REPORT: ATFC 2-1 TRETHOMAS BLUEBIRDS

Aber Town maintained the pace at the top of the Novira Cymru South at Halloween with a deserved, yet hard-earned, win at home to Trethomas Bluebirds. The visitors took an early lead through Jonathan Hood on seven minutes, but the Black and Greens struck back through Aaron Williams within nine minutes, and captain Liam Walsh looped in a 51st-minute winner.

Aber created numerous chances but also had to defend resolutely right through to the end, and another valuable three points were in the bag.

On an unseasonably sunny day on the Ceredigion coast, Remembrance was commemorated with a moving Last Post, and the game was under way.

Town started well, with Williams seeing a shot blocked and Dan Owen seeing an attempt parried by the hard-working Ryan Idzi in goal. However, Trethomas struck first as the impressive Osian Rees burst down the right and crossed for Hood to finish at the back post. Dillon Browne was next to tickle an attempt past the post and Tom Evans headed wide, but then Leo Thompson’s brilliant inswinging corner invited Town’s top striker, Williams, to head the ball back into the near corner, and the game was level.

Hood hit the side netting for the Bluebirds, but Aber kept coming. Owen saw another effort saved, Browne went close from a free-kick, Williams and Evans had shots blocked, and Browne nodded wide. Rees won the ball in midfield, surged forward and tested Luke Evans in Aber’s goal.

Then, down the other end, Rhys Hughes clipped over from a long throw, Thompson hit the far post with a curling effort, Evans was blocked on the rebound, and Williams fired over. Gruff Sedgwick curled wide, Owen had a shot parried and, with the next move, hit the side netting. At half-time, the home supporters were asking themselves how on earth the game was still level!

On came Aber in the second half. Williams saw another effort cleared for a corner and Hughes volleyed over, but then came the key moment as another Thompson corner fell nicely for the incoming Walsh to cunningly flick the ball over Idzi at the back post, and Aber had a vital lead.

Harry Cottam made a vital challenge to deny league top scorer Norton Ferreira a clear strike on goal, and Ferreira then tapped wide from the resulting corner. Dan Owen, Thompson and Williams all tested Idzi without success, then Ferreira curled wide at the other end. Browne headed over from Thompson’s corner, then Rhys Hughes dashed 70 yards for what would have been a wonder goal, only to have his effort cleared off the line, with Thompson also denied in the same move.

Substitute Tarran Hollinshead sent in a curling cross which somehow rebounded off the far post and back into the fortunate Idzi’s hands, and Trethomas were still in it going into a nervy final ten minutes. Browne fired wide and substitute James Smallwood was the last man to be denied by Idzi, while Luke Evans made some huge, authoritative punches and catches late on to secure what was a huge win, given the other results over the weekend.

So, Aber performed well and created literally dozens of chances, though huge credit must also go to redoubtable Trethomas, who stayed in the game and fought right to the end. Tight wins are the hallmark of successful teams, though, and Craig Williams’ men, now second in the Novira Cymru South, head to Carmarthen next Saturday in a confident mood for a 7.45pm kick-off.

Calling the Southsiders!