JD Welsh Premier League Friday 21st December (7:45p.m Kick Off) Aberystwyth Town v Cefn Druids Aberystwyth Town return to action at Park Avenue on Friday evening as they host Cefn Druids in another crunch clash in the JD Welsh Premier League. Aber fell to their first defeat in 9 games away at Caernarfon last Friday evening, and the Black and Greens will be keen to bounce back quickly as they aim to secure their place in the top six come January. After last Friday’s defeat, Aber manager Nev Powell commented; ‘We were on the end of a few unfortunate decisions tonight, but we’ll move on and we won’t dwell on it because we’re still in a strong position for that top six”. Indeed, the Seasiders still lie in sixth place in the league table with just five games remaining before the league split in January – and three of those fixtures being played at Park Avenue. Town will be keen to use those home fixtures to their advantage as they enter a crucial six weeks in their season. They will be without captain Declan Walker for this weekend’s clash after his red card at The Oval last weekend, but they do welcome back central defender Ryan Wollacott after he missed last weekend’s defeat through suspension. Friday’s visitors Cefn Druids travel to Park Avenue on the back of a narrow home defeat at the hands of league leaders Connah’s Quay nomads last weekend, but Huw Griffiths’ side have picked up five points from their last five league games. The Ancients currently lie in 9th place in the JD Welsh Premier League table, and were victorious in the reverse fixture earlier this season thanks to James Davies’ late winner. In what is another enticing JD Welsh Premier League fixture, kick off at Park Avenue under the Friday night lights is at 7:45p.m. What better way to kick off the festive period than by cheering the Black and Greens on to a positive result!
Welsh Women's League Sunday 9th December 2018 Barry Town United Ladies 1 (Preen 59') Aberystwyth Town Ladies 2 (Wylde 36', F. Evans 82') In arguably their most important fixture of the 2018-19 season so far, the Black and Greens returned with a massive three points to strengthen their promotion push before the winter break. A late winner from Ffiona Evans and a first half goal from Tania Wylde were enough to give the visitors a well-deserved victory.
On 16th September, Aber Town Ladies faced a difficult home fixture against promotion rivals Barry Town United. The match ended in defeat for the Mid Wales side - a first league defeat since April 2017. Nearly three months later it was time for the reverse fixture. Aber had won all six games since that defeat whilst the South Wales side still boasted a 100% record. Despite Barry's Daisy Evan-Watkins coming close early on it was the visitors who started the stronger of the two sides and had multiple chances to take the lead. The home side's goalkeeper, Erin Brennan denied Ffiona Evans from close range and later saved Kelly Thomas's low shot. Aber's best chance of the half then fell to the captain as Sam Townsend's ball over the top of the defence put through Ffiona Evans, but the midfielder's effort went wide of the post. Aber did eventually get the goal they deserved though: after hard work and persistence from Nia Witts, Aber's right back found herself inside the box. Witts's cross was parried by Brennan straight into the path of Tania Wylde who found the net for her thirteenth goal in just her eleventh match of the season. Wylde had a couple of opportunities to grab a second, the home side's keeper doing very well in a one-on-one situation before later watching Wylde's free kick go narrowly wide of the post moments before the half-time whistle blew. Aber started the second half well and must have been happy with the way they had played so far with the only negative being they were not further ahead. With 59 minutes gone that narrow lead had gone. From distance, Charlotte Preen's outstanding left-footed first time strike beat Ffion Ashman and hit the back of the net to level the scores. The home side's confidence grew and it was them that arguably looked the most likely to take the lead but despite this, they were unable to create any major clear-cut chances thanks to a strong defensive performance from the Black and Greens. Momentum began to shift back in Aber's favour and with eight minutes of normal time remaining some great work from Tania Wylde and a perfectly timed run from Ffiona Evans gave the visitors a big opportunity. The Aber captain found herself behind the defence and her left footed effort went over the top of the goalkeeper before dipping into the net to give the Black and Greens a very important lead. In the closing stages Townsend nearly made it three with a header going just wide whilst at the other end a good tackle from Josie Pugh denied the host a big chance late on as Aber Town Ladies took home a well-deserved and hard-fought three points.. An entertaining game and an excellent result for the team in green who will be hoping to continue their impressive form in 2019!* (*Aber's next match may not be until the new year now due to postponements but please keep checking Twitter and atfc.org.uk/abertownladies for the latest updates.) For Match Highlights please click here JD Welsh Premier League
