Dafabet Welsh Premier League Saturday 16th April (kick off 2.30pm) Carmarthen Town v Aberystwyth Town Aberystwyth Town's last away League match of the season at Carmarthen Town has been moved at the hosts' request to Saturday 16th April, with a 2.30pm kick off time. Aberystwyth Town's Play Off Conference fixtures have been confirmed. The Black and Greens kick off their quest for a seventh place finish with a game at home to Port Talbot Town a week Friday (29th January), and end the sequence of fixtures with a potentially crucial game at home to Bangor City on the 23rd April. The full list is as follows: JANUARY Fri 29th PORT TALBOT TOWN (HOME) ko 7.45pm FEBRUARY Fri 12th Rhyl (Away) ko 7.45pm Sat 20th Haverfordwest County (Away) ko 2.30pm Fri 26th CARMARTHEN TOWN (HOME) ko 7.45pm MARCH Fri 11th Bangor City (Away) ko 7.45pm Fri 18th Port Talbot Town (Away) ko 7.45pm Fri 25th RHYL (HOME) ko 7.45pm APRIL Fri 8th HAVERFORDWEST COUNTY (HOME) ko 7.45pm Fri 15th Carmarthen Town (Away) ko 7.45pm Sat 23rd BANGOR CITY (HOME) ko 5.15pm MAY Sat 7th UEFA Europa League Play Off Semi Finals Sat 14th UEFA Europa League Play Off Final Dafabet Welsh Premier League
Saturday 16th January Aberystwyth Town 1 Newtown 2 Early goals from Neil Mitchell in the third minute, and Sean Evans in the 18th minute earned visitors Newtown a win and a Top Six place at Park Avenue this evening. Aber mounted a second half comeback and Chris Venables got a goal back on 55 minutes but the visitors held out, with Luke Sherbon and Venables both seeing red for second yellow cards in injury time. Town Interim Manager Wyn Thomas wan't helped by the absence through injury of Geoff Kellaway, though Luke Sherbon did return to the starting eleven. Aber however suffered a nightmare start as Mitchell burst down the left flank to beat the offside trap and slide the ball home for an early opener. Jason Oswell lobbed over for the visitors before Luke Boundford sent in a right wing cross which Sean Evans converted for a second with the game barely twenty minutes old. From this point on Newtown slowed the game down as much as possible, allowing Aber possession, but the chances were slow in coming. Jonathan Evans had the hosts' first attempt, straight at Dave Jones, and later on he was picked out by Cledan Davies only to see his rasping shot fizz past the post. In injury time Craig Williams' deep free kick was met by Rhys Griffiths, but his header was straight at Jones, and the two goal margin stood at the break. Luke Boundford went close for the Robins just after the break, but then Evans fired over from another Davies ball in. Then on 55 minutes hope was reignited when another deep Williams free kick was headed back across the box and the predatory Venables snaffled up his twelfth goal of the season. Once again Newtown exhibited the dark arts to strangle any life out of the game, and they succeeded in frustrating an Aber side desperate to get going. Evans fired over in a rare chance for Aber, Antonio Corbisiero had a shot blocked, and Sherbon shot wide from another Williams corner, but Newtown defended stoutly and did not look like giving up their Top Six place easily. Sherbon, then Venables both saw red in the 90th and 91st minutes, and Rhys Griffiths sent a last ditch attempt wide, but in truth the game was long won and the visitors deserved their victory for the clinical finishing they displayed early on. The defeat ensures that the Black and Greens will see the season out in the Bottom Six, with a seventh place finish the aim. The Second Phase will begin with a home game against Port Talbot Town the weekend after next, with the date and kick off time to be confirmed shortly. Aberystwyth Town's Interim Manager Wyn Thomas was in upbeat mood this afternoon in conversation with atfc.org.uk, with 24 hours to go before tomorrow's Dafabet WPL Top Six decider at Park Avenue. "We know Newtown will be very tough opponents and it should be a good game." He urged Black and Green supporters to turn out in force for tomorrow's titanic teatime tussle: "I hope our fans will be out in force, making a racket because their support really does make a difference to the Players. It'd be nice to hear "Ian Hughes' Black and Green Army" being sung from the Dias Stand again." Finally he underlined that on the field things are looking very positive for the Black and Greens: "We've had a good week of training and everyone knows how important it is to get that result. The Boys are ready and they know what's expected of them. We'll do our very best." Aberystwyth Town v Newtown kicks off tomorrow at 5.15pm, and admission will cost £6 for Adults, £4 Concessions and £1 for Schoolchildren. Not To Be Missed. Dafabet Welsh Premier League Saturday 16th January (ko 5.15pm) Aberystwyth Town v Newtown Aberystwyth Town must earn a two goal win at home to Newtown on Saturday to have any realistic chance of making the Top Six this season. The permutations are many but Ian Hughes' men have control over their own performances, and that is the bottom line for the Black and Greens this weekend. A two goal victory would guarantee that Aber finish above Newtown. The sides would be level on points and goal difference, but Aber would have scored more goals than their Mid Wales rivals, which would secure supremacy for the Ceredigion side. To make the Top Six, Aber would then also require two other results to go their way: - Carmarthen to draw or lose at home to Rhyl - Bangor not to improve on Aber's scoreline, or goals scored tally (so a 2-0 win for Aber and a 3-0 win for Bangor would see the Citizens finish above the Seasiders) Given this scenario, Ian Hughes' men must start the afternoon as outsiders, and with Newtown realistically only needing a draw to progress they travel to Park Avenue as huge favourites to progress. However the group of players currently wearing the Black and Green shirts have shown time and time again over the past two and a half years that they can win, and win well, when they really need to, and on Saturday evening, they do need that result. Manager Ian Hughes will be hoping that Central Midfielder Luke Sherbon is fit enough to return to the squad, though Ross Stephens' hamstring problem may rule him out against his former club. New signing from Penrhyncoch Jonathan Evans made an encouraging debut on Sunday, creating chance after chance and hitting the post, so he staked a good claim for another start this Saturday. Newtown have gone from strength to strength since beating Aberystwyth in the Play Off Final almost eight months ago to the day, but Aber can take heart from the fact that last year the Robins themselves only made the Top Six in the 94th minute of their last pre split game, with an injury time winner at Connah's Quay. It's not how you start, it's how you finish! Aberystwyth Town's supporters have a crucial role to play as a positive, supportive and vocal crowd can have a huge influence on results at Park Avenue in tight games, especially under the floodlights, so a large and boisterous crowd is expected on Saturday evening. Kick off is at 5.15pm, and admission costs £6 for Adults, £4 Concessions and £1 for Schoolchildren. The scene is set for an "I was there" Football Experience. Don't tell your friends you missed out on it! Aberystwyth Town Manager Ian Hughes will unfortunately be unavailable for Saturday's match against Newtown due to a routine medical operation. Assistant Manager Wyn Thomas and First Team Coach Antonio Corbisiero will take charge of First Team Duties for the immediate future. Everyone at Aberystwyth Town Football Club wishes Ian a swift recovery and we look forward to having him back on the touchline as soon as possible. |
Gem Nesaf
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Ebost / Email: AberTownFC@live.co.uk
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