JD Cymru Premier
Friday 15th November (ko 7.45pm) The New Saints v Aberystwyth Town Aberystwyth Town face a major challenge on Matchday 15 of the 2019/20 JD Cymru Premier as they head East to take on League Champions The New Saints at Park Hall Stadium. Prior to last Friday’s televised match at home to Bala Town Aber had been enjoying a good run, but a 0-5 defeat certainly halted the side’s positive momentum, at least temporarily, and Manager Mathew Bishop will be looking for a positive response this weekend. It won’t be easy for Aber though, and the task is made harder by the fact that regular Goalkeeper Connor Roberts and Defender Adam Hughes, who have both been impressive over the past month, are unavailable for selection as they are on loan from TNS. On the credit side Luke Boundford is back after a long term injury and Stuart Jones will be available once again to bolster Aber’s defensive options. The New Saints are certainly not having everything their way this season and currently sit in fourth place with a match in hand, but they did save their best for Park Avenue this season, demolishing Town by a record 10-1 scoreline back in August. It goes without saying that the Black and Greens will have to play an awful lot better this time round if they are to get anything from the game. Airbus’ defeat to Penybont last weekend meant that Aber retained their ninth place position in the JD Cymru Premier, and further info on Park Hall can be found here. Kick off on Friday evening is at 7.45pm and we will be grateful of your support! JD Cymru Premier
Friday 8th November Aberystwyth Town 0 Bala Town 5 Park Avenue’s highest crowd of the season – 587 – saw Aber endure a torrid evening last night as visitors Bala Town moved into the Top Three with a 5-0 win. Goals from Henry Jones (29 minutes) and Louis Robles (44) gave the visitors a flattering two goal lead at the break, but Bala dominated the second half and were good value for further strikes from Chris Venables (71 and 82 minutes), and Robles (77 mins). The match was precede by a Club Showcase as each of Aber Town Academy’s age groups teams, plus their Ladies Development and Disability teams played on the pitch – which also hosted a “Huddle” to encourage girls to play. With almost 250 young players and their parents in attendance it was wonderful to see the 3G in full use, and an exciting pre match atmosphere was created. Manager Mathew Bishop named a rare unchanged team, but Bala started on fire, going close and forcing a couple of early corners. Aber then responded well, earning a couple of corners themselves before Captain Marc Williams dinked a sweet ball which Tom Price just failed to reach; Williams himself then scooped a shot wide. In a high paced game Aber’s Adam Hughes headed Wes Baynes’ free kick wide, and after a buccaneering run Lee Jenkins fed Mathew Jones on the left, whose cross found Joe Phillips, but visiting keeper Josh Tibbets saved his goalbound header at the back post. Sean Smith skewed a shot wide but with the hosts trying to play progressive football and creating chances they seemed to be in a good place. Robles however was menacing for Bala: Hughes had to make one vital clearance and Jones kneed another attempt over the bar. Then a swift Bala breakaway saw Venables feed Jones, and he slid the clinical Lakesiders into the lead. This set back did not deter the Seasiders who responded when Mathew Jones’ corner was headed goalwards by Marc Williams, only for Tibbets to pull out a miraculous point blank save onto the crossbar, which confusingly resulted in a goal kick. Tom Price sent in a dangerous cross which somehow evaded everyone, then Phillips’ trickery down the left won Aber a corner. Under pressure Tibbets dropped the ball but Aber couldn’t capitalise – but after the onslaught Venables broke well down the right, only to be denied by Connor Roberts, and Robles headed home from Nathan Burke’s corner to give the half time scoreline an exceedingly harsh tint from an Aber perspective. Bala started well again in the second half and it was clear that the third goal would decide the final momentum of the match. Baynes crossed for Williams to bring another save from Tibbets, and then at the other end Venables scored with a header – but was adjudged to be offside. Joe Phillips fired wide from the edge of the area and with Baynes’ expert delivery causing consternation in Bala’s defence the match was still far from being decided. The visitors ended commandingly however. Connor Roberts twice saved from Jones, and despite Williams heading wide from Jones’ cross, a third Bala goal was coming: and Venables delivered the coup de grace with a