Captain Jack The Thorn in Merthyr's Side: Aber Town 2 Merthyr Town 1

Pre Season Friendly
Saturday 30th July
Aberystwyth Town 2 Merthyr Town 1
​
The Black and Greens ended their pre season campaign with a victory over Southern League outfit Merthyr Tydfil, thanks to Sam Phillips’s super free kick (74 mins) and Captain Jack Thorn’s 94th minute winner, after Fraser Thomas had put the Martyrs into the lead three minutes before the hour. The win means Anthony Williams’ new look squad have earned three wins and a draw from their four friendlies in 2022, with Porthmadog and Cardiff Met also beaten, and Guilsfield held.

On a drizzly summer’s day at Park Avenue Williams named new signing Lewis Webb in goal, Jack Rimmer, Sam Litchfield and Harri Horwood at the back, Thorn, Iwan Lewis, Niall Flint, Jonathan Evans and Charlie Edge plus two trialists. However it was Merthyr who fashioned the first attempt as Webb came out smartly to deny Trialist B who had burst through. Lewis Webb saved well from Lewis Powell minutes later who sent a 20 yard volley to the keeper’s right, and Powell had another shot deflected behind after a nice Merthyr move – and a half of limited opportunities ended 0-0, with the visitors ahead on points.

Phil Perry and Sam Phillips came on at the break for Horwood and Evans, but Merthyr took the lead on 57 minutes when Richard Rees won the ball in midfield and laid the ball through to Fraser Thomas, who finished neatly into the bottom corner. Merthyr continued to press, with a last ditch challenge from Trialist A preventing them from doubling the lead, before Webb made another great stop down to his left to save another attempt from distance. Finally with sixteen minutes to go, Aber got back into the game, and in spectacular fashion. Super Sub Sam Phillips stepped up for a free kick from 25 yards and whipped the ball into the top corner for a stunning strike! Jamie Jones, Steff Davies, Dan Owen and Owain Evans came on for Town as late subs replacing Trialists A and B, Edge and Lewis, and then in the fourth minute of injury time Phillips sent in a ball to the back stick, Sam Litchfield nodded on and Captain Jack Thorn was in the right place at the right time to tap home a winner.

This was a competitive and sometimes feisty affair, and in all honesty Aber Town were not at their brilliant best, however winning without playing well is a great habit, and an undefeated pre season schedule has seen Anthony Williams’ nascent squad grow in confidence through the month of July. Competitive football returns to Park Avenue on Saturday 6th August with a Mid Wales Derby, as the Daffs of Llanidloes Town visit for a Nathaniel Cup Second Round tie (ko 2.30pm). Come and join us then – this show is about to get real!