Friday 14th December Caernarfon Town 4 Aberystwyth Town 0 The Black and Greens' eight match unbeaten run came to an end at the Oval on Friday as Neville Powell's men endured a bad day at the office, with a sending off compounding a heavy defeat away to Caernarfon Town. An open and exciting game saw Nathan Craig score two penalties for the hosts (12,60 mins), either side of a red card for Declan Walker on 42 minutes. Sion Bradley (62 mins) and Darren Thomas (68 mins) finished things off for the hosts on a night to forget for the loyal and loud army of Black and Green followers who had made the trek North. Young Lee Jenkins came into Aber’s starting eleven at Centre Back to replace the suspended Ryan Wollacott and on a chilly but clear night the game started at a high pace, with the hosts showing the initiative. Gareth Evans headed wide from an offside position before Ash Ruane nearly got on the end of Rio Ahmadi’s flick on. Jenkins then set up Ahmadi from a corner but Aber’s right winger could only find the side netting with a cute effort. Just past the ten minute mark Terry McCormick pulled off a super stop to deny Jamie Breese who was right through on goal, but in the resulting move Allan Goodall brought down Evans in the box, and Craig dispatched the resulting penalty to give the Cofis the initiative. Craig sent another screamer just past the post before Ruane at the other end found himself bearing down on goal only for home keeper Alex Ramsey to pull off a great save to prevent an equaliser. Breese then clipped the crossbar with a chip before Ahmadi’s cross ball again called Ramsey into action. In a breathless half McCormick was next to pull off a great save, denying Breese once again, before Ramsey had to parry Paolo Mendes’ effort wide and Jenkins glanced over from Wes Baynes’ corner. Just before the break Aber’s Declan Walker was sent off, receiving two yellow cards for a foul and dissent, and in a tight game Aber were now up against it. McCormick did well to catch Evans’ lob and once Ryan Edwards had curled wide from distance, somehow the half ended at just 1-0 to Caernarfon. Ten man Aber showed a brilliant response after the break and bossed the opening fifteen minutes. Ahmadi’s shot caused Ramsey to flap but was kept out, then the selfsame Ahmadi took a free kick on the edge of the area and curled a beautiful effort onto the post, with the ball agonisingly staying out by inches for a huge let off for Caernarfon. McCormick did well to deny Gareth Edwards, then Aber’s Mattie Jones fired over with Aber showing definite signs of a recovery. Then on the hour the visitors were infuriated as a penalty was awarded to Caernarfon for a challenge by Mendes which the Black and Greens insisted was outside the area. Craig made it two, and Aber’s world collapsed. Within two minutes Bradley found space down the left wing to make it three nil, and six minutes after that a cross from the right found Darren Thomas who tapped home to definitively end the contest. Credit to Aber who continued to make chances until the end: another flap from Ramsey from Baynes’ cross gifted the ball to Mendes whose shot was cleared off the line, and sub Joe Phillips was denied before crossing for Ruane to head goalbound, only for the home keeper to redeem himself with an absolutely brilliant diving save. McCormick kept out sub Danny Brookwell and Darren Thomas’s header, and a hugely entertaining game ended at 4-0 to the hosts. Everything that could have gone wrong did go wrong for Aber last night, who will feel that they have used up a month’s collection of bad luck within 90 minutes. However despite the result, the players was clapped off by the fantastic visiting support, showing that they retain full faith in the team’s ability to get themselves over the line into the Top Six over the next five games. Onwards and upwards to Friday’s Park Avenue faceoff with Cefn Druids (ko 7.45pm)! JD Welsh Premier League Friday 14th December (7:45p.m Kick Off) Caernarfon Town v Aberystwyth Town Aberystwyth Town will look to move one step closer towards securing their place in the league's top six positions as they travel to face Caernarfon Town at The Oval on Friday evening. Aber enter the game on a magnificent run of form, unbeaten in their last eight games in all competitions with six victories during that run, most recently securing their place in the JD Welsh Cup Fourth Round after victory at Cwmamman United last weekend. The Seasiders currently lie in fifth place in the JD Welsh Premier League table, four points ahead of seventh placed Caernarfon and just six points off the top of the table, and another positive result Friday evening will help solidify their place in the top half as they enter the festive period. Town manager Nev Powell watched his side battle to victory in the JD Welsh Cup last weekend in challenging conditions at Cwmamman United, with his team having to show a different side to their game compared to recent weeks. The Seasiders showed no signs of complacency against their Welsh League opponents, and were forced to show grit and determination to battle to victory on a challenging playing surface that hampered their usual flowing footballing style. "I'm pleased with the way the players acquitted themselves, because it was a proper battle, and I think that's prepared us well for Friday's game at Caernarfon", said Powell after victory last Saturday, as he prepares his side for another test of character at The Oval Friday evening. The Aber manager was also full of praise for striker Ash Ruane, who netted his first hat-trick for the Black and Greens at Grenig Park last weekend. Ruane has now scored five goals in his last four games in all competitions, and Powell commented "Ash probably deserved that hat-trick today because we told him at half time he needed to be more clinical, and that's exactly what he was in the second half". Town's