and TNS being as they are they finished theirs. It’s individual errors that have cost us again. We need to cut this out. To score three away from home and not come away with a win is disappointing”. Having suffered a calamitous opening period, conceding three goals from as many opportunities, the onus was on Ian Hughes and his management staff to rally his side to a second half comeback. “We played well in the first half. We had two or three good chances, the same as them but the difference is they’ve finished theirs. There were a few things said at half time but we said just go out there there’s no pressure and win the second half. Fair play to the boys, they put a great shift in over the 90 minutes and they’ve got the draw they deserved.” “We got one goal then we had the momentum and the boys had a bit more belief behind them and then we got the second one. The boys are thinking we can get a little bit more from this. We had plenty of chances in the second half to actually go ahead. TNS are a very good side but we broke them down. That’s the disappointing thing. We’ve come away to TNS, scored three and still not won.” But the headlines will rightly go to Town’s number 9 Mark Jones whose last minute strike capped a memorable night for the black and greens. He spoke to ATFC’s YouTube channel after the game, stating, “We had about thirty seconds to a minute left on the clock, I’ve just turned and thought I’ll have a pop. It wasn’t the cleanest of strikes but thankfully the keeper’s been blindsided by his defender and thankfully its gone in.” ‘Jonah’s’ praises were also sung by Corbisiero. “He’s a strong boy. He works hard. You can say he’s an old fashioned centre forward. You can get it into him, he’ll hold it up and set up play. He’s scored his fair share this season and I’m sure he’ll score more.” With just two games of the regular season left, Aber face a tough ask to secure a top three position. The first of these games is Town’s last home game of the season against second place Bala Town on Friday night, and after the positivity of the TNS game, Corbisiero is hoping that result can be used as a platform to springboard Town to three points. “The boys are going to be full of confidence after that performance, they’ve worked hard and we can’t ask for much more than that. The desire and willingness to keep going we can take with us into the Bala game and hopefully get the three points." Watch Martin Smith's full post match interviews with Antonio Corbisiero and Mark Jones via Town's YouTube Channel by clicking on the "Videos" tab here. A number of media outlets last week featured reports on the proposed development at Park Avenue, involving the building of 33 flats on the Astroturf site and the instillation of a 3G pitch facility. The Club has been careful not to comment unnecessarily on the development so as not to prejudice any negotiations with the project partners, but Club Chairman Tony Bates gave the following update to atfc.org.uk this weekend: “Another hurdle was jumped this week towards the proposed 3G pitch at Park Avenue. Tai Ceredigion’s planning application for the erection of 33 flats on the existing astroturf was approved by Ceredigion County Council Planning Department provided that agreement can be reached with the Highways Department relating to access. The Board continues to work tirelessly towards the resolution of all outstanding issues. Watch this space for more news!” We thank our followers for their continued support and patience as the project develops, and will endeavour to keep atfc.org.uk updated as and when this is possible. Corbettsports Welsh Premier League
Friday 10th April The New Saints 3 Aberystwyth Town 3 After falling three goals behind in the first 27 minutes away to WPL Champions TNS last night, Aber Town last night gave an astonishingly dominant performance for the last hour of the game, and Mark Jones' dramatic 92nd minute equaliser was the least they deserved for the most unlikely of comebacks. Missing Stephen Wright and Ross Stephens through injury, Town nevertheless started the game very well, pressing TNS high up the pitch and disrupting the Saints' normal patient build up play. Mark Jones and Luke Sherbon were working hard up front and Craig Williams had the first shot of the game, bursting through to bring a save from Paul Harrison. However TNS then found their feet. Michael Wilde brought a cracking left handed save from Mike Lewis in the Aber goal, and then in the 14th minute Chris Marriott's corner was played back across goal and ex Black and Green Hero Jamie Reed nodded home the opener. The Champions then showed their credentials with Lewis denying Scott Quigley and Reed whose stunning volley needed an expert tip onto the post. Michael Wilde also went close twice, and then in the 27th minute Quigley dance through the home defence to double the lead. Sixty seconds later a ball across the box picked out Wilde at the far post who volleyed home from an acute angle for three and the the game was surely won. The match however turned dramatically and for the last hour TNS had a total of two shots on target, while Aber bossed proceedings. Chris Venables played in Williams who brought another save from Harrison from out on the left, Luke Sherbon almost latched onto a great pass from Jones, and then in injury time the hosts had to clear the ball off the line to keep a three goal