Aberystwyth Town vs Penybont
Nathaniel MG Cup Friday 6th August 8pm Kick-Off The 2021/22 season gets underway tomorrow night, as ATFC welcome fellow Cymru Premier outfit Penybont to Aberystwyth University Park Avenue for a 2nd Round Nathaniel MG Cup match. This will also be the first time that spectators have been allowed to attend a competitive fixture at Park Avenue since February 21st last year, and co-incidentally Penybont were the visitors that night also! Both teams will already be familiar with each other having met in a pre-season friendly on 17th July. Jonathan Evans was the Black & Greens goalscorer that day in a 1-1 draw, which has become a common scoreline for this fixture with the last three fixtures between the two clubs ending this way. Penybont have played 3 other friendlies in pre-season; beating Pontypridd 6-0, Cambrian & Clydach 5-3 and Worcester Raiders 5-1, whilst ATFC recorded a 3-1 win over Buckley, a 2-0 reverse to Cardiff Met and a 3-3 draw with Haverfordwest County. Antonio Corbisiero will take charge of his first competitive match since taking over as ATFC Manager during the summer. Corbs has so far added Sam Phillips, Owen Orford and Alex Darlington to his squad, whilst retaining the services of key men such as Jamie Veale, Harry Franklin & Lee Jenkins. Penybont themselves have added Keane Watts, Josh Graham, Ryan Reynolds and James Waite to an already strong squad and have retained the likes of star performers Sam Snaith, Mael Davies & Kane Owen from last season. Former Seasider Rhys Griffiths remains in charge at the SDM Glass Stadium, where he did an excellent job last season, guiding Penybont to 4th position the European Playoffs in what was only the clubs 2nd season in the Cymru Premier. There are some other recognisable faces in the visitors line up in Kane Owen & Kostya Georgievsky, who both had brief spells at Park Avenue in 2016, and Ceredigion native Mael Davies, who was a teammate to some current Seasiders in Junior football. The action starts at 8pm, although we would encourage supporters to arrive for 7.45pm at the latest to fill out the required Covid Medical Questionnaire - to save yourself time, you are able to print and complete the form ahead of time to simply hand in at the gate - available HERE. Tickets are priced at £7 for Adults / £4 for Concessions / Under 16’s free. Please come down and show your support as competitive football finally returns to Ceredigion! Aberystwyth Town Football Club are delighted to announce the signing of Cymru Premier veteran and centurion goalscorer Alex Darlington. A seven-time league champion, the 32-year-old striker bolsters Town’s attacking options for the 2021/22 campaign.
Beginning his footballing career with Wrexham as a seven-year-old, Alex completed a 2-year scholarship with The Dragons before spending a season on professional terms at The Racecourse. Alex joined The New Saints as a nineteen-year-old, spending nine-and-a-half-years at Park Hall, amassing 234 total appearances and 94 league goals as TNS lifted seven league titles, four Welsh Cups and five League Cups during his spell. Alex was also on target in Europe for The Saints, netting twice against Midtjylland and once against Cliftonville to aid the Oswestry side’s continental efforts. The striker was also capped at international level in 2011 and 2012, making two appearances for Wales’ U23 Semi-Pro side against Estonia U23 and Norway U23. Alex joined Bangor City for a 12-month spell in January 2018 before joining Maltese First Tier side Mosta FC for a six-month spell in January 2019. Alex returned to Wales for the 2019/20 season with Airbus UK before joining Cefn Druids for the 2020/21 campaign. Manager Antonio Corbisiero commented: "Alex is a huge signing for the club given his wealth of experience and knowledge of the league. I'm looking for him to be an example to our younger lads and a calming presence in matches when we're ahead or to motivate the boys when behind." "He still has plenty to offer the league and he can't wait to get going again, so we're very happy to have Darlo at the club. We're looking forward to seeing him in action on Friday night against Penybont at Park Avenue!" Upon his arrival, Alex told us: “I spoke to Connor Roberts before I signed and he told me how much he enjoyed his two years on loan here. I know Corbs, Bari Morgan and Stuart Jones from playing against them for a many years – they’re all good guys so I’m excited to work with them. I’m looking forward to helping the team however I can – there are some very talented lads in the squad so I think we should be pushing for a Top 6 spot and enjoying a good season together!” Croeso i Goedlan y Parc / Welcome to Park Avenue, Alex! Aberystwyth Town's 2021/22 preseason came to an enthralling close on Saturday afternoon as Antonio Corbisiero's Seasiders welcomed JD Cymru Premier rivals Haverfordwest County to Park Avenue. A brace from Harry Franklin and a composed finish from new father John Owen gave the returning spectators their money's worth on a warm and sunny Aberystwyth day.
Lining up with one trialist at centre-back, Town fielded a team of familiar and not-so-familiar faces as new signings Owen Orford and Sam Phillips were given starts at right-back and attacking-midfield respectively. An equal start to the game gave way to some control for the home team as Jonathan Evans, John Owen, Mathew Jones, and Harry Franklin linked well to create a pair of crossing opportunities that narrowly evaded an attacking foot. The lone trialist impressed early in the game looking composed on the ball and effective in his defensive duties, ushering the dangerous Ben Fawcett away from goal on two occasions. On the half-hour mark, the visitors created their best chance of the game to that point as a loose ball in the Town box was fired powerful to the far corner from Pennock's left side, narrowly skimming wide. Another chance for Town followed as new boys Orford and Phillips linked well from a long-range free-kick for the latter to strike at goal, well-saved by veteran Lee Idzi. Despite the home chances, it was Wayne Jones' County who found the net on 42 mins as Ben Fawcett's well-timed run saw him convert a low cross to the bottom corner. With that, it was half-time at Park Avenue. The second half came to life at 60 minutes following a triple sub from Town, as Owain Jones, Joe Saunders and Richie Ricketts were introduced. Aber drew level on 63 minutes as a Lee Idzi misstep gifted Sam Phillips the ball who pulled back to a grateful Harry Franklin. However, County were ahead once more within minutes as Kurtis Rees finished smartly from the edge of the box with a one-touch side-footed effort past Pennock. The visitors almost made it three as a chipped effort skimmed Pennock's post before Town pulled level again thanks to an errand backpass that John Owen collected and slotted home on 74 minutes. The ever-dangerous Fawcett was reintroduced on 79 minutes and proved his worth immediately with another go-ahead goal on 81 minutes, his initial shot saved by Pennock but the attacker netted the loose ball. Before County's third was able to be tweeted, however, Town pulled level for a third time as the tricky Owain Jones got past him man on the left flank to cross to the clinic Franklin for his second of the game. A final opportunity for a County winner was well-thwarted by Pennock 1-on-1 and thus the game ended a six goal thriller. Corbisiero's men now look forward to their first competitive fixture of the season as we welcome Penybont to Park Avenue on Friday night (6th) in the Nathaniel MG Cup before the season opener at Park Avenue on the 14th against Barry Town. Keep an eye out for further additions to the squad as preparations for this JD Cymru Premier season ramp up! |
Gem Nesaf
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Ebost / Email: AberTownFC@live.co.uk
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Cyfeiriad / Address: ATFC Ltd, Park Avenue, Aberystwyth, SY23 1PG.
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