stunning curled effort into the top corner which decided the game with twenty minutes yet to play. Robles made it four with a volley from the edge of the area and with Aber looking vulnerable Venables snaffled his second and Bala’s fifth from close range after the ball rebounded off the cross bar, with eight minutes left. Roberts saved late efforts from Steve Leslie and Mike Hayes and in truth the Black and Greens were glad to hear the final whistle. Sharp and decisive Bala look every inch a Top Three side last night and despite a competitive first half performance, Aber faded badly in the second half, and will need to play an awful lot better next Friday if they are to get anything from an away trip to The New Saints. Despite the defeat the Black and Green remain in ninth place in the JD Cymru Premier. Keep the Faith! Friday 8th November (ko 8pm) JD Cymru Premier Aberystwyth Town v Bala Town With Aberystwyth Town bang on form, excitement is mounting ahead of another Fab Friday at Park Avenue, when a Club Showcase event, live TV Cameras and a short Remembrance ceremony will all add to the Big Match atmosphere, ahead of the Black and Greens' clash with Top Six chasing Bala Town FC, also on a good run of form. An unbeaten run of six matches stretching back to the end of September, with two wins and eight goals scored in their last two games, has meant that Aber are now on thirteen points, and a win on Friday night would propel the Black and Greens to within two points of the Top Six. A huge crowd is expected to roar on Mathew Bishop's men as they have played themselves back into contention - now is the time to kick on, and with striker Luke Boundford set to return to a confident squad from injury, it's a good time to be Green. Town's upsurge in form has not gone unnoticed. In the past month Keeper Connor Roberts has been named in 3 Sgorio Teams of the Week, Paulo Mendes was named in this week's side after his headed double up at the Airfield, Wes Baynes' free kick at Penybont was nominated for Goal of the Month, and the likes of Adam Hughes, Lee Jenkins, Joe Phillips and Matty Jones have also caught the eye. Bala for their part have been scoring goals for fun and were the last side to beat the Black and Greens, 2-0 at Maes Tegid at the end of September. Their 4-0 win at home to Newtown was reportedly convincing so the Seasiders have a real challenge ahead. The match will be preceded by a Club Showcase in which each one of the Club's sides, from Under 8s to Under 19s, Disability and Ladies Development sides, as well as a "Huddle", will play and be photographed on the 3G pitch prior to the main event. Admission for this JD Cymru Premier clash will cost £7 for Adults, £4 for Concessions and just £1 for Kids. There is no where else to be on a Friday night! Welsh Premier Women's League Sunday 2nd November 2019 Llandudno Ladies 1 (Williams 59) Aberystwyth Town Ladies 1 (E. Thomas 18) An excellent first half strike from 15 year-old Wales U17 International Emily Thomas helped the Black and Greens earn their first point of the league season. Fflur Williams was on target for the hosts in the second half to deny a hard-working Town side all three points in an entertaining fixture writes Steven Brookes After a quick start from both sides it was the hosts that had the first clear opportunity of the game but Town goalkeeper Ffion Ashman was off her line quickly to make a smart one-on-one save. After some early half-chances Aber broke the deadlock eighteen minutes in. Following some good build-up play from defence the ball eventually found its way to Bethan Roberts on the right-wing who cut the ball back into the path of Emily Thomas. The 15 year-old left the hosts' keeper Rebecca Elliot with little-chance of saving. Although the Black and Green's were creating opportunities to double their lead it was Llandudno who had the clearest site of goal when awareded a penalty when Ffion Ashman was ajudged to have fouled Jordanne Greenough inside the area. Stacey Tradewell stept up but fired wide of the target as Aber took a single-goal lead into the break. Fourteen minutes into the second half, the scores were levelled. Town captain Ffiona Evans was unable to clear the ball that was played over the Aber defence and Fflur Williams capitalised as she calmly played the ball past Ashman into the net. The seasiders were determined to regain the lead and nearly did so through Caroline Cooper. The former Wales International's free kick took a big deflection but Elliot reacted quickly to tip over the cross bar. From the resulting corner, Bethan Roberts's shot was deflected into the air before hitting the top of the crossbar. At the