ABERYSTWYTH Town finished off on the wrong end of a five-goal thriller at Park Avenue, after coming within inches of earning a valuable point in a 3-2 defeat to Caernarfon Town on Friday evening.

The visitors had taken the lead through Noah Edwards on 20 minutes, but back came Aber with an immediate response - and indeed a Goal of the Month contender - from in-form Joe Phillips on 25.

Ten minutes later Nathan Craig converted a penalty for the visitors, and when Leo Smith made it 3-1 on 54 minutes the game seemed won by the Cofis.

Paulo Mendes, however, headed Aber back into contention in the 90th minute and then Mathew Jones’ fantastic free kick rebounded off the crossbar in injury time to ensure a narrow defeat for Aber.With the sun setting majestically behind the Dias Stand, the match kicked off and a high pace in front of a good crowd of 452. Wes Baynes sent a shot wide, then set up Luke Boundford,who just failed to control the ball in a promising position.

Aber were disappointed not to be awarded a penalty for handball, and Tom Price scooped the resultant free kick just over the top, with Aber looking good.

Boundford chased down keeper Alex Ramsey for another half chance, however Caernarfon’s strong and combative play ensured they were always a threat too.

The Cofis drew first blood when Noah Edwards picked the ball up on the edge of the area and danced into space, before reversing the ball into the bottom corner.

Joe Phillips had a shot deflected for a corner, and then came his wonder goal.

Phillips picked up the ball on the left touchline, drifted inside and unleashed a super dipping volley which zoomed into the far top corner, with the help of a slight deflection - and the Seasiders were level.

Gareth Edwards headed wide for Caernarfon, before Price crossed in for Marc Williams to see a shot deflected wide, but then disaster struck for Aberystwyth.

A disputed penalty was awarded for a block by keeper Connor Roberts, after the ball had been played by Jamie Breese, and Nathan Craig buried the penalty.

Phillips almost equalised with a deep cross which Alex Ramsey almost carried into his net, and saw another shot blocked, but Caernarfon were dangerous.

Home goalkeeper Connor Roberts kept Aberystwyth in it with a superb stop in a one on one with Sion Bradley, and the Cofis went in at half-time with a 2-1 advantage.

Sub Matthew Jones sent in an early tester for Craig with a free kick just after the break, and then Stuart Jones pulled off a superb sliding tackle to deny Breese.

A fortunate deflection, however, saw the effervescent Smith run right through the back line to hammer home a third goal for the visitors, and the three points looked to be in the bag.

Smith saw another shot deflected wide, but Aber kept at it and Marc Williams shot dipped just wide after a lovely move, and he then curled another shot agonisingly wide of Ramsey’s left hand post.

Danny Brookwell sent a snap shot over, as did Noah Edwards not long afterwards, but the influential Williams set up sub Richie Ricketts down the left channel, but his effort went wide of the target.

Brookwell and Darren Thomas missed the target, but then Mathew Jones’ corner was glanced home in the box by Mendes, and Aber really went for it in injury time.

Williams earned a 93rd minute free kick, and Jones curled in a beauty which cannoned off the bar as the Cofis hung on to secure a narrow victory at Park Avenue.

ABERYSTWYTH TOWN: C Roberts, W Baynes, R Wollacott, R Edwards, M Williams, L Boundford (P Mendes 65’), S J. Jones, A Hughes (M Jones 46’), A Boss (R Ricketts 69’), T Price, J Phillips. Subs not used: A Pennock (gk), S Edwards, E Vaz, L Jenkins.

CAERNARFON TOWN: A Ramsay, J Williams, N Craig, G Edwards, J Crowther, J Breese (C Jones 78’), D Thomas, N Edwards (M Pearson 78’), R Williams, S Bradley (D Brookwell 62’), L Smith. Subs not used: G John, S Cavanagh. Referee: H Jones. Attendance: 452.