Aberystwyth Town FC received a huge boost this afternoon with the news that First Team Goalkeeper Connor Roberts, plus Centre Back Lee Jenkins, have been selected for the Wales 'C' Squad to face England at Caernarfon Town on Tuesday 24th March, with a 7.45pm kick off.

Connor has been a stand our performer for the Black and Greens since joining the Club on loan from TNS in August, and has received a number of nominations for Sgorio's Team of the Week during this period. 

Lee's performances have been equally solid at Centre Back, and Aberaeron's best has cemented his place in the First Team, fully establishing himself as a first choice in only his second season in the JD Cymru Premier.

Black and Green fans have a chance to congratulate Connor and Lee in person on Friday night when Carmarthen Town visit Park Avenue for a 7.45pm kick off.

Well done Connor and Lee - you have made us all very proud!

Aberystwyth Town Football Club extends its deepest sympathies to the family and friends of former footballer and referee Gareth ‘Garn’ Evans who died last week after a long illness. Gareth was a regular visitor to Park Avenue both as a Referee and Assistant, and was a popular figure, well known throughout the Ceredigion area.
 
Club Director Emyr Jones said: “Sad news. Great footballer, respected referee and one of the nicest people I’ve met during my time involved in the game. Best Wishes to his family. Will be sadly missed down at Aberystwyth Town FC.”

The following tribute was paid via the Sportsline Facebook page:

“Gareth who leaves behind his loving wife Emma and children Ella and Luke spent his entire playing career with Crannog and he was a tough as teak midfielder with huge levels of endurance and he was as nice a man you could wish to meet.

This observer had the pleasure of playing alongside him in midfield when Gareth started out his career at Llangrannog and he was just the sort of team mate you needed as he always hit his tackles with total committment, never failed to track back and was never afraid to put his body on the line for his team.

Gareth took this whole hearted approach into refereeing and he quickly became an outstanding official, refereeing with a common sense approach with excellent communication skills and a very dry wit.

Gareth was a lovely man who will be missed by so many and our heartfelt sympathies at Sportsline go out to Emma, Ella and Luke and their families and also to Crannog FC whose pain will be shared by so many. AC.” 

Everyone at Park Avenue endorses these words and we also extend our condolences to Gareth's family and friends at this tragic time.

JD Cymru Premier
Friday 6th March
Cefn Druids 2 Aberystwyth Town 2

Aber Town earned a good point away at Cefn Druids last night, reducing the gap the Play Off Conference leaders Cardiff Met to eight points in the process. Cody Ruberto struck first for the hosts in the twelfth minute, but Marc Williams equalised almost immediately after beating Mike Jones to the ball. Matty Jones’s 61st minute strike, scoring from the rebound after his penalty was saved, had Aber dreaming of a famous victory, but Ruberto headed an equaliser with twenty minutes to go, and although both sides had chances to win, a draw was a fair result by the end.

On a crisp evening Williams nearly played in Alhagie Touray Sisay for Aber in the opening minutes, but then Charley Edge sent a snapshot past the post for Cefn, and it was clear this would not be an easy game for the Black and Greens. Ruberto then burst through, but his low effort was saved at the second attempt by Alex Pennock in Aber’s goal, and the impressive Ilan Hughes sent a sighter over the bar for the visitors. Ruberto then burst through again and this time slipped the ball under Pennock to open the scoring for Cefn, but within a minute a simple long ball saw Jones and Williams challenge for the ball, and Aber’s crafty Captain came out on time a slid home an important equaliser. Pennock then gathered a good ball in from Edge, then solid Luke Boundford made a good block before Iwan Cartwright’s shot deflected safely to Pennock. A scrappy period ensued with few chances, Aber defending well yet struggling to create too many openings and Lee Jenkins did well to block the evergreen Jamie Reed with a strong tackle. Pennock punched a goalbound effort clear under pressure from Reed, and made further decent stops to deny Edge and Eugene Faux, with Aber threatening briefly with crosses from Paulo Mendes and Wes Baynes, but on the balance of play the visitors were probably the happier to hear the half time whistle.

With the temperature dropping in the second half Aber started to create chances. Williams sent in a dangerous cross but a last ditch tackle denied Touray, and with the Seasiders’ Spanish striker starting to show off his box of tricks the visitors were improving. Just past the hour Williams won the ball and set up Touray, who rounded Jones only to be felled by the home keeper, who escaped with a yellow card. Mike Jones did well to parry Mathew Jones’ penalty, but Aber’s homegrown penalty poacher was there quickest to tap home the rebound and put the visitors in front. Half an hour was a long time to hold out however. Boundford blocked Reed’s effort – not for the first time – and then Reed saw another attempt cleared off the line, with the home side pressing. In the seventieth minute a right wing cross found Ruberto and he headed home an equaliser, and then for a period Cefn looked the more likely winners. Pennock denied Reed, and then made another great save from a point blank header to keep Aber in it, but then towards the end of the game the visitors came back into it. Sub James Rowland set up Touray with a great cross, but his volley flew over the bar, and he headed over from close range minutes later from an offside position. Williams again sent in a dangerous cross but Phil Mooney deflected it safely back to Jones, Touray had a shot saved and Jones fired over in injury time, but as the final whistle went the 2-2 scoreline was an accurate reflection of the play.

Having finished strongly Mathew Bishop’s men will feel they could have won this game, but Cefn also had long periods of dominance in the game, so a point has to be welcomed in what on paper was one of Aber’s hardest matches of the Play Off Conference. The Players deserve credit for some solid defending and will take confidence from a two goal away haul looking forward to next Friday’s next JD Cymru League match at home to Carmarthen Town (ko 7.45pm). Come along!

