AFTER sliding to their first defeat at Park Avenue this season, Aberystwyth Town manager Matthew Bishop is looking for a positive response from his players at Bala Town on Friday (ko 7.45pm).

The Seasiders were unable to stand in the way of second-placed Gap Connah’s Quay, in their bid to return to winning ways, as three second half goals cancelled out a fine early strike from Chris Jones.

Defeat meant that Aberystwyth slipped out of a top six position, but manager Bishop is now looking for a positive response from his team against the fourth-placed side at Maes Tegid.

“I thought we did well in the first half, we kept our shape well and our discipline, and it was a great goal from Chris,” said Bishop after the game.

“In the second half we lost our concentration a little bit, and we gave them some of their goals.

“But they are a good team, they are second in the league for a reason, and they had been on an unbeaten run up until last weekend.

“They get labelled as a long ball team, but they showed in the second half that they can play, and they will be a handful for anybody.

“I’m disappointed with the 3-1 defeat, but I can’t argue with the result, if I’m honest. I don’t think that we deserved to win the game.”

Aber were pressed back for long periods, but Bishop was left disappointed by the three goals they conceded - and after letting in just one goal in the previous three matches, he will look to his side to maintain their focus defensively.

Despite the defeat, after two wins and a draw at home, the Seasiders are still just one point adrift of sixth-placed Cardiff Met, and there is everything to play for in eight remaining games before the split.

Bishop added: “If we had done what we’d done in the first half, we might have got something from it.

“It’s down to concentration levels, that’s the difference between winning and losing sometimes.

“It’s the end of our unbeaten run, and our first defeat at home, which isn’t nice, but it will also now give us another chance to go again.

“It’s been a while since we’ve been on the road, hopefully we can get something from the game and then go on another home run.”

Aberystwyth have switched Friday’s match from Park Avenue to Maes Tegid in order to accommodate some remedial works to one of the floodlights at the ground.

The reverse match against Bala has now been switched, and will be played at Park Avenue on Friday, 25 November (ko 7.45pm).

Friday’s match will see the Seasiders take on a Bala Town side that includes former skipper Stuart Jones and last season’s top scorer Chris Venables.

The Seasiders have been boosted by the recall of Cledan Davies, from a loan spell at Caersws, and Jac Rimmer from Penrhyncoch.

It follows the departure of Jonathan Evans to Penrhyncoch and goalkeeper Dom Richards, who has not featured with the first team since the start of October, back to Stourport Swifts.

Meanwhile Aberystwyth’s loan goalkeeper Chris Mullock has become the first-ever goalkeeper to win the Goal of the Month competition for his remarkable 65-yard free kick against Rhyl - the first ever Welsh Premier goal to be scored on Park Avenue’s 3G pitch.WELSH CUP DRAWAT Monday evening’s Welsh Cup draw, Aberystwyth were paired at home with Cymru Alliance side Holywell Town in the third round.

It will be the third Welsh Cup meeting between the sides in four seasons, and Aber effectively qualified for the Europa League by beating the Wellmen 3-1 in the 2014 semi-final match at Newtown.

Aber also beat the same opposition in the Welsh Cup fourth round in February 2015, on penalties, after a 0-0 draw at Halkyn Road.

Meanwhile Penrhyncoch’s reward for beating Ruthin is a trip to Welsh Premier side Rhyl, with the ties to be played on 2-4 December.

JD Welsh Cup Third Round draw: Aberystwyth Town v Holywell; Bala Town v Caldicot Town; Caernarfon v Carmarthen; Cardiff Met Uni v Porthmadog; Cefn Druids v Llantwit Major; Gap Connahs Quay v Goytre Utd; Greenfield v Guilsfield; Haverfordwest v Afan Lido; Llandudno v Goytre; Llanelli Town v Ynysygerwn; Llanfair v Corwen; Newtown v The New Saints; Penybont v Airbus UK Broughton; Prestatyn v Holyhead Hotspur; Rhyl v Penrhyncoch; Ton Pentre v Bangor.