Two late goals from substitute Rob Hughes sunk Aberystwyth Town on a wet and miserable evening on the North-East coast of Wales.
 
The Silkmen had led thanks to a first half strike from last season’s top scorer Mark Cadwallader before the experienced Hughes added gloss to the score line.
 
The pitch was heavy and muddy as North Wales had been battered by the conditions over the previous 24 hours. However, it had passed an early morning inspection and the game was allowed to go ahead.
 
Manager Gavin Allen made three changes to his starting charges with local duo Jonathan Foligno and Steff Davies returning from injury as well as a return from suspension for Owain Jones.
 
In front of the Sgorio cameras, Aber started brightly and enjoyed the opening spells of possession. Looking to break a run of defeats, Allen’s men were looking to utilise the wings and force pressure in the box. Despite having the upper hand, it took until the 16th minute to muster the first opportunity of note as Matthew Jones fired over from the edge of the box following a half cleared corner.
 
Disaster was to strike for Town when Davies’ injury flared up again and had to be replaced by Jonathan Evans. Top scorer Marc Williams came into the centre forwards role to deputise for the former Penrhyncoch man.
 
As the game progressed, the hosts settled and began to gain a foothold in the game and were rewarded with just five minutes to go until the break. The Seasiders lost possession in the Silkmen’s half which allowed Alex Jones to play in Cadwallader who made no mistake slotting the ball home past Connor Roberts.
 
It was a bitter blow for Aber who’d arguably been the better side in a very tight affair through the opening 45.
 
The second half started much in the same ilk as the first stanza had with Aber enjoying large spells of possession but little in the way of clear goal scoring opportunities. A succession of corners came to nothing and at the other end, former Aber man Wes Baynes came within a whisker of doubling the advantage for the home side.
 
On the 70th minute mark, Neil Gibson introduced Hughes to the fray and within seconds, the former Prestatyn and Nomads man was in the thick of the action. His rasping shot from 25 yards ended up just wide of the post.
 
But it was fifteen minutes later he made his telling contribution. Substitute Richie Ricketts, who’d only been on the field a matter of moments, felled Hughes inside the area and from twelve yards, he put the game beyond the reach of Town.
 
There was still time for further heartbreak for Aber as whilst pushing men forward in a desparate attempt to salvage anything from the contest, Flint pushed forward with a counter attack. Hughes capped off a memorable night for the men in Black and White as he stroked the ball home despite the exasperating lunge of Jack Rimmer on the line to get prevent further misery for the men from Ceredigion.

Flint Town United vs Aberystwyth Town
JD Cymru Premier
Saturday 19th December
MATCH BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
LIVE on Sgorio
 
Aberystwyth Town go live to the nation once again this Saturday, as the Black & Greens visit the Essity Stadium – home of Flint Town United. The match will be screened live on S4C’s Sgorio, with kick off at 4.30pm.
 
This will be the first time this fixture has been played in nearly 23 years, with Wednesday 22nd March 1998 the last date that Aberystwyth Town visited Flint Town United for a league match, although the Seasiders did visit Cae Y Castell (as it was then named) twice during the 2006/07 season when Connahs Quay Nomads were tenants for a season whilst the Deeside Stadium was redeveloped.
 
Flint have had a difficult return to the Cymru Premier and currently sit bottom of the table with 9 points from 15 games. The Seasiders sit only one point and two places better off themselves, so this is a match of real significance for both teams.
 
Saturday’s hosts have scored 16 goals so far this season, conceding 37, and their top goalscorer is Richie Foulkes who has netted 4 times. They have a familiar face in their ranks in Wes Baynes, who departed Park Avenue in the summer having made over 50 appearances in two seasons in Black & Green.
 
This will be only the second match in charge for Flint’s new manager, Neil Gibson, who replaced Niall McGuiness at the start of December. The former Prestatyn Town boss left Bastion Gardens in October, having led them to the Cymru North title last season only to be denied promotion back to the Cymru Premier. His Prestatyn Town team famously lifted the Welsh Cup in 2013.
 
