MATTHEW Bishop could take many positives from the way that his newly assembled Aberystwyth Town side fought back against defending champions The New Saints at Park Hall on Sunday.

The Seasiders were trailing by two clear goals at the interval, but responded well in the second half to reduce the arrears with a superb free-kick from sub Chris Jones.

Bishop and assistant boss Wayne Jones were both encouraged by the commitment of their players, who are back on the road this Sunday away against Airbus UK.

“I think the biggest thing for us was the effort that the lads put in,” said the Aber manager. “We didn’t give up, which is a really important facet for this group, and the players kept going until the end.

“I said to the lads at half-time, let’s go back out and try to keep a clean sheet and try to go on and win the second half, and we have achieved that.

“The important thing is that we keep the confidence levels. There was no point going in at half-time and just shouting at the players.

“In the first half, we had chances to keep possession, but we gave the ball away cheaply. We played a shape that didn’t quite suit us, and we changed it at half-time.

“At the end of the day, we decided the tactics, and I held my hand up in front of the group and said that we were going to change it, and I thought it worked for us.

“We want to have players who can change the game, and have that bit of quality on the bench, and I think that we’ve got that.

“We’ve got Kurtis Marsh and Kostya Georgievsky to come in, and will be looking to improve the squad until the window closes.”

Ground developments at Park Avenue mean that Aber’s first 10 league matches of the season will all be away from Park Avenue, and the Seasiders continue their challenging start to the season on Sunday when they take on Airbus.

After news that manager Andy Preece had left the Wingmakers last week, their new boss Andy Thomas was delighted with the 1-0 win over Cardiff Met in his first game in charge last Sunday.

Thomas has strengthened his side by signing midfielder Ryan Edwards and ex-Aber player Ryan Fraughan, and Bishop is expecting another very tough assignment.

“We have nine more away matches, but if we put in the effort we put in today, and improve in a couple of areas, then hopefully we can go there and get something,” said the Aberystwyth manager.

The Seasiders will be taking a look at forward Greg Walters this week after he was forced off the field through injury, and replaced by Ricky Watts against TNS.

South Wales-based striker Josh Bull has been released from the squad, having found travelling incompatible with work demands, and Birkenhead-based striker Carl Lamb was also released last week.