Football

Seasiders grounded by Airbus

Principality Welsh Premier League

Airbus UK Broughton 3

Aberystwyth Town 1

ABERYSTWYTH Town could have no complaints about their first defeat in the restructured Welsh Premier League Super 12 after they were out-played, out-muscled, and out-thought by an impressive Airbus UK Broughton side, writes James Edwards.
The home side was quicker and stronger from the kick-off and they really could have won the game by an even bigger margin.
Alan Morgan’s men were playing their third league game of the season, and this was most certainly their biggest test so far.
The game was dominated by a strong wind, which was in Aber’s faces for the opening period, and to be fair to the Seasiders they dealt with it reasonably well.
Town keeper Steve Cann was called into action early on, as defender Matty Woodward hit a 25 yard screamer which brought an acrobatic save from Cann.
Four minutes later, Carl Owen brought another tidy save from Cann, as Owen outmuscled his defender and struck a fierce shot from the edge of the box, which led to Cann having to dive low to prevent the ex Porthmadog striker from breaking the deadlock.
Phil Clarke also went close for Airbus with another long range effort, and Andy Moran should have opened the scoring. A long kick up-field from keeper Kristian Rodgers evaded everyone and the ball fell kindly to Moran, but he couldn’t connect with the ball and the chance was wasted.
Aber’s only real chance of the first half fell to midfielder Luke Sherbon, but his effort on the half-volley went over the bar.
On the 45 minute mark, Airbus were awarded a dubious penalty. Luke Sherbon was adjudged to have brought Danny Desormeaux down in the area, and the referee pointed to the spot.
Carl Owen stepped up to take it and Aber keeper Steve Cann saved the penalty and sent it out for a corner kick. From the resulting corner, however, Airbus were awarded another penalty.
Luke Sherbon handled in the area and Moran took the penalty, this time no mistake as he coolly sent Steve Cann the wrong way.
The second half started in the same vein as the first ended. Carl Owen went through one on one with Cann, and the keeper pulled off a fine save to deny him.
On 50 minutes, Aber had a great chance to equalise. Lewis Codling came on for Ricky Evans at half time and he almost made an immediate impression.
Codling was put through on goal, and he then rounded keeper Kristian Rodgers but it was a fine last ditch goal-line clearance from Matty Woodward that prevented the Liverpudlian from opening his Seasiders’ account.
On 55 minutes Owen finally got the goal he deserved by racing through a lacklustre defence and finishing with an exquisite strike into the bottom corner.
Then, on 65 minutes, Airbus got the decisive goal, and it came from captain Mark Allen. Aber failed to clear a corner and the ball fell kindly to Allen, who hammered home from close range to guarantee the points would go to the Flintshire side.
The Aber defence was carved open yet again on 73 minutes; it was four on one for Airbus and they really should have done better with the opportunity.
Gareth Hughes was left stranded on his own as four Airbus players came charging into the penalty box, and luckily for Aber, Ashley Williams blazed over when gifted a glorious chance.
Much to Aber’s credit they kept going, and pushed defender Aneurin Thomas up front, and this seemed to pay dividends.
Lewis Codling went on a weavy run and shot from the edge of the box, but a wild ricochet fell to Thomas and he hammered his volley into the bottom corner.
It’s back to the drawing board now for Aber as they host Carmarthen Town on Tuesday in the League Cup and are then at home to Prestatyn on Saturday.
Having conceded seven goals in three matches, Alan Morgan will be looking for his side to tighten things up in defence.

AIRBUS BROUGHTON: K Rogers, P Clarke, R Edwards, M Woodward, M Allen, A Williams, J Abraham (M Cook 69), D Desormeaux, C Owen (N Rushton 78), A Moran, R Dorman. Not Used: L Clowes, R Roberts.
ABERYSTWYTH TOWN: S Cann, G Hughes (J McCarten 66), M Howard, A Thomas, S James, C Murtagh, B Morgan (S Edwards 61), R Marriot, L Powell, R Evans (L Codling 45), L Sherbon. Unused: A Finselbach.
Referee: L Evans. Attendance: 146.

Pictured above: Aberystwyth's Bari Morgan.