JD Welsh Premier League
Friday 20th April (8p.m Kick Off)
Aberystwyth Town v Carmarthen Town
 
Aberystwyth Town will look to climb up to ninth place in the JD Welsh Premier League, and extend their two game winning streak as they host Carmarthen Town at Park Avenue on Friday evening. Aber are just two points behind ninth placed Llandudno in the league table, and have the chance to jump above them should they pick up all three points against the Old Gold on Friday.
 
The black and greens have enjoyed a successful few weeks both on and off the field, after securing their domestic and European licenses for next season, as well as reaching the JD Welsh Cup Final and picking up a valuable victory away at Prestatyn last weekend. They will now be hopeful of ending their league campaign in style in front of their home supporters, as they face Carmarthen and Newtown in the space of 8 days at Park Avenue before their mammoth cup final clash with Connah’s Quay Nomads on May 6th.
 
Assistant manager Wayne Jones emphasised the need for the team to remain focused on their remaining league games before the cup final, stating “We’ve got two tough league games ahead of us and we’re not even thinking about the cup at the moment.” Indeed, he will be keen to see the seasiders end their league campaign on a high, especially at Park Avenue – a place that they have made somewhat of a fortress in recent months. Aber have lost just 3 times at home in all competitions since November, and have scored 23 goals in their last 8 games at Park Avenue. They will be keen to put in another two strong home performances that could propel them as high as 8th place in the JD Welsh Premier League table by the time the campaign is over.
 
Visitors Carmarthen travel to Park Avenue in fine form themselves, having won 3 out of their last 5 games in all competitions. They do, however, face the daunting prospect of relegation from the JD Welsh Premier League with anything other than victory on Friday evening. The last fixture between the sides saw the black and greens run out 3-1 victors in the JD Welsh Cup quarter final clash at Richmond Park just 5 weeks ago, as goals from Joe Phillips, John Owen and Malcolm Melvin sealed victory.
 
In what is sure to be a special occasion for Aber’s penultimate home game of the season, be a part of the bumper crowd and cheer on the black and greens to the result they need! Kick off at Park Avenue is at 8p.m, and admission costs £7 adults, £1 children and FREE OF CHARGE for students!
 
Entry to Friday night’s game is FREE OF CHARGE FOR ALL ABERYSTWYTH UNIVERSITY STUDENTS possessing an Abercard. In addition, Bari Morgan’s brilliant u19’s side will be receiving their JD Welsh Premier Development League South Champions trophy prior to kick off, which will certainly be worth coming down early for! Fans will also have the chance to buy player shirts near the tunnel area before the game for a bargain price of £20! 
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Sunday 15th April 2018
SWWGL Alun Evans Cup Semi-Final
​Aberystwyth Town Ladies 2 Barry Town United Ladies 0

After a disappointing result in the Central Wales FA Cup final on Friday, Aber Town Ladies bounced back with a very impressive performance against fellow Welsh Women's League side Barry Town United Ladies, as two goals from Caroline Cooper was enough to put Aber into their second Cup Final of the Season, writes Steven Brookes.

After Friday's disappointment, the Black and Greens were desperate to get back to winning ways and made a strong start to the match, seeing a lot of possession in the opposition half. The home side were getting plenty of balls into the box but were unable to force the keeper into making any important saves: however 37 minutes into the match Aber were awarded a penalty when wide midfielder Steph Land was brought down inside the area and Caroline Cooper converted the spot kick to give Aberystwyth a deserved lead.

Twelve minutes into the second half Aber came agonisingly close to doubling their lead when a fantastic strike from captain Ffiona Evans beat the Barry goalkeeper but smashed the post. Town continued to push for a second and with 14 minutes remaining they increased their lead, when Caroline Cooper's excellent first-time strike on the edge of the box rocketed past the goalkeeper and into the back of the net for Cooper's fifth goal of the season. The Black and Greens looked in control for the remainder of the match and thoroughly deserved the victory.

Aberystwyth Town Ladies will now play against Penybont in the SWWGL Alun Evans Cup Final.

Friday 13th April 2018
Central Wales Cup Final
Aberystwyth Town Ladies 2 Llanfair United Ladies 3

Aberystwyth were unable to make it a sixth successive Central Wales Cup win after a disappointing defeat to last season's runners up, Llanfair United Ladies, writes Steven Brookes.

