ABERYSTWYTH Town will be targeting a place in the quarter-finals of the JD Welsh Cup when they take on Cardiff Met University at Park Avenue on Saturday.

After a break from action last weekend, Nev Powell’s side is looking to end a disappointing run of six successive defeats that saw them miss out on a top six place.

They will face a Cardiff Met side that made history in winning their first piece of silverware last Saturday.

Two goals from Adam Roscrow sealed a 2-0 win over Cambrian and Clydach Vale BGC in the Nathaniel MG Cup Final, and they will travel to Aber with confidence.

Aber manager Powell, who is looking to make it back-to-back Welsh Cup finals with the Seasiders, is no stranger to success in the competition.

“I’ve had a great time in the Welsh Cup in my career,” said the Aberystwyth manager. “It’s a big competition and we want to do well in it. Last season we got to the final and you could see what it meant to the town. We all want to get there again.”

Last year was the seventh Welsh Cup final that Powell has been involved in, including a hat-trick with Bangor City between 2008 and 2010.

But Powell, whose side have not won since he picked up the Manager of the Month award for November, is looking for a turn in fortunes.

After a 2-1 defeat at Barry Town United last time out, Aber - who won 4-3 at Cwmamman in the previous round - want a positive response against the students.

“It was a good away performance, but in the last six games we have been gifting teams head starts, and you can’t do that at this standard,” commented Powell.

“We bossed the rest of the game and had good scoring chances, but we were desperately disappointed to lose.”

Having lost 4-1 at home to the Met in August, the Seasiders triumphed 3-2 at Cyncoed Campus in November.Aber secured a fantastic victory at Cyncoed Campus at the same stage of the competition last season, and will hope for the same outcome this time around.The JD Welsh Premier’s Phase Two fixtures will see the Seasiders restart their league campaign against Llandudno at Park Avenue next Friday, 1 February.

This will be followed by Friday evening away matches at Llanelli Town and Cefn Druids on 8 and 15 February, before hosting Cardiff Met on Saturday, 23 February.

The Seasiders ended the first phase in eighth position, and will be looking to finish the campaign in seventh in order to secure their place in the play-offs for Europe.

“We’ve got to learn that we can’t start games as we have been doing,” said Powell.

“We’re still in with a shout of seventh place, and the lads have got to believe that. If they play like they can, we will not be too far away.”

Meanwhile Aberystwyth have confirmed the signing of ex-Wales Under-19s international keeper Callum Preston to bolster their squad.

The 23 year old joins Aber after a brief break in his footballing career, having left Wrexham in summer 2018 to pursue a degree in sports writing and broadcasting.

Born in Stafford, he was brought up in Welshpool and was on the books of Liverpool and The New Saints, before joining Birmingham City’s academy in 2008, taking up a scholarship in 2012.

In senior football, he has played for Worcester City in the National League (North), made nine appearances for League Two Crawley Town in 2015, and has since played for Altrincham and Wrexham. He also won a cap for Wales Under-19s against Montenegro in April 2014.

Midfielder Jack Rimmer has meanwhile moved to Huws Gray Cymru Alliance neighbours Penrhyncoch, and he made his debut for Gari Lewis’ side last weekend in a 3-1 defeat at Flint.