ABERYSTWYTH Town maintained their excellent recent home form on Friday as they beat Llandudno 3-1, to remain seven points clear of the bottom two places in the JD Welsh Premier League.

First half goals from John Owen and Declan Walker, from the penalty spot, put Aber on track for a crucial three points, before an injury time goal from Craig Hobson finally secured Aber’s sixth win in eight home games in all competitions.

Marc Williams’ second half strike threatened a comeback for the visitors, but the home win saw Nev Powell’s side climb to within three points of ninth-placed Llandudno - and within five points of top spot in the Play Off Conference.

Powell made one change to the starting side that had lost at Barry Town six days earlier, with Malcolm Melvin replacing Craig Rogers, and Ashley Young dropping back into the centre back position.

On a freezing night at Park Avenue, Aber quickly warmed the crowd as they took a fifth minute lead through Owen. The former Rhyl and Llandudno marksman gathered a loose ball on the edge of the penalty area, before making space to fire a low, right-footed shot into the bottom corner of keeper Alex Lynch’s netAber pressed on for a second goal, with Malcolm Melvin seeing his tame effort easily collected by the visiting keeper.

On 21 minutes, however, the visitors had a golden opportunity to get back into the game as Tom Dix was fouled in the penalty area, but Sam Hart dragged his spot kick wide of Chris Mullock’s post.

Soon after, drama ensued at the other end as Aber were awarded a penalty of their own, with Hart being adjudged to have handled the ball in the penalty area.

Declan Walker stepped up and fired home the spot kick into the top right hand corner, to double Aber’s advantage.

The hosts began to take control of the game with continued pressure on the visitors’ back line, with Damien Allen and Melvin controlling the midfield expertly.

On 34 minutes, Ashley Young whipped a dangerous cross into the penalty area that was cleared in the nick of time by Llandudno defender Danny Shaw, and Aber saw out the first half comfortably.

Llandudno started the second half brightly, however, and on 48 minutes they found a way back into the game when Danny Hughes played in Wes Baynes, who crossed for Marc Williams to convert at the near post and make it 2-1.

Suddenly the momentum of the game swung in favour of the visitors, as they began to commit more players forward.

They nearly levelled matters when Danny Shaw’s header clipped the crossbar, before Danny Hughes saw his brilliant half-volley sail inches wide of the far post.

Aber were hanging on to their slender lead, as Young and Ryan Wollacott battled for every ball in the heart of defence.

On 63 minutes, Craig Hobson came on for Aber in place of Damien Allen, and the ex-Altrincham striker soon latched on to a brilliant pass by Melvin to race through on goal, only to be denied by an outstanding finger-tip save from Lynch.

Aber’s No 9 was again in the thick of the action as he came close to converting from a goalmouth scramble, before also seeing a back post header cannon off the base of the post and out for a goal kick.

The visitors refused to go down without a fight, however, and on 84 minutes they again went close when keeper Mullock produced a brilliant save to deny Hart.

As the game entered the final minutes, Aber used all their game management nous to see out the win - and in stoppage time, the victory was sealed as Owen scampered down the left wing before cutting in and setting up Hobson to bury his fourth goal of the season to make it 3-1.

ABERYSTWYTH TOWN: C Mullock, D Walker, R Wollacott, T Owens, M Melvin, J Owen, R Wade, M Jones (C Rogers 78 minutes), A Young, D Allen (C Hobson 65’), J Phillips (L Borrelli 90’). Substitutes, not used: G Kellaway, J Rimmer, A Walters (gk).

LLANDUDNO: A Lynch, W Baynes, D Shaw, M Williams, J Joyce, T Dix (J Carey 90’), S Hart (M Williams 90’), D Hughes, T Jones, R Parry, M Williams. Subs not used: P Rutter (gk), H Jones. Referee: B Markham-Jones. Att: 286.Read manager Neville Powell's comments in this week's Aberystwyth edition.