ABERYSTWYTH Town gained a thoroughly deserved point as they battled to a 1-1 draw against Cardiff Met in front of the television cameras, on a chilly Saturday evening at the Cyncoed Campus.

In what was one of Aber’s finest away performances of the season, John Mckenna flicked in Ashley Young’s free kick in the 59th minute, to cancel out Eliot Evans 45th minute opening goal for the hosts.

Neville Powell made two changes from the New Year’s Day defeat to Carmarthen, with midfielders Malcolm Melvin and new signing Tom Owens replacing Craig Hobson and John McKenna in the side.

Owens, who has joined from Radcliffe Borough, showed his determination as he flew into an early challenge with Met full back Kyle McCarthy - showing the intensity that the visitors had perhaps been lacking in their previous three matches.

The first chance of the game came in the 19th minute, as Ryan Wade sent a long-range effort just over the crossbar. Soon after, Malcolm Melvin went even closer as his shot sailed inches over, following an excellent cut back by Declan Walker.

Melvin was again in the thick of the action on 36 minutes, producing a wonderful pivot turn and volley inside the penalty area that narrowly missed the crossbar.

On 45 minutes, however, Met were awarded a contentious free kick on the edge of the penalty area, after a nasty clash of heads between Ryan Wollacott and Met striker Dan Spencer, which resulted in both players having to leave the field - with Wollacott being replaced in Aber’s central defence by John McKenna.

Eliot Evans stepped up and curled an inch perfect strike into the top corner, leaving Aber keeper Chris Mullock with no chance, to make it 1-0 at the interval.

Aber came out for the second half with a similar tempo and intensity, and Malcolm Melvin and Ashley Young bossed the midfield with some slick passing.

On 56 minutes an equaliser somehow eluded Aber as Tom Owens latched on to John Owen’s back-heel to rattle the crossbar, before the rebound struck the knee of Luke Borrelli and ricocheted wide.

The rub of the green seemed to be with the hosts as they survived another scare when Melvin again sent an effort wide - but on 59 minutes Aber finally found the equaliser they so thoroughly deserved.

Ashley Young delivered a wicked ball into the penalty area from a free kick on the left flank, and John McKenna was left unmarked to glance the ball into the bottom corner to make it 1-1, and send Aber’s excellent vocal supporters into raptures.

Then on 63 minutes, the visitors very nearly took the lead as Luke Borrelli rose at the far post to head the ball just inches wide from Declan Walker’s deep cross.

Geoff Kellaway and Craig Hobson were introduced from the substitutes’ bench to try and find the winning goal that the Seasiders deserved - but to their credit the students dug in their heels and stood firm for a hard-earned share of the spoils.

CARDIFF MET: W Fuller, D Rees, K McCarthy, J Edwards, A James, J Barnett (H Owen 62’), E Evans, B Bowler, D Spencer (R Thomas 44’), C Baker, J Lam. Subs not used: G Howell, T Parker, R Morgan, D Evans (gk).

ABERYSTWYTH: C Mullock, D Walker, J Spittle, R Wollacott (J McKenna 44’), T Owens, M Melvin, J Owen, L Borrelli (G Kellaway 78’), R Wade (C Hobson 90’), M Jones, A Young. Subs not used: J Rimmer, J Phillips.

Attendance: 214. Referee: Nick Pratt.

Read manager Neville Powell’s reaction in this week’s Cambrian News.