Aberystwyth Town 1 Cardiff Met 1

FULL TIME

Aberystwyth thought they had the three points in the bag when substitute Owain Jones fired them ahead on 79 minutes but they were pegged back by an Ollie Hulbert effort in the third minute of stoppage time.

Early first half chances were few and far between with a last ditch tackle preventing Marc Williams from getting a strike on goal for the hosts while former Seasider Dylan Rees’ strike from distance failed to trouble Connor Roberts in goal.

Manager Gavin Allen replaced the suspended Lee Jenkins with Rhys Davies in the the backline with Harry Franklin returning from suspension and Ian Kearney making his first matchday squad.

Stephen Hewitt fired from long distance on the quarter hour mark but it sailed wide of keeper Alex Lang’s far post.

Jamie Reed, who notched his 100th Cymru Premier goal in the defeat of Cefn Druids, then threatened a breakthrough for the Black and Greens on 19 minutes, heading just wide after brilliant work down the right by Jonathan Evans and a pinpoint cross.

The home side were playing well but Roberts had to be alert to cut out a loose back pass with Eliot Evans lurking.

And the visitors went close again on the half hour mark in what could have been a shout for goal of the season, Kyle McCarthy rattling the post with a superb volley from the edge of the area, the ball hitting the inside of the woodwork before being cleared.

The Archers were looking the more likely team to open the scoring with Roberts forced into action again moments later to deny Ollie Hulbert who was put through for a one-on-one.

At the other end, Reed beat the offside trap but his shot was comfortably stopped by Lang.

The half ended goalless with Cardiff Met having the better of the chances but the Seasiders held their own in an entertaining half.

After being rescued by the woodwork in the first half, Aber were denied by the post and bar in the opening exchanges of the second stanza, when Louis Bradford’s header following a long throw-in somehow stayed out.

And from the resulting corner, Marc Williams’ header was cleared off the line in what was a lively start for the home side.

With both sides eager to break the deadlock, ex-Aber man Tom Price cut through the Seasiders’ defence but Roberts saved well.

Aber went close when a deep cross from the left hand side evaded everyone but Met managed to get it away in the nick of the time before Reed made way for substitute Owain Jones on 67 minutes.

And that substitution paid off when Jones pounced on a defensive mistake to loop a header over the stranded Lang on 79 minutes.

The visitors immediately pushed for an equaliser with Roberts forced to swoop into a low dive save to maintain the hosts’ slender lead.

But as Gavin Allen’s men looked set for the win, Hulbert swiveled in the penalty area and lashed home to equalise.

Aberystwyth host Cefn Druids on Tuesday night before facing Cardiff Met again on Friday night on their own patch.

Aberystwyth: Connor Roberts, Louis Bradford, Rhys Davies, Matty Jones, Steven Hewitt, Jack Thorn, Jamie Veale, Harry Franklin, Jonathan Evans, Marc Williams, Jamie Reed. Subs: Ian Kearney, Jon Owen, Owain Jones, Richie Ricketts, Joe Saunders, Geoff Kelloway, Rimmer