TWO late goals by Cardiff Met saw them come from behind to defeat Aberystwyth Town 3-2 at Park Avenue in the opening game of the new Cymru Premier season.

Aber had twice led after excellent goals from Jonathan Evans and Rhys Davies, but Met hit back through Eliot Evans and Olly Hulbert, with a brace, to see the Archers come away with all three points.

Gavin Allen’s new-look Aber side, who had lined up with six locally based players on the field, and a further three on the bench, had started the match brightly and took the lead in the 13th minute.

A long cross-field pass found Jonathan Evans in acres of space, and the former Penrhyncoch man, now in his third spell with Aber, cut inside before rifling a shot into the top right hand corner of the net.

The goal was much to the delight of the locked-out Aber supporters, who had gathered to watch the game from an open double decker bus and on top of a white van outside the far end of the ground.

A succession of corners, free-kicks and long throws into the Aber box saw the Archers attempt to pressurise Alex Pennock’s goal, but the centre half partnership of Sam Barnes and Lee Jenkins dealt well with the pressure from the students.

On a glorious autumnal day, the game heated up when a mix-up over a throw-in saw Jamie Veale and Chris Baker tangle, resulting in a big tussle in the Aber half, and Harry Warwick and Veale were recipients of yellow cards for their actions.

With two minutes to go until the interval, Aber were fortuitous to still hold the lead as Met carved out their best chance by some distance of the opening stanza.

Barnes’ pass was intercepted in the Aber half, the ball was quickly worked out to the right hand side and crossed into the box, but Warwick failed to capitalise.

On the stroke of half-time, the Seasiders were denied when a free-kick on the edge of the box was sweetly struck by Veale, who saw his curling effort was superbly saved by Alex Lang, who was able to force the ball onto the bar and to safety.

In the second half both sides looked to utilise their respective right flanks and the visitors nearly saw some joy from one such move. The dangerous Eliot Evans cut in and saw his shot blocked, and despite strong protestations from the Archers, referee Rob Jenkins was uninterested.

Met did get their equaliser midway through the second half when keeper Pennock was only able to parry a shot, with the ball falling to the feet of the grateful Evans, who slotted the ball beneath the keeper to level the scores.

The goal rejuvenated the hosts and they nearly retook the lead immediately. The right hand side was again the avenue for the attack, with Evans being the outlet.

His shot was well stopped by Lang in the middle of the posts, but the rebound was hooked clear by the Met defence before sub Rhys Davies could get a touch.

Five minutes later, Aber were in front as some sterling hold up play from the tireless Steff Davies up front played in his namesake Rhys, who took one touch to compose himself before drilling home across the keeper - to spark jubilant celebrations inside and outside the ground.

Met were still dangerous, and came close to a second leveller when Warman attacked down the left side and crossed into the box, but Pennock made amends for his earlier parried shot by holding onto the ball from the onrushing Hulbert.

They got their equaliser with less than 10 minutes to play. Met deployed their long throw, and a flick on at the near post allowed Hulbert to hook the ball home.

It was then heartbreak for Aber in the final few minutes when the long throw was again the effective method of attack. Hulbert connected - and the ball hit the inside of the post and went over the line, to break the hosts’ hearts, despite Marc Williams’ valiant effort to keep it out.

ABERYSTWYTH TOWN: A Pennock, H Rowe, L Jenkins, S Barnes, J Veale, M Williams, S Davies, J Evans, G Owen (G Harry 88 minutes), O Jones (R Davies 55 minutes), J Rimmer. Substitutes not used: L Bradford, I Hughes, M Jones, R Ricketts, J Saunders.

CARDIFF MET: ALang, D Rees, K McCarthy (M Chubb 80 minutes), B Woolridge, E Evans, C Baker, H Warwick, C Corsby, O Hulbert, R Morgan, L Warman. Substitutes not used: W Fuller (gk), G Williams, H Horwood, A Ajibola-Gleed. Referee: Rob Jenkins.