Strong Squad Performance Earns Aber Another Away Win

Dafabet Welsh Premier League
Sunday 28th August
Llandudno 0 Aberystwyth Town 1

A strong squad performance, crowned by a 93rd minute headed winner from super sub Jonathan Evans earned the Black and Greens a significant victory away to Dafabet WPL Bronze Medallists Llandudno this afternoon.

Aber’s unchanged XI started full of confidence, passing the ball around nicely on Maesdu’s 3G surface, and Joe Clarke fired a shot wide from the first move of the game showing their attacking intent. Swashbuckling right back Ricky Watts set up the effervescent Blake Davies up front but he couldn’t quite get his shot away, and he was denied again soon afterwards as Geoff Kellaway set him up after a nice ball from Luke Sherbon. With Sherbon and Clarke anchoring the midfield superbly Aber were on top, and although Marc Williams deflected a James Joyce shot wide, back came Town with Sherbon and Chris Jones next to go close. Town were creating chances at will but were missing a cutting edge with Clarke and Jones shooting wide, and then Jones ran 50 yards to send in a great left wing cross which Davies just failed to connect with. Llandudno reminded those present that they could still be a threat as Lewis Buckley curled a free kick just wide before the break, but overall visiting supporters felt that the Seasiders deserved more than a 0-0 score at half time.

The hosts came more into things after the break but Aber continued to create openings too. Davies, played in by Geoff Kellaway missed the target down the left flank, and then Sam Rodon, a giant at the back for Aber, headed wide from Jones’ corner. Davies stabbed home from an offside position but then Town had a real scare when James Joyce’s free kick was headed back across goal by Buckley and Williams failed to convert with a back post header. Williams was denied by a goal saving tackle by Will Bell, and then Aber keeper Dominic Richards calmed the nerves by confidently picking out a looping goalbound header and a shot from Leo Riley, and Town’s excellent back four of Watts, Bell, Rodon and Ryan Wollacott had survived the storm. Sherbon tested Dave Roberts’ handiwork, Chris Jones’ audacious effort from the touchline was next to concern him, and Luke Borrelli saw a shot deflected to Kellaway who went agonizingly close from a promising position. It seemed like the goal would never come but then Aber’s force of will came into play and their three substitutes Lewis Coyle, Kurtis March and Evans had the final word. A free kick from Clarke earned Aber a 93rd minute corner, and March’s pinpoint ball was nodded on by Kellaway for Evans to head home gleefully from a yard, bringing on ecstatic celebrations  shared between the squad and the travelling supporters, echoed seconds later at the final whistle.

Scoring an away winner in the 93rd minute is a massive high for any team and this result will have brought Matthew Bishop’s squad together yet further – the clenched fists and cheers at the end were witness to that. They have had a good week with two wins out of two, and will need to be together again on Wednesday night for another away appointment at Rhyl FC (kick off 7.45pm). The Coach leaves Park Avenue at 3.30pm and it will be a happy place after today’s result!