Aber had got off to a fantastic start and opened the scoring after just eight minutes. An in-swinging corner from Caroline Cooper was poked in at the back post by Naomi Evans to put the Black and Greens ahead. The lead didn't last long though: just two minutes later Llanfair's Sarah Ellis flicked the ball past goalkeeper Ffion Ashman and smashed the ball into the net. Llanfair were on top and Sarah Ellis came close twice to getting her and her team's second. Eight minutes before half time last year's runners up were ahead, when Mary Griffiths' excellent strike from inside the box went over Ashman and into the net to give Llanfair a half time lead.

Aber started the second half strongly and very nearly got an equaliser just three minutes into the half. A corner taken by Cooper was headed just wide by Kelly Thomas. With 20 minutes to go the Black and Greens came close again to levelling. Thomas's header from another corner was blocked on the line and then Naomi Evans's effort went over the bar. Three minutes later things went from bad to worse for the Seasiders, when Sarah Ellis was fouled in the box and Mary Griffiths confidently converted the resulting penalty for 3-1. Aber did get a goal back with six minutes remaining. Naomi Evans did well to control the ball in the box and put the ball past the keeper for her second of the game but there was to be no comeback as Llanfair held on for a deserved victory to win the Central Wales Cup.

JD Welsh Premier League
Friday 13th April
Prestatyn Town 0-1 Aberystwyth Town
 
Aberystwyth Town battled to a crucial three points at Bastion Gardens on Friday evening, as Craig Hobson’s 4th minute strike was enough to see them to victory in a crunch JD Welsh Premier League clash on the North Wales coast. The win sees Aber climb to within just two points of Llandudno and three points of Newtown in the league table, and pulls them further clear of Carmarthen Town as they look to end their league campaign in style before their JD Welsh Cup final date with Connah’s Quay Nomads in May.
 
Town’s starting eleven saw one change from the line-up that beat Newtown in the cup semi-final last weekend, with midfielder Tom Owens coming in for Joe Phillips. On a tricky playing surface, the black and greens knew it was vital they got off to a good start in the game, and they did exactly that. On 4 minutes, Prestatyn’s attempt at a quick indirect free-kick went horribly wrong as they gifted possession to Ryan Wade, and in a flash he’d played the ball through for Craig Hobson, who ran 20 yards towards goal and fired a low shot beyond the reach of goalkeeper Carl Jones to make it 1-0. It was the perfect start for the seasiders, whose travelling tifosi were yet again in full voice as they roared their team on from the stands. Town gained momentum from their early goal, and very nearly doubled their lead on 8 minutes when Malcolm Melvin’s chipped effort was headed off the goal line by Reece Fairhurst. Soon after, Aber’s midfield maestro was again in the thick of the action as his volley went inches over the crossbar, before super John Owen’s glancing header clipped the outside of the post. The visitors hoped they wouldn’t rue their host of missed chances as Prestatyn slowly grew into the game, with Oliver Buckley’s left footed strike going narrowly wide of the post on 25 minutes. Nevertheless, Town stood strong and saw out the first half with their lead intact, marshalled by defensive pairing Ashley Young and Ryan Wollacott who were immense once again.
 
The second half started in similar fashion to the first, with the hosts seeing more of the ball but the visitors creating the better goal scoring opportunities. On 54 minutes, Hobson who’d been a thorn in Prestatyn’s side all game, went close when his flicked header fizzed wide of the post. On 61 minutes Joe Phillips was introduced in place of Ryan Wade as Aber looked to add more speed and trickery to their attacking play, and on 68 minutes they very nearly doubled their lead as Declan Walker’s cross was met by Hobson with a firm header that somehow bounced the wrong side of the post and out for a goal kick. The missed chances were becoming a worry for the Green Army of travelling supporters, as they turned their volume up a notch to give their heroes one final push on to victory. On 77 minutes, Prestatyn created their first meaningful opportunity of the second half as Louis Irvine cut inside and hit a left footed shot inches wide of the post. It was a warning sign for Aber that they would have to battle and scrap for every single ball as the game entered the final 10 minutes. But on 82 minutes, the visitors were gifted a massive chance to finish the game, as Joe Phillips was chopped down in the area by Fairhust and awarded a penalty kick. Top goalscorer Declan Walker stepped up and placed his low spot kick to the right of the ‘keeper, but it was brilliantly tipped around the post by Carl Jones. Yet more drama for the supporters to endure, as their anxiety levels rose to an all time high with just five minutes remaining. Prestatyn tried as they might to find an equaliser, but it looked increasingly unlikely that they would get one as midfield trio Allen, Melvin and Owens fought for every second ball and the back five stood up to any attacking threat the hosts threw at them. Substitute Luke Borrelli almost sealed the victory with a curling left footed strike in added time, but it proved to be insignificant as Aber saw out the final minutes to earn a valuable three points.
 