JD Cymru Premier
Friday 6th March (ko 7.45pm)
Cefn Druids v Aberystwyth Town

After a two week break the Black and Greens can’t wait to get going again ahead of Friday night’s visit to Cefn Druids on Matchday 26 of the 2019/20 JD Cymru Premier.

Aber were left disappointed with their performance and result at home to Penybont in their last outing, which resulted in a 1-0 home defeat thanks to Lewis Harling’s late header.

This outcome, coming on the back of a terrific 5-2 win over Airbus the week before, encaptures the Seasiders’ see-saw season to date, and Manager Mathew Bishop will be looking for consistency over the last seven games of the season as Town aim to climb up the table and bridge the eight point gap to the Druids.

Druids for their own part are in a transitional period following the shock departure of Huw Griffiths and new Manager Stewart Gelling has to date presided over away defeats at Carmarthen Town and Caernarfon Town in last week’s televised Welsh Cup Quarter Final. However Town will be well aware of the Druids’ potential to upset their plans and their striker Jamie Reed of course burst on to the Welsh domestic scene in Black and Green colours thirteen years ago.

When Town visited Druids at the end of August last year a fantastic following of forty fans assembled at the Rock to cheer on the Black and Greens, and they were rewarded with a stirring 2-1 win. A similar turn out this weekend would be a massive help to the team as they aim to end the season on a high so see you up at Cefn for a 7.45pm kick off: Friday Night is Rock Night! 

JD Cymru Premier
Friday 21st February
Aberystwyth Town 0 Penybont 1

At a rainswept Park Avenue Lewis Harling's 79th minute header proved crucial for Penybont as the visitors took all three points in last night's encounter in stormy Ceredigion. In a marked contrast to last week's five goal showing, Aber were restricted to few chances with Alhagi Touray going closest in the first half, and Marc Williams in the second half, but to no avail and Penybont walked off the field deserved winners on the evening.

Manager Mathew Bishop named an unchanged side after last week’s win over Airbus, but it was clear early on that tonight was going to be a tougher assignment with Penybont seeing plenty of the ball and competing well all over the pitch. Nathan Wood was putting in some dangerous crosses for the visitors, with Wes Baynes reciprocating for Aber, but with both sides defending solidly clear cut chances were few and far between. Alhagi Touray sent home hearts racing by beating his man before sending in a looping shot which deflected nicely for Ashley Morris in the home goal, then Luke Boundford made a great tackle to deny Eli Phipps. At the other end Harling curled wide for the Bont. Williams was blown offside just seconds before he lobbed home a beaut for the hosts, then Touray showed some more trickery before sending a volley just over. Mickey George fired wide before Kane Owen sent a lob over the bar and a fairly quiet first half ended goalless.

Aber made a double sub after the break with Matty Jones and Aaron Pomeyie coming on, and the rain came down. Owen again fired over, as did Wood from a good opening, and Aber in truth were finding it hard to get going. Wood played in George with a great touch only for the right back to drag his shot wide, and home keeper Alex Pennock gathered Owen’s curling effort. Owen was then inches away from scoring, pulling a brilliant free kick narrowly wide, and Aber had a big let off. Owain Warlow then fired over from another great position with the visitors looking increasingly threatening. Williams picked the ball up thirty yards out, bore in on goal and sent a volley zooming just past the post, and Jones’ dangerous cross  was just cleared off Williams’ head, but then with just over ten minutes left a left wing cross found Harling in the box, and his deft header back into the corner of the net won a tight game. Try as they might Aber could not fashion a response and Penybont held on for the three points.

Aber came back down to Earth last night after a great performance the week before and had one of those games where they struggled to get going. Although they created some great chances the visitors created more and were worthy winners. The Black and Greens have two weeks now to lick their wounds before heading North to face Cefn Druids a week on Friday, 6th March. Come on Aber!

JD Cymru Premier
Friday 21st February (ko 7.45pm)
Aberystwyth Town v Penybont

Aber Town go into Friday night’s JD Cymru Premier Play Off Conference match at home to Penybont in high spirits after last week’s 5-3 victory over Airbus UK Broughton.

The Black and Greens have started their League campaign for 2020 like a train, with wins away to Caernarfon Town, plus at home to Penybont five weeks ago, and Airbus last Friday, with only a controversial defeat at Cardiff Met in between on the debit side. Otherwise Aber’s form since the New Year has been excellent, with new signings jelling well with established heads to create a potent attacking threat going forward.

Grabbing all the headlines last week were Alahagi Touray, who bagged a brilliant hat trick, and Captain Marc Williams who pitched in with two crucial headers. Paulo Mendes was also commanding in midfield, newcomer Aaron Pomeyie was rapid down the wing and Adam Davies up front was voted Man of the Match, so there were plenty of reasons for Town fans to go home more than happy. Keeper Connor Roberts will  serve his second of a three match ban on Friday, with Alex Pennock again set to deputise, and Manager Mathew Bishop will be confident of another positive performance from his in form side.

Penybont for their part are dangerous opponents. Of late they have been playing well and dominating the ball in matches, only to lose by the odd goal here and there. They played very well at Park Avenue on January 18th, and only a fourth minute Billy Borge own goal condemned them to a narrow defeat. With ex Black and Green Kostya Georgievsky now a mainstay on the wing, plus Kayne Owen at number ten and Rhys Griffiths on the bench, Aber fans will be well aware of the threats the visitors pose.

Kick off at Park Avenue on Friday evening is at 7.45pm, with Admission set at £7 for Adults, £4 Concessions and £1 for kids. Join us for another Fab Friday: drama is guaranteed!