ABERYSTWYTH Town’s hopes of picking up their first Welsh Premier League win of the season were shattered after the sixth minute dismissal of Joe Culshaw, as Cardiff Met kept their focus to sentence them to a second defeat at Park Avenue.

A deflected strike by Joel Edwards on 32 minutes and an own goal from Jon McKenna on 65 ended the challenge of 10-man Aber, to leave the Seasiders with just one point from their first four matches.

Bolstered by the return of strikers Craig Hobson, John Owen and Luke Borrelli, Aber were looking to make a positive start, but manager Neville Powell’s plans were thrown into disarray when Culshaw’s reckless tackle on Kyle McCarthy earned the left back a straight red card, with barely five minutes gone.

Chris Baker fired over for the visitors, but a tactical switch to move Kellaway and Owen up front improved Aber’s game immensely, and they went on to enjoy a purple patch from the quarter hour.

Kellaway surged down the left, but his cross just eluded Owen, before Kellaway then saw a near range lob tipped over the corssbar by visiting keeper Will Fuller.

Ryan Wollacott then headed just wide of goal from Cledan Davies’ corner, before Kellaway again surged forward to feed Owen, who narrowly missed the target.

With Met’s passing going astray, Aber looked on top and Fuller had to punch a rasping shot from Declan Walker wide, before palming an Owen cross to safety.

As in previous games, however, the hosts were punished for failing to convert, as Met came back into the match.

Adam Roscrow curled a shot wide, Elliot Evans sent a free kick straight at Chris Mullock, and then disaster struck as left back Edwards surged into the Aber box and his left wing cross was deflected past Mullock by McKenna for a soft opening goal, which was harsh on the Seasiders.

The goal changed the game, however, with Jordan Lam dancing past two home defenders before finding the side netting.

Evans then hit the post, before McCarthy missed from close range, and the Black and Greens were probably glad to hear the half time whistle, having battled hard with 10 men to make a game of it.

Aberystwyth created the first chance of the second half as Ashley Young released Kellaway, who burst forward before sending a low effort past the goal post.

With Aber imposing a high press on the visitors’ defence things were looking hopeful, and an even period ensued.

Evans was twice denied by keeper Mullock, before Kellaway’s goalbound back header drew an amazing tip over from Fuller, with home supporters howling for a penalty after an Aber player appeared to be hauled to the ground in the box.

With the match in the balance, however, the hosts were again punished as another soft cross from the right wing was deflected past Mullock by McKenna to double Met’s advantage and kill off the game.

Borrelli brought another save from Fuller with a sweet volley, but back came Met with Adam Roscrow twice going close.

Having made three subs Aber’s nightmare day was completed as John Owen hobbled off to reduce Town to nine men, and from here they did well not to concede further, with Mullock denying Charlie Corsby and Evans again in injury time.

ABERYSTWYTH TOWN: C Mullock, D Walker, J Spittle, R Wollacott, G Kellaway (J Rimmer 77 minutes), C Hobson (C Davies 16), J Owen, L Borrelli, J Culshaw, A Young, J McKenna (M Jones 71) . Sub not used: J Phillips.

CARDIFF MET: W Fuller, D Rees, J Edwards, B Woolridge, E Lewis, B Bowler (J Barnett 90), E Evans, C Baker, A Roscrow, K McCarthy (W Evans 78), J Lam (C Corsby 68). Subs not used: T Parker, R Morgan, D Evans (gk).

Attendance: 290. Referee: Lee Evans.Read all the reaction in this week's Aberystwyth edition