other end the Ashman did well to tip over a Tradewell free-kick from the edge of the area as both sides were eager to get the games third goal. Neither side were able to find the winner and an entertaining match finished all-square. Town will be delighted with their performance that on another day would have got them maximum points. The Black and Greens will now look forward to a trip to Port Talbot next Sunday (10th November) as they continue their league campaign. JD Cymru Premier Saturday 2nd November Airbus UK Broughton 1 Aberystwyth Town 5 Five star Aber put on their best footballing performance of the season on Deeside this afternoon to earn a superb five one win away to Airbus UK Broughton and continue their upward trajectory. Andy Owens gave the hosts the lead after 7 minutes but the visitors were good value for two late goals at the end of the first half from Paulo Mendes (43 minutes) and Steve Tomasson (og, 45+1). Further strikes from Mendes (54), Adam Hughes (85) and Ryan Edwards (89) capped a wonderful day’s work for Mathew Bishop’s men. The game started in a lively manner and Joe Phillips curled in an effort from 30 yards which was well saved by Lewis Hall. Then Owens pounced on a back pass and belted home a volley from the edge of the area to gain Airbus an early lead. Back came Aber and strong man Adam Hughes had a shot blocked in the box before sending in a wonderful ball for the hard working Tom Price who couldn’t quite convert, Mendes narrowly missed a superb cross in from Wes Baynes and Phillips went on a super run down the wing before sending his shot inches wide, with Aber on top despite the scoreline. Hughes and Lee Jenkins are a super partnership at the back for the Seasiders and restricted the hosts to few chances. Jordan Evans skipped down the right wing before flicking a shot just wide, and Owens headed wide from Sam Hart’s inswinging free kick, with the next goal crucial. Owens brought a decent save from Connor Roberts and the Aber keeper denied Curtis Strong too, but Aber were creating chance after chance too. Marc Williams forced Hall to claw away a cross, before the home keeper struggled to collect a Baynes cross. Phillips flashed a shot over from 30 yards, then Price played in Mendes, whose shot was deflected for a corner, with Hall crucially injured making the save. Main Man Mendes, a strong contender for Man of the Match, headed home Mathew Jones’ corner, and just two minutes later Price’s right wing cross was intercepted into his own net by Steve Tomassen, and although Roberts denied Owens again in injury time Aber deserved their lead on the balance of play. Aber started the second half strongly with Jones’ corner cleared off the line. Edmilson Vaz played in Phillips whose header was somehow saved by Hall, and with the marauding Mendes seemingly everywhere he dived in low to convert Phillips’ cute curling ball and score a crucial third for the Black and Greens. The visitors were controlling the play with some lovely passing football and Phillips was the next to force Hall into a save. Sub Kristian Platt headed wide for the hosts but then Phillips had yet another shot saved, before curling wide with the Midlands man on fire. Jordan Evans flashed a shot wide for Airbus before Phillips played in Williams, who was called offside before converting a low shot goalbound. Jenkins cleared off the line to keep Aber’s lead intact, and Roberts brought out a great save to deny Hart, but then Evans was forced off the field with a hamstring injury, and when Liam Williams received a second yellow card eight minutes from time for a desperate attempt to slow down Mendes, Airbus were down to nine men. Aber took advantage: Hughes headed home Matty Jones’ corner with five minutes to go and then Ryan Edwards scored an improbable fifth with a low volley from distance which skidded under the stricken Hall to put Aber into dreamland! There was still time for Vaz to have a shot blocked and sub Alex Boss to necessitate a clearance off the line, but none of that took the sheen off a truly amazing result for the boys in Black and Green. The Seasiders’ dominant performance this afternoon capped off a superb week for Aberystwyth Town FC, and if they can keep up the standards they have set over the past eight days this could yet be a very exciting season for their loyal supporters. The next instalment of Aber’s JD Cymru Premier Odyssey of 2019/20 comes next Friday at Park Avenue, when Bala Town come visiting (ko 8pm). Not a good time to miss out! |
Gem Nesaf
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Ebost / Email: AberTownFC@live.co.uk
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