ABERYSTWYTH Town secured safe passage to the next round of the JD Welsh Cup with an emphatic 9-0 victory against the resilient and spirited Aber Valley side at Aberystwyth University Park Avenue.
A hat-trick apiece from Harry Franklin and Owain Jones as well as goals from Raul Correia, Mathew Jones and Rhys Davies meant that the Seasiders avoided a potential upset against 5th tier opposition.
Backed by the largest away following at Aberystwyth aside from cup finals, the visiting band of supporters nearly enjoyed the perfect start. Gregor Zabret denied the Abertridwr based side a with a low save inside his penalty area.
Antonio Corbisiero’s men led with the game eight minutes old. A beautiful free flowing move, which started inside the black and green half, was well finished by Correia for his first goal in Aber colours following some great interplay between Franklin, Jack Rimmer and Jamie Veale
The goal was harsh on the visitors who’d started the half well but the advantage galvanised the home side as they grew into the game. They fashioned a number of chances to increase the advantage with Franklin and Jones going close before Jon Owen was denied his first of the campaign by the offside flag.
However, Aber didn’t have to wait long for their second. Franklin cut inside form the left and curled a low shot which wriggled under visiting stopper Aaron Brown.
A third and fourth quickly followed before the interval and both efforts could feature heavily in the ‘Sgorio’ Goal of the Month competition come the end of September. Mathew Jones continued his early season free kick escapades as he curled a sumptuous free kick into the bottom corner in front of the raucous away support in the Dias Stand.
The fourth was as equally as spectacular. The ball broke across the edge of the penalty area to an onrushing Owain Jones who curled a shot into the top corner of the net to give the men from Ceredigion a four-goal advantage at the interval.
The second half started in the same vein as the first finished with Aber on top. Jones and Rimmer went close before Franklin grabbed his second of the afternoon. The tireless Owen saw his shot well saved but the rebound fell to the grateful Northern Irish man.
The South Walians began to tire and the Cymru Premier side dominated proceedings from there on. Substitute Sam Phillips was twice denied, firstly by a defender on the line before Brown pulled off a great stop. Franklin too was looking dangerous but could only a curl a shot over the bar from a narrow angle.
Owain Jones increased the advantage further when he was able to finish cutely inside the penalty area following some fantastic exchanges between Franklin and Owen down the left flank with the latter putting it on a plate for the former Swansea City player.
Richie Ricketts and Alex Pennock were introduced into the action and the former was immediately involved in the action. The winger delivered a delicious cross into the penalty area for Franklin who was able to head home to complete his hat-trick.
Rhys Davies, who had an impressive afternoon, capped off a great defensive performance with a brilliant left footed volley inside the area before Owain Jones completed the scoring and his own trio of goals, dancing past the Valley defenders and putting the ball past Brown with a low finish.
The win for Aber sees them into the third round where they will play Cefn Druids, with that game taking place on the weekend of September 24/25.