Aberystwyth Town come into the game on the back of a difficult run of fixtures, with four of the last five fixtures having been against teams currently in the top six, including the current top three! There was a welcome sight for the Black & Green army in Tuesday’s home fixture against Caernarfon Town, as long serving fan favourite Geoff Kellaway made his first appearance of the season following some time out due to injury.
 
A home fixture against Mid-Wales rivals Newtown follows quickly after Saturday’s game, and a couple of positive results would certainly bring some Christmas cheer to Ceredigion!
 
Coverage of Saturday’s match starts at 4.15pm on S4C, with the match kicking off at 4.30pm. Our Media Team will bring you all the action on Twitter as usual too (@AberystwythTown) so although no supporters can be admitted into the ground, the Black & Green Army will not miss a kick as the Seasiders look to get back to winning ways on the North Wales coast!

First half goals apiece from Jack Kenny and former Aber man Darren Thomas sunk Aberystwyth Town on a cold but clear night at Aberystwyth University Park Avenue.
 
Despite skipper Marc Williams grabbing his 5th of the season and a flurry of chances late on, the Seasiders could not muster their way past a stubborn and organised back line to claim a much needed three points.
 
Four changes were made to the starting line up from last week’s defeat against Bala. In to the starting eleven came Mati Etchegoyen, Jamie Veale, Louis Bradford and Gwion Owen.
 
Having been on a poor run of form, Gavin Allen’s men knew the importance of getting a positive result to begin a series of crucial fixtures and they flew out of the starting blocks. The early possession and territory was dominated by the men from Ceredigion and a series of corners signalled their early intent. A well worked routine was superbly blocked by the Cofi defence to keep parity with the scores.
 
The Canaries, who came into this game after back to back defeats, were well drilled and a threat going forward. A make shift defence had their hands full with the lively Jack Kenny and the experienced Mike Hayes. They created chances of their own with Thomas hooking the ball wide and Sam Jones fired wide.
 
However, with the Seasiders looking confident, disaster struck on the 20 minute mark. Possession was lost in midfield and Thomas gathered the loose ball. He passed the ball to Hayes who rode the challenge from Bradford to feed his strike partner to open the scoring for the evening.
 
The goal left Aber reeling and a flurry of half chances fell the way of the men from Gwynedd soon after. Thomas, a thorn in the Aber defence all night, hit the side netting and Hayes was denied by Connor Roberts in goal for Town.
 
But with the half growing to a close and the Black and Greens regaining some control of the game, the visitors doubled their advantage. An innocuous in-swinging free kick from the left hand side from Thomas evaded everyone, including the Aber defence and nestled home in the bottom corner of the net.
 
Allen reacted at the interval with the introduction of Jonathan Evans and Geoff Kellaway to spark a response. Both men were lively and gave the hosts an outlet out wide which had been missing in the opening stanza.
 
The game was nearly out of site within five minutes of the second half for the visitors. Referee Huw Jones deemed that Stephen Hewitt had handled the ball in the area but Kenny was to be denied a brace for the evening by a superb stop from Roberts, who managed to keep hold of the ball as well to deny any scraps for the onrushing attackers.
 
The final half an hour saw Aber dominate possession but they were struggling to break down a well marshalled defence to create clear cut chances. Jack Rimmer was Town’s main source of attacking intent as he and Evans combined well down the right-hand side and was happy switching the ball from his right flank to the left wing. Matthew Jones’ cross came within a whisker of getting a touch at the far post and Jack Thorn was unable to trouble Josh Tibbetts in the opposition goal.
 
With the game hurtling towards its conclusion, the home side reduced the arrears and got the goal their dominance richly deserved with just two minutes of regular time to go. A corner from the left-hand side was whipped in by Jones and it was the skipper, Williams, who met the ball from just four yards out to nod it home and give Aber some hope of a revival.
 
