CYMRU Alliance club Caersws hit back strongly to complete a thrilling 4-3 victory over Central Wales Senior Challenge Cup holders Aberaeron to end 2017 on a high.

The third round tie was a great advertisement for Central Wales football, with the Spar Mid Wales League One side forging ahead, before the Bluebirds hit back with a rousing second-half fightback.

Aberaeron led on 13 minutes with Mattie Davies heading home a deep free-kick from Mike Gornall to break the deadlock.

The Seasiders soon doubled their lead with Chris Wilkins racing onto a throughball from James Hemmings to net as the Ceredigion outfit established a two goal advantage inside 25 minutes.

Caersws struggled to find any momentum in the first-half, but they almost reduced the arrears against the run of play on 37 minutes when Luke Roughley rounded keeper Oliver Fairbrother, only for Elwyn Edwards to block on the line.

Aberaeron, however, could have put the tie to bed by half-time, with Davies denied by the woodwork, before Wilkins tested Caersws goalkeeper David Jones.Bluebirds' boss Graham Evans rung the changes at half-time, with the introduction of Lance Jones and Aron Hughes-Jones, while switching the home formation in an effort to get a foothold in the tie.

They were soon applying pressure with captain Jake Parr’s right wing cross met by Luke Sherbon, who tested Fairbrother.

Caersws were back in the game on the hour as Lance Jones found Steve Blenkinsop, who turned on the edge of the area and fired home an unstoppable shot.

Sherbon spooned over from close range before Caersws levelled with 20 minutes to go with a deep cross from Parr, headed home on the far post by Blenkinsop.

Just five minutes later the comeback was complete, with Sherbon racing through as the Seasiders defence froze to round Fairbrother and slot into an empty net.

Then, with 10 minutes remaining Gavin Samuel was ruled to have impeded Davies in the area, and the ex-Caersws striker held his nerve to slot home the penalty.

Caersws were awarded a penalty of their own with five minutes remaining, with Blenkinsop clattered by Edwards.

Rhydian Davies’ spot kick, however, was saved by Fairbrother, before the ex-Aberystwyth midfielder fired a second effort over the bar when the penalty had to be re-taken, due to an infringement.

Davies saved his blushes at the death with a composed finish past Fairbrother, after Sherbon had raced onto a long ball to square from the left as Caersws finally ended the Seasiders’ brave challenge..

CAERSWS: D Jones, Parr, P Jones (L Jones), Samuel, Ry Davies (Hughes-Jones), G Jones, Rh Davies, E Jones, Blenkinsop, Sherbon, Roughley (Rimmer). Subs: Jor Dean, Jod Dean

ABERAERON: Fairbrother, Lloyd, Lewis, Bourne, Edwards, Hemmings, Wilkins, Gornall, Davies, Jacques, M Clark. Substitutes: S Clark, I Evans, Hughes.