CRAIG Williams’ deft lob in first half injury time earned interim manager Wyn Thomas his second consecutive victory in the Dafabet Welsh Premier Play Off Conference - with another clean sheet.

The Seasiders are one point adrift of seventh-placed Bangor City, as they continue their push for a place in the play-offs for Europe away at Haverfordwest County this Saturday.

Aber welcomed back talisman Chris Venables from suspension, with Ross Stephens dropping to the bench, but the hosts started slightly stronger, with Chay Dysart heading wide, before John Owen’s strike forced a save from Mike Lewis.

Aberystwyth, however, worked their way into the game and they went on to take the initiative, with Williams playing in Geoff Kellaway, who saw his shot blocked.

Cledan Davies then set Williams down the left flank and he pulled the ball back for Rhys Griffiths, who fired just over the crossbar.

Zac Corbett and Corey Williams sent efforts off target for Rhyl, and then Levi Mackin burst through the middle and sent in a pile-driver which was kept out by a great right handed stop from Lewis.

Rhyl, however, looked vulnerable at the back and Griffiths saw his downward header from a Williams free kick touched to safety by keeper Terry McCormick.

Then, in the second minute of injury time, a sublime diagonal pass from Venables from his own half found Williams, and as McCormick rushed out of his box, the winger beautifully lofted the ball high beyond the home keeper and into the net.

Aber were soon creating chances again in the second half as the imperious Venables picked out Kellaway with another superb cross-field pass, but his low shot was saved by McCormick’s legs, before Jonathan Evans fired over from 18 yards.

Dysart set up Connor Bell, who hit the side netting for Rhyl, but then Aber underlined themselves as the more dangerous attacking side, as Evans set up Kellaway again down the right, but his low strike went just beyond the far post.

Evans then delivered a great ball into the box, but McCormick cleared the danger just before Griffiths could nip in.

Rhyl came back once again with a number of corners and free kicks in dangerous areas, but Aber’s back four of Antonio Corbisiero, Jones, Lee Surman and Cledan Davies defended stoutly, with excellent support from their colleagues.

Rhyl sub Josh Gordon brought a save from Lewis, who was happy to gather the ball at the second attempt, but at the other end Venables headed another quality Williams free kick at McCormick, and then saw a late attempt trickle just past the post, as Aber saw the job through.

RHYL: T McCormick, L Benson (M Walsh 60), I Touray, C Dysart, S Wright, L Mackin, D Mannix (J Gordon 68), C Bell, J Owen, C Williams, Z Corbett (R Hughes 80). Subs not used: D Keates, C Langton, L Fitzpatrick, C Taylor.

ABERYSTWYTH TOWN: M Lewis, A Corbisiero, C Davies, S Jones, L Surman, G Kellaway (R Stephens 88), C Venables, C Williams, S James, J Evans, R Griffiths. Subs: W Thomas, J Rimmer, T Jones, N Blake, K Owen. Attendance: 301. Referee: Mark Petch.