With time being of the essence, the green shirts were camped inside the attacking half looking for an equaliser. With the added time showing three minutes, Tibbetts produced two world class saves to keep the three points from his side. Jones’ free kick was tipped brilliantly over the bar and from a free kick out wide, he produced another outstanding stop to break the hearts of the vocal home support from behind the ground and sinking the players to their knees in disappointment.

Aberystwyth Town vs Caernarfon Town
JD Cymru Premier
Tuesday 15th December
MATCH BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
 
A busy festive period for Aberystwyth Town gets underway tomorrow night, with the visit of Caernarfon Town to Aberystwyth University Park Avenue Stadium.
 
Gavin Allen and his team face four games in 11 days, with Newtown (H) & Flint Town United (A) to come this side of Christmas, and then the visit of Haverfordwest County to Ceredigion on Boxing Day.
 
Whilst the Black & Greens have not had the best run of results recently, performances have been encouraging and if the team can turn those performances into points over the next couple of weeks then a late challenge for a Top Six place in January is certainly not off the cards.
 
There have been some changes in the squad this week with Adam Davies & Harri Rowe departing the club. Both players have made valid contributions this seasons and everyone at Aberystwyth Town wishes them well for their next move.
 
Tomorrow night’s visitors, Caernarfon Town, come into the match following two successive victories; away to Cefn Druids last Tuesday (2-1) and then an impressive victory at home to Barry Town United on Saturday (2-0). These wins have left them in the all-important 6th place in the league, with 5 wins and 3 draws from their 15 games played, giving them 18 points.
 
Their top scorer is Mike Hayes, who has hit 5 goals so far this season, whilst Cai Llywelyn Jones is just behind on 4.
 
There will be a few familiar faces returning to Ceredigion tomorrow night, none more so than Paulo Mendes, who made the switch from Park Avenue to The Oval during the summer. Paulo originally joined the Seasiders back in 2018 and the dynamic midfielder became an integral part of the squad during his two seasons at the club. Darren Thomas and Jamie Crowther also had brief spells in Black & Green, in 2015 and 2017 respectively.
 
It’s another Tuesday night under the lights at Park Avenue, but unfortunately supporters still cannot be admitted due to Covid-19 guidelines. Our Twitter feed @AberystwythTown will once again provide in depth coverage of the game however, and whilst we await the return of the Black & Green Army to Park Avenue, we can assure you that all at the club do very much appreciate your continued support

Aber ended a run of games against last year’s top 3 with defeat against Bala Town.
 
Despite taking the lead from Rhys Davies’ towering header in the 9th minute, a penalty from Gary Roberts in addition to Lassana Mendes’ header on the half hour mark ensured the three points would go to the men from Gwynedd.

There was only one change to the eleven that started the game five days ago at Aberystwyth University Park Avenue. Into the starting line up came Matthew Jones in place of the suspended Owain Jones
 
Bala had a golden opportunity to take lead with the game just four minutes old. Mendes found himself unmarked in the host’s penalty area. However, he found Connor Roberts in his way as the TNS loanee denied him not once, but twice to keep the score at 0-0.
 
Aber suffered an early snag as centre back Jon Foligno limped off and was replaced by Louis Gerrard. Despite the setback, Aber had cause for celebration just seconds later. In the 9th minute, Rhys Davies leapt the highest from a freekick on the left-hand side to give Aber the lead.
 
But the advantage was to last mere minutes. Heartbreak followed when referee Ben Williams adjudged substitute Gerrard to have felled Will Evans inside the area. Roberts made no mistake from the spot despite his namesake going the right way and very nearly getting a paw to it.
 
Gavin Allen’s men felt aggrieved with the decision and were even more incensed when their own penalty appeals were waved away for what they claimed to be a handball inside the area.
 
Aber had to readjust again when this time, Gerrard, who’d only been on the field for 15 minutes, was unable to continue and was replaced by Louis Bradford.

