ABERYSTWYTH Town delivered when it mattered most to secure their Welsh Premier League survival and condemn Rhyl to the drop on a superb night at Park Avenue on Good Friday.

Defeat would have made Aber favourites for relegation, but they ended their home fixtures just as they had started their new era on the 3G pitch last October, with another excellent 4-0 win over the Lilywhites.

With Barry Town United well set to finish in the top two of the Welsh League, relegation to the Cymru Alliance now looks a certainty for Rhyl.

Aber assistant boss Tony Pennock was delighted with their performance as doubles from Luke Borrelli and John Owen, and his side’s third consecutive clean sheet, sealed the result they needed on a rain-swept night.

“When you ask the players to do a job, and they do it with the quality that they have done tonight, it’s extremely pleasing for all connected with the club,” he said after the game.

“In fairness to the boys, they had taken their chances last week at Llandudno, and they certainly have done this evening, with four great goals.

“We are just pleased that tonight is out of the way, and we have maintained our Welsh Premier League status, because a club this size should not be in the trouble it has been in.

“Football changes weekly, but I’ve been fortunate enough that before coming in, the boys had a good result against Cefn Druids and we’ve just built on that. Hopefully, we can continue that next week in the last game of the season against Newtown.”

Backed by superb home support, Aber settled well, with a series of dangerous crosses being dispatched from the right wing by Borrelli and Dan Alfei, with striker Mark Jones heading wide from one of them.

Phil Baker also headed inches wide from Cledan Davies’ corner and Jones went close twice more from deliveries by Malcolm Melvin and Davies, with the Dias Stand baying for a goal.

Rhyl’s Mike Walsh fired over and then flashed a free kick past the Aber goal in a rare foray, but back came Aber again as Jones released Geoff Kellaway down through the middle, but his effort flashed just wide.

Undeterred, and with Jack Rimmer replacing the injured Jamie Crowther after 20 minutes, Aber pressed on.

They made the breakthrough on 26 minutes when the hard working Borreli won a corner down the left and received the ball from Melvin, before smashing a low strike into the net.

With Sam Rodon and Baker excellent in the air, the visitors were reduced to long range efforts, with Steve Lewis trying a hopeful punt.

Aber, however, seemed to have doubled their lead when a nice move saw Melvin feed Kellaway down the left before the winger volleyed home, but the linesman’s flag ruled it out.

As the rain abated, Aber enjoyed a let off when the livewire Toby Jones turned on a sixpence inside the penalty area before crashing a volley off the post, but the hosts were certainly good value for their half time lead.

They maintained standards after the break, with Borrelli again causing havoc and Ryan Wollacott seeing an attempt blocked as Aber’s high press continued to disrupt Rhyl’s efforts.

Frontrunner Jones, leading the line well, nearly slipped Kellaway in again, only for the pass to be blocked.

Baker came off after a strong hour for Aber, to be replaced by ex-Rhyl striker John Owen, and the Gwynedd goal-getter was soon into the action.

He surged down the middle and combined with Rimmer to create a good opening, and five minutes after coming on he doubled the lead.

After beating Mike Sharples on the half way line, he beared down on Dan Lavercombe’s goal and slotted under the keeper for 2-0 on 64 minutes.

Two minutes later Borrelli sneaked into the left flank to bury a third goal under Lavercombe, and Aber’s supporters were singing in the rain.

Borrelli and Jones went close again, before Rhyl sub Zyaac Edwards had a shot deflected out for a corner kick.

Visiting supporters in the Dias Stand threw flares onto the field, but Aber were not distracted and Borrelli was so close to completing a hat-trick when his dipping, curling volley whizzed past Lavercombe’s far post.

Then with seven minutes to go Kellaway broke down the right and sent in a perfect cross, which Owen converted from five yards to seal Aber’s most significant win of the season.

A mighty roar greeted the salvation that was confirmed by referee David Morgan’s final whistle, with Aber’s 25-year unbroken membership of the Welsh Premier League still intact.

ABERYSTWYTH: C Mullock, C Davies, S Rodon, P Baker (J Owen 59), J Crowther (J Rimmer 19), G Kellaway, L Borrelli (S Ewart 87), R Wollacott, M Melvin, D Alfei, M Jones. Subs not used: L Sherbon, D Jones, J Crowl, D Hopton.

RHYL: D Lavercombe, M Sharples, J Jones, M Walsh (Z Edwards 65), S Lewis, T Jones, J Bell, O Buckley (C Langos 56), L Coyle (T Hartley 39), C Rimmer, A Jones.

Subs not used: C Durkin, K Pierce, R Crowther. Referee: D Morgan. Att: 735.