Date Competition Opponents Venue Score Scorers 22.08 LoW Afan Lido H 2-1 Vick, Kane 29.08 LoW Inter Cabletel H 1-1 M.Griffiths 09.09 LoW Carmarthen Town A 5-2 Nicholls, Williams, G.Hughes, Johnson, Harrison 12.09 LoW Cwmbran Town A 1-0 Allen 19.09 LoW Conwy United H 3-1 J.Williams, Johnson, Allen 23.09 GLoWC1 Inter Cabletel H 1-2 Allen 26.09 LoW Connah's Quay N. A 0-0 03.10 LoW Caernarfon Town H 1-1 Evans 09.10 LoW Caersws A 3-2 Evans, G.Hughes, J.Williams 16.10 WC2 Total Network Sol. A 2-2 21.10 LoW Total Network Sol. H 2-3 (a.e.t) 31.10 LoW Total Network Sol. A 0-0 07.11 LoW Newtown H 5-0 J.Williams 2, Evans, Knott, S.Williams 14.11 LoW Bangor City A 2-1 Evans, Griffiths 28.11 LoW Holywell Town H 0-0 05.12 LoW Rhyl A 0-1In the 1998-99 season of the League of Wales, Aberystwyth held the longest unbeaten run from the start of the season. That run finally came to an end a fortnight ago, but it has nevertheless propelled the mid-Wales side into the top three of the League of Wales table.
That success began on the opening day of the season, when a goal from Barry boy, Leigh Vick, and a thunderous shot from player-chairman, Donald Kane, brought about a 2-1 victory over newly-promoted Afan Lido.
It was a bit more difficult for Aber a week later, as they entertained Inter Cabletel at Park Avenue, and the Cardiff side were 1-0 up until a sending off allowed Martyn Griffiths to find the net in injury time and earn Aber a point in the 1-1 draw.
More to the taste of Aberystwyth's footballing public was a 5-2 thrashing inflicted upon Carmarthen Town at Richmond Park. Ryan Nicholls got Aber off to a flying start with a 3rd minute goal, and he was joined on the scoresheet by Jonathan Williams, Glyndwr Hughes, and former Barry player, Phil Johnson, all of whom scored before half-time. Settling the scoreline, Matthew Harrison made it five goals after half-time.
Aberystwyth's good form continued in an away match against highly-fancied Cwmbran Town, with Gavin Allen notching his first goal of the season 66 minutes into the encounter.
Back at Park Avenue, Aber eased to a comfortable 3-1 victory over Conwy, which saw the Black & Greens keep their spot at the top of the table. Jonathan Williams and Phil Johnson gave Aber the lead before half-time before Gavin Allen sealed the win with 15 minutes remaining.
Aber's good fortune didn't run in all competitions, though, as the mid-Walians took an early exit from the Gilbert League of Wales Cup. They lost 2-1 at home to Inter Cabletl, with only Gavin Allen's 31st minute goal to keep the Park Avenue faithful happy.
Traveling to Connah's Quay Nomads the following weekend, Aber were unable to end September on a high note, with the match ending a 0-0 draw.
Andy Evans earnt Aber a point at home to Caernarfon Town, with the North Walians pinching a point at Park Avenue.
However, away to traditional rivals and bogey side, the Black & Greens kept their composure, and raced into a 3-0 lead. Andy Evans scored first, with Glyndwr Hughes also finding the net before half-time. Jonathan Williams's 65th minute seemed to secure the points, but Caersws sent a few shivers down the spines of the Aber support as they pulled it back to 3-2. Nevertheless, Aber clung on for the three points.
They were not so lucky against other mid-Walian opposition, though, as they played Total Network Solutions in the second round of the Welsh Cup. On a Friday night in Llansantffraid, the match ended at two apiece, but Aber seemed certain to go through in the reply, leading 2-0 with five minutes remaining. However, T.N.S had other ideas, and after equalising, they went on and won the tie, dumping Aber out of the Welsh Cup.
The weather interfered with their League of Wales home match against Rhayader Town, while a further meeting with Total Network Solutions saw the two sidees cancel each other out in their League of Wales match, and the game ended in a goalless draw.
That was prior to the piece de resistance of the Aberystwyth season so far - a 5-0 hammering of local rivals, Newtown. Only Andy Evans got on the scoresheet in the first half, but the Aber forwards ran riot in the second half. Jonathan Williams scored twice, while his brother Stephen was also on target. Scoring his first goal since moving to Aber a week earlier was former Barry player, Gareth Knott.
Aber continued their fine form with a 2-1 away win over Bangor City, with two first half goals sealing the points. Andy Evans opened the scoring in the 13th minute with Martyn Griffiths adding to it on the half-hour.
However, Aber's record has come slightly unstuck. At home they drew with Holywell Town, despite press reports that they'd lost to the North Walians.
However, the unbeaten run finally came to an end two weeks ago on a visit to 'Sunny Rhy', where a single goal from the home side was enough to defeat Aberystwyth.
The Black & Greens are currently third in the League of Wales table, with a game in hand on Cwmbran in second position.
ABERYSTWYTH TOWN APPEARANCES 1998-99
(League of Wales only - maximum 13)
NAME FULL APPS. SUB APPS. GOALS ALLEN, Gavin 6 1 2 CAREE, Andrew 0 1 0 CROMPTON, Martin 2 5 0 EVANS, Andy 5 2 4 EVANS, Ian 1 0 0 FLEMING, Hayden 12 1 0 GRIFFITHS, Martyn 6 7 2 GRIFFITHS, Peter 0 4 0 HARRISON, Matthew 2 2 1 HUGHES, Glyndwr 8 3 2 HUGHES, Mark 3 3 0 JOHNSON, Phil 13 0 2 JONES, Martin 5 0 0 KANE, Donald 13 0 1 KINNONMONTH, Stuart 3 0 0 KNOTT, Gareth 5 0 1 LEWIS, Gari 12 0 0 NICHOLLS, Ryan 5 1 1 SIMON, Neil 0 1 0 THOMAS, Aneurin 8 0 0 THOMAS, Arron 0 1 0 TUCKER, Adrian 5 2 0 VICK, Leigh 13 0 1 WILLIAMS, Jonathan 13 0 5 WILLIAMS, Stephen 0 5 1
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This page edited by the Yellow Dragon, 1999.
This article first published in the Barry Town matchday magazine, v Aberystwyth Town, 19.12.1998, League of Wales
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