advantage at the break. The Black and Greens remained purposeful after the break, and eleven minutes in Williams picked out Sherbon in the left channel, and the WPL Player of the Month for March turned before laying the ball through to Mark Jones, and the Port Talbot Poacher buried the chance to give the visitors belief. A ball in from Cledan Davies was chested down by Sherbon for Venables, and he fired just wide from inside the area; a Wyn Thomas header at the back post set up a huge chance but the ball bounced off Sherbon's head over the bar; Craig Williams had a shot blocked and then went inches wide with a flighted free kick. Finally the pressure told in the 73rd minute as Stuart Jones leapt to head home Antonio Corbisiero's corner, and the comeback was most definitely on. Chris Davies was next to go close finding the side netting from the right flank, and under incessant pressure the home defence were restricted to smashing the ball up the field. Stuart Jones conceded a free kick on the edge of Aber's area in a rare TNS breakaway, but Chris Seargeant's free kick came to nothing. Lewis tipped over a long range effort and Quigley fired wide then normal service was resumed as Corbisiero fired over after a great move; Venables lobbed a half chance just over the bar and Cledan Davies' piledriver from out on the left drew a brilliant stop from Marriott. Finally, with five seconds of the two minutes injury time remaining the irrepressible Mark Jones won the ball and ran straight for the heart of the home defence before picking out the near corner with a deft finish to equalise superbly, and bring an amazing game to a finish. Whilst Manager Ian Hughes will certainly be annoyed with the concession of three more goals, the performance and fightback was that of a Top Three side last night, and if Town continue to play like that their supporters will not want to miss the few remaining games of the season. Aber will still need a couple of big favours to make it into the Top Three, but this draw is a huge boost going into Friday night's home clash with Second Place Bala Town. Kick off is 7.45pm and, after last night's heroics, you definitely need to be there! Aberystwyth Town FC are this evening celebrating confirmation that they have once again been awarded the FAW Domestic Licence, and the UEFA Club Licence for season 2015/6, enabling the Club to compete in the Welsh Premier League, and should they qualify, the UEFA Europa League next season. The FAW First Instance Body met in Cardiff today to run through Licence Applications from Welsh Premier, Welsh League and Cymru Alliance outfits, and the decision was communicated to the Club in late afternoon. Club Licensing Officer Thomas Crockett said: "These awards certify an awful lot of fantastic work carried out on a voluntary basis by Club Officials over the past twelve months. I would like to particularly thank Club Chairman Tony Bates, David "Dai Caprice" Evans, Russell Hughes Pickering and Gari Lewis from the Academy, and Club Doctor Richard Edwards for their significant help at various stages of the process." The Black and Greens have therefore retained their proud 100% Licensing record since the scheme was introduced by the FAW in April 2004. The Club would also like to congratulate Llandudno, managed by Alan Morgan, on their promotion to the Welsh Premier League, and Christian Edwards' Cardiff Met, who achieved a Domestic Licence for the first time. Friday 10th April (ko 7.45pm) Corbettsports Welsh Premier League The New Saints v Aberystwyth Town Aber Town travel across Plynlimon on Friday night to the Shropshire Marches knowing that only an unlikely victory away to the undefeated Champions can keep alive their fading hopes of a Top Three Finish in the Corbettsports Welsh Premier League. The Black and Greens were probably glad of an extra week’s break to recuperate following their defeat at home to Airbus ten days ago, and Manager Ian Hughes will hope that key players such as Stephen Wright and Antonio Corbisiero will have recovered from the knocks which ruled them out of that game. On the plus side Town can boast the WPL Player of the Month in Luke Sherbon, whose polished performances both in midfield and up front throughout March belied a disappointing month results wise for the Seasiders. The New Saints wrapped up the title back in March, and on Sunday they earned a place in the Welsh Cup Final with a dramatic 4-2 win over Airbus, so they can be expected to play their usual confident brand of football. Friday is their last home game of 2014/5 and they have the added incentive of being within four games of an undefeated domestic season – which would be a first in the Welsh Premier League era. Aber however have only lost one of the sides’ three meetings this season, and The Black and Greens’ 1-1 draw at the Venue in December, thanks to a late Chris Venables strike, was a highpoint of 2014/5 to date. With a home draw guaranteed in the UEFA Europa League Play Offs in May whatever happens in the next three games Aber’s season is still alive and kicking, and Friday will hopefully be the start of a big push towards a fitting end to a memorable season. The Coach leaves at 4pm, and the return journey costs just £10. See you there! |
Gem Nesaf
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Ebost / Email: AberTownFC@live.co.uk
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