Aberystwyth Town vs Newtown
JD Cymru Premier
Friday 9th April – 7.45pm KO
MATCH BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
 
The second phase of Cymru Premier fixtures kicks off on Friday with Newtown making a quick return to Ceredigion, having visited only three weeks ago in the first phase.
 
On that occasion, Harry Franklin’s excellent solo goal was enough to win both the game in question, and March’s Goal of the Month competition, although Aber also had Connor Roberts to thank late on as he saved Alex Fletcher’s penalty to secure the three points.
 
Roberts is unfortunately facing a suspension ahead of this match, following his dismissal against Cefn Druids last weekend. Local lad Alex Pennock will once again be called upon, and he has already shown what he is capable of at home this season, with an excellent performance when deputising against The New Saints back in October.
 
Newtown were one of the form sides following the restart in early March, with three wins in their first four matches and despite losing their last three, they have managed to pull well clear of the lower places in the league during this period. Currently in 9th position with 20 points, they will no doubt be eyeing up a late charge for 7th place and a shot at a European place through the playoffs.
 
The same can be said for Gavin Allen’s Seasiders, who have been superb since play restarted last month. Losing only once in six games, the Black & Greens have remained unbeaten at home during this time and have taken 11 points from these matches – more than doubling their tally for the season. In the last five league outings, only top of the table Connah’s Quay Nomads can better Aber’s return of 10 points.
 
This upturn in form means that Aber finish the first phase in 8th place, with 21 points from 22 games. The fixtures for the second phase have been released and all Cymru Premier teams face a busy six weeks, with the league scheduled to finish in mid-May. All of Aber’s matches in April will be played on Friday and Tuesday evenings, with two away Saturday fixtures, including a final day trip to Latham Park to face this Friday’s opponents to finish the season.
 
Government guidance still means that no spectators can be admitted into Park Avenue to watch the match, but as always, your support is greatly appreciated by the players and Aberystwyth Town FC cannot wait for the day that fans are allowed back into the ground. For the time being, you can follow all the action on our Twitter @AberystwythTown. Come on you Black & Greens!

 The fixtures for Phase Two of the 2020/21 JD Cymru Season have been announced this afternoon ahead of the commencement of the Playoff Conference next weekend.
 
Aber finished Phase One in great form, finishing in eight position after a run of 3 wins, two draws and a solitary defeat in the six games following the resumption of top flight football in Wales.
 
Gavin Allen’s side begin their charge towards 7th with a home tie against Mid Wales rivals Newtown next Friday night (19:45 KO). Aber’s first away trip follows the Tuesday afterwards with another derby game; this time in the West against Haverfordwest County . The Seasiders complete a busy week with a home fixture against Flint Town United on Friday 17th April.
 
The Black and Greens’ final home game comes against the Pembrokeshire based Bluebirds on Tuesday 4th May followed by two away trips to complete the campaign. First to Deeside to take on Flint Town United on Saturday 8th May before finishing the second phase with a visit to Latham Park as they take on Newtown on Saturday 15th May.  
 
Fixtures
 
Friday 9th April 2021
Aberystwyth Town vs Newtown AFC – 19:45 KO
 
Tuesday 13th April 2021
Haverfordwest County vs Aberystwyth Town – 19:45KO
 
 Friday 16th April 2021
Aberystwyth Town vs Flint Town United – 19:45KO
 
Tuesday 20th April 2021
Cefn Druids vs Aberystwyth Town – 19:45KO
 
Friday 23rd April 2021
Aberystwyth Town vs Cardiff Met Uni – 19:45KO
 
Tuesday 27th April 2021
Aberystwyth Town vs Cefn Druids – 19:45KO
 
Friday 30th April 2021
Cardiff Met Uni. vs Aberystwyth Town – 19:45KO
 
Tuesday 4th May 2021
Aberystwyth Town vs Haverfordwest County - 19:45KO
 
Saturday 8th May 2021
Flint Town United vs Aberystwyth Town – 14:30KO
 
Saturday 15th May 2021
Newtown AFC vs Aberystwyth Town – KO TBC

Aberystwyth Town saw out the first part of the JD Cymru Premier Season in style with a 3-1 victory against bottom side Cefn Druids.
 
A scintillating first half performance which saw Gavin Allen’s side score three goals put the Seasiders firmly in command of the tie. Despite an Alex Darlington’s penalty and the hosts getting keeper Connor Roberts sent off in the second half, they held firm to earn their third home win since the resumption of top flight football in Wales.
 
