Dafabet Welsh Premier League
Saturday 26th December
Haverfordwest County 0 Aberystwyth Town 1
16 year old Jack Rimmer's first ever senior goal for Aberystwyth Town won a tight Boxing Day Derby at the Conygar Bridge Meadow this afternoon, and earned the Black and Greens three crucial points which sets them up for four home games in a row, with a maximum of eight points needed now to guarantee a Top Six Place in 2015/6.
Manager Ian Hughes was forced to replace the injured Rhys Griffiths in the starting line up, but his replacement Geoff Kellaway scarcely weakened the first eleven. Starting with a strong wind behind them, Aber dominated possession in the opening stages, spending much of the opening twenty minutes camped in Haverfordwest's half, though in truth on a heavy and bobbly pitch chances were few and far between. Kellaway almost made a mark early on when he gathered a through ball on his chest, swivelled and sent a volley just past Craig Morris' left hand post. As time went on the hosts found their feet, though finding their way past the rock like Lee Surman in Aber's Central Defence was another matter, as the Swansea based stopper seemed to anticipate each move almost before it happened. The Bluebirds' chief threat throughout was Luke Borelli, and he sent in a shot from the left which was safely gathered by Mike Lewis in Aber's goal. Stuart Jones then got in just in time to snuff out another Borelli chance. At the other end Ross Stephens was felled on the edge of the penalty box and Chris Venables' cute free kick came off the far post to the chagrin of the visiting fans. Lewis had to be on his guard on another couple of occasions and then in injury time he parried over a Kieran Howard volley, before Borelli grazed the post from the next move, and Kellaway again went close flashing a shot wide from close range, before a slightly uninspiring half ended goalless.
Knowing they needed to improve to win, Aber started the second half strongly and Jamie Reed was soon testing Craig Morris in the Haverfordwest goal, who then also saved from a Craig Williams free kick. Minutes later sub Cledan Davies made a swashbuckling run down the left to the byeline before putting in a brilliant deep cross, and Venables again hit the woodwork, this time with a powerfully directed header. Haverfordwest were still contributing to a livelier half though, with Lewis again called into action to punch a Borelli free kick out for a corner, which he then gathered comfortably, typifying a composed performance from Aber's Number One. Venables was brought down on the edge of the area, and when his free kick fizzed just over the bar it was looking increasingly like a frustrating afternoon for the Black and Greens, but with twelve minutes to go, the crucial moment came. Sub Rimmer had only been on the field seven minutes when Kellaway laid the ball back over on the right hand touchline, and the young prodigy from Llanilar fired in a right footed cross cum shot from an improbable angle which swirled in the wind and zipped over Craig Morris' head before dropping into the net for an amazingly crucial goal. County piled forward for the last ten minutes, plus five injury time, and Wyn Thomas was brought on in anticipation of the wind assisted bombardment which lead to Lewis again saving from Declan Carroll's free kick and from yet another Borelli attempt from Borelli. However the backline of Sion James, Jones, Surman and Williams worked extremely hard to preserve a second consecutive clean sheet, which ensured another very important win for the Black and Greens.
The debate will rage this week as to whether Jack Rimmer's wonderful winner was a shot or a cross, but it matters not, as today's game in difficult conditions, was all about the result rather than the performance. Aber are now on a very promising run of form and will be looking forward to a good walk up for Tuesday night's rearranged home game against Carmarthen Town (kick off 7.45pm). It's a great time to be Black and Green!
Saturday 26th December
Haverfordwest County 0 Aberystwyth Town 1
16 year old Jack Rimmer's first ever senior goal for Aberystwyth Town won a tight Boxing Day Derby at the Conygar Bridge Meadow this afternoon, and earned the Black and Greens three crucial points which sets them up for four home games in a row, with a maximum of eight points needed now to guarantee a Top Six Place in 2015/6.
Manager Ian Hughes was forced to replace the injured Rhys Griffiths in the starting line up, but his replacement Geoff Kellaway scarcely weakened the first eleven. Starting with a strong wind behind them, Aber dominated possession in the opening stages, spending much of the opening twenty minutes camped in Haverfordwest's half, though in truth on a heavy and bobbly pitch chances were few and far between. Kellaway almost made a mark early on when he gathered a through ball on his chest, swivelled and sent a volley just past Craig Morris' left hand post. As time went on the hosts found their feet, though finding their way past the rock like Lee Surman in Aber's Central Defence was another matter, as the Swansea based stopper seemed to anticipate each move almost before it happened. The Bluebirds' chief threat throughout was Luke Borelli, and he sent in a shot from the left which was safely gathered by Mike Lewis in Aber's goal. Stuart Jones then got in just in time to snuff out another Borelli chance. At the other end Ross Stephens was felled on the edge of the penalty box and Chris Venables' cute free kick came off the far post to the chagrin of the visiting fans. Lewis had to be on his guard on another couple of occasions and then in injury time he parried over a Kieran Howard volley, before Borelli grazed the post from the next move, and Kellaway again went close flashing a shot wide from close range, before a slightly uninspiring half ended goalless.
Knowing they needed to improve to win, Aber started the second half strongly and Jamie Reed was soon testing Craig Morris in the Haverfordwest goal, who then also saved from a Craig Williams free kick. Minutes later sub Cledan Davies made a swashbuckling run down the left to the byeline before putting in a brilliant deep cross, and Venables again hit the woodwork, this time with a powerfully directed header. Haverfordwest were still contributing to a livelier half though, with Lewis again called into action to punch a Borelli free kick out for a corner, which he then gathered comfortably, typifying a composed performance from Aber's Number One. Venables was brought down on the edge of the area, and when his free kick fizzed just over the bar it was looking increasingly like a frustrating afternoon for the Black and Greens, but with twelve minutes to go, the crucial moment came. Sub Rimmer had only been on the field seven minutes when Kellaway laid the ball back over on the right hand touchline, and the young prodigy from Llanilar fired in a right footed cross cum shot from an improbable angle which swirled in the wind and zipped over Craig Morris' head before dropping into the net for an amazingly crucial goal. County piled forward for the last ten minutes, plus five injury time, and Wyn Thomas was brought on in anticipation of the wind assisted bombardment which lead to Lewis again saving from Declan Carroll's free kick and from yet another Borelli attempt from Borelli. However the backline of Sion James, Jones, Surman and Williams worked extremely hard to preserve a second consecutive clean sheet, which ensured another very important win for the Black and Greens.
The debate will rage this week as to whether Jack Rimmer's wonderful winner was a shot or a cross, but it matters not, as today's game in difficult conditions, was all about the result rather than the performance. Aber are now on a very promising run of form and will be looking forward to a good walk up for Tuesday night's rearranged home game against Carmarthen Town (kick off 7.45pm). It's a great time to be Black and Green!