A massive victory for the black and greens to follow up last Sunday’s Welsh Cup semi-final win, and Aber will be keen to build on this momentum as they head into two consecutive league games at fortress Park Avenue to end their league campaign. Town will face Carmarthen Town in their next fixture on Friday evening in an 8 o’clock kick off at Park Avenue. 
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JD Welsh Premier League
Friday 13th April (7:45p.m Kick Off)
Prestatyn Town v Aberystwyth Town
 
Aberystwyth Town will look to follow up their superb JD Welsh Cup semi-final victory last weekend with another positive result as they travel to Bastion Gardens to face Prestatyn Town on Friday evening.  The fixture will be Aber’s final away league game this season, and the seasiders will be keen to finish their campaign strongly before their mammoth JD Welsh Cup Final clash with Connah’s Quay in 3 weeks’ time.
 
Aber manager Seamus Heath and Director of Football Nev Powell stated their delight at Aber’s massive Welsh Cup victory against Newtown last Sunday, booking their place in the Final at Latham Park against Connah’s Quay Nomads in 3 weeks’ time. Heath commented “I’m absolutely delighted for the players, and of course the fans we brought from Aber today, who really made some sound!” Indeed, it was evident how much togetherness exists throughout the club – between both the players and supporters after last weekend’s victory. That relationship will again be crucial as Town head into another crunch clash against already relegated Prestatyn this weekend, looking for a vital three points that will see them climb further towards the teams above them in the JD Welsh Premier League table. Aber have lost consecutive league games for the first time since Christmas, and will be keen to get back to winning ways on the North Wales coast Friday evening as they approach their final 3 games of the season.
 
Striker Craig Hobson is expected to be fit for the game after he hobbled off in last Sunday’s victory against Newtown, whilst Tom Owens, Luke Borrelli and Kurt Sherlock will also be pushing for a starting place after impressing as substitutes last weekend.  Hosts Prestatyn enter Friday’s clash without a victory in their last 20 games in all competitions, and were relegated from the league two weeks ago after defeat at Barry. They will also be missing key midfielder James Stead through suspension; nevertheless the reverse fixture (a 1-1 draw) at Park Avenue back in February proves how difficult a game Aber are sure face this weekend.
 
In what is another crunch JD Welsh Premier League clash, Aber will be hopeful of carrying last weekend’s momentum into Friday evening as they look for another positive result on the road. Kick off at Bastion Gardens is at 7:45p.m and Prestatyn Town’s postcode is listed as LL19 7LU. The Green Army were the 12th man in last weekend’s semi-final victory, and the team needs your support again on Friday evening so come along and cheer on the black and greens!  
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Aberystwyth Town will return to the scene of their greatest ever triumph to contest the 2018 JD Welsh Cup Final, which the FAW has announced will be played on Sunday 6th May at Latham Park, Newtown, with a 2.45pm kick off. 

The Black and Greens' 1900 Welsh Cup Final victory by three goals to nil over Cefn Druids at the Cunnings Ground, Newtown (now the home of Newtown Bowls Club) is still considered by many to be Aber's finest moment, and the Club's 2017/8 vintage will now have the opportunity to write themselves into Club folklore next month.

To do so Aber will have to overcome Connah's Quay Nomads, who strode into the Final courtesy of a 6-1 Semi Final win over Bangor City - but the Seasiders will take heart from their 4-2 victory over the Nomads the last time the two clubs met back in January.

Since the victory earned by the goals of Green, James and Storey on 16th April 1900, Aberystwyth Town have played in two subsequent JD Welsh Cup Finals, losing to Bangor City at Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli in 2009, and to The New Saints at Wrexham five years later. The Club's loyal supporters will be adamant that a return of the Final to Mid Wales can inspire the team to another historic triumph on May 6th.