With Marc Williams suspended and former Ancients marksman Jamie Reed carrying a knock, Allen made two changes to his starting charges. Jon Owen and Jonathan Evans came into the starting line up in their places.
 
On a beautiful April evening in which Park Avenue was bathed in glorious sunshine, the home side made the perfect start to the contest as they took the lead with the game just three minutes old. A long throw from Jack Thorn was flicked on by Lee Jenkins. The header found Owen in the centre of the goal who lashed home a volley into the roof of the net to bag his second goal since returning to Aber in January.
 
Things got worse for the visitors just five minutes later when Harry Franklin was felled in the area with Nick Pratt showing no hesitation pointing to the spot. Matthew Jones was at hand to double the black and green's advantage, sending the keeper the wrong way in the process.
 
Aber were dominant in the opening stanza and were enjoying themselves going forward with the front three of Owen, Evans and Owain Jones causing problems throughout the first half. Owen and Evans both had good chances to increase the advantage further but the former Llandudno man’s shot was saved well by Jones whilst a glanced Evans header landed narrowly over the bar.
 
But Aber didn’t have to wait long until they did increase the advantage and it came from an unusual source. A freekick from the right hand side was whipped into the box, Evans’ initial shot struck the post but the rebound landed kindly to Louis Bradford who just rolled the ball into the bottom corner of the net.
 
Despite Niall Flint nearly reducing the arrears with a low shot late in the half for the visitors, there was still time for a golden chance for the hosts. The ever dangerous Evans broke down the left, cut inside but his goal-bound curling shot was superbly stopped by Michael Jones in the Druids goal.
 
To their credit, Jayson Starkey’s men came out rejuvenated after the break and a much more even contest ensued for the second 45 minutes. The men in red had the majority of the ball but in a similar vain to last week’s game, Aber’s defence were strong in repelling the waves of attacking pressure.
 
Aber born Druids sub Charley Edge was lively for the visitors and it was through him that the Ancients had their best opportunity. The winger cut inside from the left hand side and his goal bound strike was smartly stopped by Roberts at his near post. At the other end, Owen forced Jones into a good stop.
 
The game was meandering towards a low-key conclusion when Flint was brought down in the box. Just like the first half, Pratt pointed to the spot to offer Druids a glimmer of hope. Although Roberts stopped Darlington's initial spot kick, the rebound fell kindly to the seven-time league winner to deny the men from Ceredigion a clean sheet for their afternoon's work. Things got worse for Aber seconds later when Roberts was dismissed for allegedly speaking out of turn to the referee.
 
Reserve keeper Alex Pennock made his way onto the field in place of Evans to plug the gap left by the red card and was called upon in the final minute. Darlington nearly doubled his tally for the afternoon but was denied by the young stopper with a fine stop down low in what transpired to be the final kick of the afternoon.
 
 
The win marks the Seasiders’ third win out of four at home since the restart and maintains our unbeaten run in Ceredigion in the process. Aber enter the second phase of the season in 8th position and 8 points behind Haverfordwest County in 7th place; a remarkable turnaround for a side who were bottom of the league less than a month ago. News of our next round of fixtures will be available within the next 48 hours. Keep an eye on our website and social media pages over the coming days! 

Aberystwyth Town vs Cefn Druids
JD Cymru Premier
Friday 2nd April – 5pm KO
MATCH BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
 
Phase One of the Cymru Premier draws to a close this Friday evening, as Cefn Druids visit Park Avenue. Kick off is at the unusual time of 5pm, as all six fixtures kick off at the same time.
 
It has been a mixed first phase for the Seasiders and can be clearly split into three separate sectors. The first set of fixtures ahead of the firebreak lockdown in late October saw plenty of early promise and some impressive results; a 4-0 win away to Friday’s visitors perhaps the standout result, although the 2-2 draw at home to The New Saints was worthy of plenty of praise also.
 
The second period; between the firebreak lockdown and the third lockdown from late December was a more difficult period, and the Black & Greens did not pick up any wins from these fixtures, although four of these games were against teams currently in the top six, with the other three being away from home.
 
Since football restarted in early March, Aber’s form has been excellent and the team have picked up no less than 8 points from 5 matches, including being unbeaten at home during the month, and this has led to Gavin Allen deservedly being nominated for Manager of the Month. In addition to this, goals from Jamie Veale, Jamie Reed and Harry Franklin have been nominated for Sgorio’s Gol y Mis, and arguably some of the squad can consider themselves unlucky not to have been nominated for Player of the Month also, given their recent form.
 
