Port Talbot Town Ladies 3 Aber Town Ladies 5

Pre Season Friendly
Sunday 7th August
Port Talbot Town Ladies 3 Aberystwyth Town Ladies 5

A second win of their pre-season saw Aber Ladies come away feeling very satisfied from Margam on Sunday with a win against fellow Welsh Premier side Port Talbot.

The hosts started very strongly and only a couple of smart saves from Katie Christopher in the Aber goal kept the hosts out in the first 10 minutes. However it was Aber who struck first against the run of play when a corner was heading in by Gabi Hughes to give them the lead. Talbot again came back strongly and equalised in the 15th minute when a good deep cross was finished off to bring the scores level. The Aber girls now had to work hard and good interchange between Hughes and Amy Jenkins saw Becca Williams through on goal to finish off and make it 2-1 in the 23rd minute. Back came Port Talbot to equalise within 2 minutes when a towering header from a Talbot corner was converted to make the score 2-2. Talbot were now passing the ball around with aplomb and from another fine move they went in front in the 35th minute to make it 3-2 to Port Talbot.  The Aber ladies rallied and young Helen Evans along with returning Nia Jones having been out injured for over 2 years making a comeback they restored parity when after good work by Hughes, Jenkins let fly from 30 yards to score a screamer in the 41st minute to make it 3-3 at half time.

The second half saw Aber getting a foothold in the game and by stopping Talbot’s fluid game they were now more in the ascendancy and it was after a period of sustained pressure that Josie Pugh’s cross was converted by a fine header from Jenkins. Further pressure by Aber did not result in a goal and Talbot were now having to revert to the long ball to clear their lines and from one clearance Talbot should have equalised in the 80th minute however Aber had the final say when in the 89th minute a Gabi Hughes header sealed the win for the Ladies. With a number of players unavailable for the trip competition for a green shirt in the first game on Sept 5th against Cyncoed is hotting up.

Next up for the Ladies is a friendly fixture in aid of Air Ambulance next Sat at Cae Baker Penrhyncoch when a mixture of Aber and Penrhyn Ladies take on a team from London at 2.30pm then on Sunday is the launch of the Women’s Welsh Premier season with a 9 a-side competition at Blaendolau.

Match Report Courtesy of Kevin Jenkins