Penybont v Aberystwyth Town FC

Aber started their assignment without captain Jack Thorn, and John Owen and Rhys Davies pulled out in the warm up, leaving Anthony Williams’ preparations severely disrupted from the start. Penybont showed no mercy and bossed the game from the kick off: Dan Jefferies headed wide, Dave Jones saved from Keyon Reffell, James Crole headed over and Pritchard flicked over the bar, Aber responding through a deep free kick from Niall Flint which was gathered by Adam Przybek in the home goal. Then Penybont centre half Jefferies pulled out a peach of a delivery from the right flank leaving Davies the easy task of heading home at the back post for one nil. Steff Davies fired over for an Aber side who were struggling to keep the ball and create chances, and Jones again denied Pritchard.

Aber then broke down the left, Iwan Lewis found Torry down the flank and he surged forward before sliding the ball confidently under Przybek for a surprise equaliser. Pritchard hit the crossbar, then with half time looming a Kane Owen corner fell nicely for Borge to nod home, and the homesters had a lead which they deserved on the balance of play.

​The home side continued to press in the second half, though chances were less regular. Crole slotted wide and it wasn’t till past the hour mark that Pritchard found some space in the box to smash the ball into the roof of the net to settle the contest. Subs Clayton Green and Venables missed the target for Penybont and Lewis had a shot blocked for Aber. Reffell and Lewis Ware were next to go wide, but then with barely five minutes to go a testing cross from sub Eduardo Bregua from the right lead to Walsh attempting a headed clearance which unfortunately found his own net. Four minutes later Venables scored Penybont’s fourth headed goal, and fifth in all, from Reffell’s cross, and thankfully for Aber the scoring was done. At the other end Walsh flicked wide and Louis Bradford’s powerful header was saved by Przybek on the line, Jones denied Green at the death and the the Bont had their win in the sun.

Considering the unfortunate build up this was certainly a bad day at the office for Aber, but they will have better days in future. Results elsewhere see Anthony Williams’ men slip to eighth in the Cymru Prem, and they will need to perform better to get anything next time out, with a trip to The New Saints next on the agenda on Tuesday 3rd September (KO 7.45pm). Hope springs eternal!