Penrhyncoch 0
Aberystwyth Town 2
A STUNNING swerving strike from ex-Penrhyn hero Jonathan Evans, and a late salvo from super sub Kostya Georgievsky, saw Aber through a testing pre-season friendly at Cae Baker on Friday night (Jul 29).
It left Manager Matthew Bishop with a pleasing four wins out of four from Aber’s pre-season schedule to date.
On a very pleasant sunny summer’s evening, Aber kicked off with new signings Dom Richards and Kurtis March making starts and, as in all their previous games, their football was easy on the eye and very pleasing to watch.
They dominated possession for virtually the whole of the first half, but to give credit to Penrhyncoch, they were denied space in the crucial final third which limited the chances created.
Jonathan Evans fired high and wide from a narrow angle early on, Ricky Watts showed some very promising runs down the right and Geoff Kellaway sent in a testing cross which no one connected with.
Will Bell headed a March corner over but finally, on the half hour, Aber got the ball that their positive brand of football had deserved.
Evans was found down the right flank and, after delaying for a second, he sent in a swerving swinger of a shot which completely deceived home keeper Lee Jenkins and found the far corner: a brilliant strike.
Next, trialist striker Lewis Coyle headed over for Town, and then at the other end Jon Foligno forced Richards into a save with a header from Mark Gornall’s cross. Kellaway hit the post from an impossibly tight angle and referee Aled Jones ended the half at 1-0 to the visitors.
It has to be said that playing down the slope, Penrhyn came much more into things after the break, and as Bishop took the opportunity to make seven substitutions to give his whole squad game time, Aber’s domination lessened.
Kellaway saw a lot shot gathered, and then Green Legend Sion James brought another save out of Richards with a powerful header for Penrhyn.
Carl Lamb saw a shot deflected to safety and, at the other end, sub Gareth Mansell fired wide, and Antonio Corbisiero went close with an overhead volley as Penrhyn threatened to level the scores.
However, Aber survived the onslaught and in the 89th minute, Jenkins missed a free kick and Georgievsky nicked in to poach a second with a low strike into the bottom corner to seal a good evening’s work.
Aber supporters watching their side for the first time this evening will have gone home impressed by their stylish brand of football and also by the side’s strong defensive qualities more on display in the second half.
One more pre-season friendly awaits, away at Afan Lido on Friday (Aug 5) before the Big WPL Kick off in 15 days at The New Saints. Things are looking up for the Black and Greens!
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