supporters will hope to see the Aber striker add another goal to his tally this weekend as the Seasiders travel to face the in form Cofis. Friday's hosts Caernarfon are unbeaten in four games in all competitions, most recently claiming victory at Prestatyn in the JD Welsh Cup last weekend, and Sean Eardley's side have enjoyed a successful return to the JD Welsh Premier League after promotion from the Cymru Alliance last season. The Cofis currently lie in seventh place in the league table, but have top six aspirations themselves, lying just two points behind sixth placed Newtown. The reverse fixture between the sides ended goalless on a horrendous night of wind and rain at Park Avenue back in October, and Friday's clash is likely to be another hard fought affair. In what is another crunch clash for the Seasiders in their chase for a top six finish, kick off at The Oval is at 7:45 p.m, and Caernarfon Town's address is listed as The Oval, Marcus Street, Caernarfon, LL55 2HT. The Seasiders are unbeaten in their last eight games in all competitions, and they'll look to extend that run with another positive result on Friday evening. JD Welsh Cup: Third Round Saturday 8th December Cwmamman United 3 Aberystwyth Town 4 Aberystwyth Town secured their place in Monday's Fourth Round JD Welsh Cup draw as they battled to victory against a spirited Cwmmaman United side at Grenig Park on Saturday afternoon. Rio Ahmadi's (20) first half volley was cancelled out by James Bryan (37) as the sides went in level at the break, but a 13 minute second half hat-trick (47, 55, 61) from Ash Ruane put Aber in a commanding position, before the hosts pulled two goals (64, 90) back late on to give the Seasiders a scare in the final minutes. Manager Nev Powell named an unchanged side from the one which drew 1-1 with Carmarthen last weekend, as Aber started the game on the front foot against their Welsh League opponents on a difficult playing surface. The first chance of the game fell to the visitors on 12 minutes as Ash Ruane rounded home 'keeper Chris Curtis before firing his shot wide from a narrow angle. Soon after, Declan Walker found space in the penalty area but was denied by a fantastic save from Curtis, as the Black and Greens upped the pressure. Then on 20 minutes, Town found the breakthrough as Mathew Jones whipped in a great cross for Rio Ahmadi who volleyed the ball into the roof of the net with a composed finish to make it 0-1. As the first half wore on, the visitors continued to stamp their authority on the game as Ryan Edwards went close after a neat one-two with Walker, before Ruane rounded 'keeper Curtis once more, only for his effort to be cleared off the goal line. Then, on 37 minutes the hosts equalised against the run of play after Terry McCormick produced a fine save from a corner kick, only for Cwmamman defender James Bryan to head the ball into the bottom corner on the rebound and make it 1-1. Aber very nearly went into half time with an advantage after Ryan Edwards curled an effort inches over the crossbar, but it was to remain level at the break. Aber started the second half attacking their loyal supporters who'd positioned themselves on the grass bank above the goal at the far end of the ground, and were back in front just two minutes after the restart when Mathew Jones delivered another inch perfect cross towards Ruane whose flicked header beat Curtis and made it 1-2. Soon after, the Seasiders extended their lead as they began to really put their foot on the gas; Ruane found himself in behind the home defence and cut inside, before unleashing a powerful strike that Curtis was unable to keep out, as the ball trickled over the line for 1-3. The Aber target man wasn't done there though, as just six minutes later he completed a perfect hat-trick (header, right foot, left foot) when he pounced on a loose ball in the penalty area and struck a left footed effort into the top corner of the net to make it 1-4. To their credit, Cwmamman continued to battle and fight, and pulled a goal back on 64 minutes when Christian Allen found space in the penalty area and directed a powerful header beyond McCormick to make it 2-4. As playing conditions worsened, Aber continued to play in sensible fashion, turning the home defence with balls in behind for strike pair Ruane and Ahmadi to chase down. On 70 minutes, Jack Rimmer and Joe Phillips replaced Ryan Wollacott and Ahmadi, before Declan Walker almost added to his recent goal tally with a long range effort. The hosts continued to attack when they could, and Allen forced a fine save from McCormick on 85 minutes with a powerful strike inside the area, before right back Bryan ghosted in behind the Aber defence in the final minute of normal time and struck the ball beyond Aber's 'keeper to make it 3-4. Despite the scoreline, the Seasiders never panicked, and saw the four minutes of added time out without much difficulty, as they secured their sixth win in eight games and ensured their name will be in the hat for Monday's Fourth Round draw at 7p.m on S4C's Heno programme. It was a professional performance from Neville Powell's side to secure victory, but credit must also go to hosts Cwmamman United, who never gave in and provided a tough battle right to the final minutes. Town's attentions now return to JD Welsh Premier League action, as they travel to face Caernarfon Town next Friday evening at The Oval hoping to take one step closer towards securing their place in the league's top six. Photos courtesy of Colin Ewart |
Gem Nesaf
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