Friday’s visitors have struggled since the restart and are without a win since December. They will have gained some confidence from holding Cardiff Met to a 0-0 draw in their last outing however, and are well capable of winning away from home, with 2 out of their 3 victories so far this season coming on the road.
 
Druids have a former Seasider in their squad in Steff Edwards, who spent 2010-11 at Park Avenue under Alan Morgan and then returned for an 18-month spell in Summer 2018 before departing for The Rock in January 2020. Current Seasider Jamie Reed will also be coming up against the team that he departed in December, and the club whose academy he coaches in.
 
The reverse fixture in October saw Aber record a comprehensive 4-0 victory, with goals from Jonathan Evans, Marc Williams, Steff Davies & Jack Thorn on an emotional night for everyone involved at Aber Town following the passing of club stalwart Tony Payne earlier in the day.
 
Supporters cannot be admitted into the ground to watch the game, but as always, your support and encouragement online is appreciated by the players and will no doubt have played its own part in the recent upturn in form. Our Twitter account will bring you all the coverage from the match as usual @AberystwythTown. Keep getting behind the lads and thank you for your fantastic support! / Diolch i chi gyd am eich cefnogaeth!

Aber maintained their unbeaten home record at home since the resumption of top flight football with a 1-1 draw against top 6 chasing Penybont.
 
Harry Franklin’s second goal in as many games gave Aber a half time advantage before they were pegged back by Mael Davies’ close range finish with an hour gone. The Seasiders played the final seconds of the game with ten men as substitute Gwion Owen received a second yellow card deep into stoppage time.
 
For the second game in a row, Gavin Allen named an unchanged team as he stuck with the eleven charges that defeated Newtown seven days previously.
 
On a blustery and overcast afternoon, Penybont started the brighter of the two sides. A dangerous cross into the box was headed wide of Connor Roberts’ goal early on. Despite the visitors dominating the ball, the young centre back pairing of Lee Jenkins and Louis Bradford of Aber were equal to their opposition and were successful in limiting Bont’s attacking threat with a Kane Owen shot in the 23rd minute being the only breach of the Black and Green backline early on.
 
As the half progressed, Aber settled into the contest and took the lead with half an hour on the clock. Skipper Marc Williams flicked the ball over the visiting defence onto midfielder Franklin. The former Evesham man charged into the penalty box and cooly slotted the ball past the onrushing Ashley Morris to give the Seasiders the advantage.
 
Penybont reacted well to the disappointment and in fact did have the ball in the back of the net but the assistant referee had adjudged attacker Sam Snaith to have been in an offside position. Davies, Owen and Lewis Harling all went close for Rhys Griffiths’ side but Aber’s defence held out comfortably as it had throughout much of the first half.
 
The second period followed much in the way of the first with Penybont enjoying much of the possession without being able to break down their opponents. Aber were still dangerous on the break and only a post prevented Lee Jenkins from doubling the home side’s lead following a great corner from Matthew Jones.
 
But just seconds later, the visitors did get the leveller. Opposition manager Rhys Griffiths tinkered with his system and personel and it paid immediate dividends. The ball was worked out to the right flank before Davies cut past two defenders to bury the ball into the back of the net.
 
With half an hour left to play and needing a win to confirm their position in top 6 for the first time, Penybont sensed a winner and dominated possession. Roberts was forced into a save from a Harling shot as they looked to turn their dominance into goals.
 
But Aber defended resolutely and weathered the visiting storm well. In fact, they came the closest during the middle third of the half to taking the lead. Jones and Jenkins combined brilliantly again from a set piece and only an acrobatic tip over from Morris kept the score at 1-1. From the resulting corner, two chances fell to Aber, first to sub Jon Owen who’s effort was stopped by Morris’ feet then to Jack Thorn who’s follow up was narrowly wide.
 
With the game hurtling towards an exciting conclusion, both keepers pulled off spectacular saves to keep the parity. Roberts somehow managed to claw out Mason Jones-Thomas’ goal bound effort while Aber sub Jonny Evans forced Morris into a brilliant save to prevent his lob giving Aber all three points with just two minutes to play.
 
There was still time for a nervy finish as Gwion Owen was given a second yellow card for stopping a dangerous looking counter attack but the Black and Green’s defence were able to marshal the danger expertly.
 
A draw was a fair result from an entertaining affair at Aberystwyth University Park Avenue and maintains Aber’s unbeaten home record since the restart. With 8 points gained from 15 available since football returned three weeks ago, the Seasiders head into next Friday’s final game until the split in buoyant mood, eager to add to their revival.