The two changes, in addition to the goal, enabled the Lakesiders to grow into the game and they spent more time in the Aberystwyth half of the field as the clock trundled towards the half hour mark. Roberts was again the man to thwart Colin Caton’s men. He brilliantly stopped a Will Evans header that looked for all the world to be nestling into the bottom corner.
 
But Bala took the lead from the resulting corner. Sean Smith delivered a teasing ball in from the left hand side which found Mendes unmarked in the centre of the goal. The former Colwyn Bay man had the simple task of guiding the header goal wards via a kiss off the post.
 
After an electric half hour, the tempo slowed until the interval with both sides looking to utilise the long ball but to no avail.
 
As the rain settled in for the night, the second stanza started in the same manner as the opening period expired. Both sides were bypassing the midfield and looking to get forward at every opportunity but with little in the way of goal mouth action to report on.
 
It took until the hour mark for the first notable chance since the re-emergence of the teams to materialise and it was to the visitors the chance fell. Henry Jones whipped a cross into the box which was met by the head of the ever dangerous Evans but the former Cardiff Met man was denied by a wonderful point blank save from Roberts. At the other end, Jack Thorn was unlucky not to test Alex Ramsey in the Bala goal as Ollie Shannon bravely blocked his goal bound effort.
 
George Harry was introduced for his Aberystwyth Town debut in place of Matthew Jones with fifteen minutes to go and just 120 seconds later, Aber were nearly on level terms. Marc Williams beat the offside trap and fired the ball towards the goal. Unfortunately, a strong hand from Ramsey denied the skipper from adding to his tally for the season and former Town defender, Jonny Spittle, was able to clear before anyone in green could get a telling touch.
 
 As the game neared its conclusion, the men from Ceredigion did have the ball in the back of the net but the referee had seen a handball in the build up to the ball’s final destination so he ruled it out with Williams picking up a yellow card for his role in the drama.
 
Aber pressed for a late equaliser but the men in 3rd place in the league hung on to make it ten games unbeaten.

Aberystwyth Town vs Bala Town
JD Cymru Premier
Wednesday 9th December
MATCH BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
 
It is attempt No.2 for this fixture after the original match scheduled for Friday 20th November was postponed over Covid-19 concerns.
 
This will be the Black & Greens fourth fixture in 11 days, with three of those fixtures (including tomorrow night’s encounter) coming against the current top three. Aber haven’t had the points return they would have wanted from those games, however performances at times have been encouraging, including holding league leaders The New Saints at 1-1 for the majority of the match, and repeating that feat against current champions Connah’s Quay Nomads last Friday, before a controversial red card decision meant that the Seasiders had to play the final half hour with 10 men, which allowed Connah’s Quay to take both the numerical advantage and the points.
 
Friday’s meeting is the second of the season with Colin Caton’s side, the reverse fixture being the live game on 10th October which saw Bala take the points with a 5-2 victory. The visitors come into this fixture on a run of two wins and three draws from their last five games, their most recent result being a 1-1 draw at Cardiff Met on Saturday.
 
Bala can also boast two of the league’s top marksmen this season. Former Aberystwyth Town talisman Chris Venables is the Cymru Premier’s joint top goalscorer with 13 goals, whilst Will Evans is in third place on 9. In addition to Venables, there is another familiar face in the visitor’s ranks; Jonny Spittle spent half a season at Park Avenue in 2017/18 and captained the side on a number of occasions.
 
News broke yesterday that Saturday’s match home against Newtown will be postponed due to a positive Covid case within the Robins’ camp and Aberystwyth Town would like to send our best wishes to those concerned. The postponement of this game will provide some slight respite for the Black & Greens from a gruelling December fixture list, with games against Caernarfon Town (Home - 15th Dec), Flint Town United (Away – 19th Dec) and Haverfordwest County (Home – 26th Dec) still to come before 2020 is out.
 
Unfortunately, fans are still not allowed into the ground, but the Black & Green Army can follow proceedings tomorrow night on our Twitter platform @AberystwythTown as usual.
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