ABERYSTWYTH Town made a winning start to their new campaign as they came out on top in a seven-goal thriller away against last season’s Nathanial MG Cup finalists Cambrian and Clydach BGC.

In a potentially very tricky opening tie early goals from Marc Williams and summer signing Luke Boundford had appeared to put the Seasiders in control.

The hosts, however, hit back when they were awarded a 41st minute penalty, dispatched by Sam Jones, and then 10 minutes later a deflected shot from Liam Edwards brought the Rhondda side level.

Williams put Aber back into the lead on 61 minutes, only for Edwards to level again with a 74th minute stunner for 3-3 - but when Mathew Jones lobbed home Aber’s fourth goal, they held on for a win.

The Seasiders handed competitive debuts to Boundford, Ben Birch and the returning Stuart Jones and Joe Phillips, and the JD Cymru Premier side started well.

Mathew Jones glanced a left-footed curling free kick off the crossbar early on, and on nine minutes Aber took the lead as Phillips’ left wing surge and shot was parried to Williams, who finished with his low drive from the edge of the area.

Ex-Newtown man Boundford intercepted a back pass, but keeper Dan Bradley managed to keep the ball out - but then on 19 minutes Aber doubled their lead.

An excellent flowing move saw Williams feed Boundford, who dummied the keeper before slotting home for 2-0, and Aber looked in almost complete control.

Their pressure continued as Mathew Jones sent another free kick over the top, and Stuart Jones’ deep goalbound header was gathered on the line by Bradley.

Phillips saw a 35 yard volley drop just wide, and Boundford and Wes Baynes also missed the target - but then Cambrian came back with Liam Reed and Liam Edwards both testing Terry McCormick.

Birch headed wide for Aber, but with four minutes to go the hosts were handed an unlikely route back into the game as Edwards’ cross rebounded off Ryan Wollacott’s arm, and Jones netted the penalty.

When the second half kicked off, good work from midfielder Paulo Mendes set up Baynes, whose deep cross dropped just wide, but at the other end McCormick produced a great save to deny Sam Johnson in a one-on-one opportunity.

Cambrian again benefitted from a slice of good fortune on 51 minutes as Edwards’ effort deflected off a defender’s back, past McCormick for the equaliser.

Leon Jacka also lobbed wide for the home side, but Aber regained the lead when Wollacott crossed in from the right and Williams stayed onside to tap home.

Andrew Griffiths and Sam Jones blasted wide for Cambrian, and then Edwards burst through to equalise with a superb 30 yard volley into the right corner.

With no extra-time scheduled, a penalty shoot-out loomed, but then with eight minutes to go Phillips beat his man down the right and sent in a cross which was parried to Matthew Jones, who lobbed home calmly from the edge of the area.

Subs Steff Edwards, Geoff Kellaway and Alex Boss made their presence felt, with Kellaway denied by Bradley, before heading against the bar, and a Birch header was also tipped over by Bradley.

At the other end McCormick dived to nullify Jacka’s cross, and Edwards also needed to head the ball off the line in injury time, before the game was won - to secure Aber’s place in the last sixteen.

ABER: McCormick, Baynes, Birch, Wollacott, R Edwards, Mendes (S Edwards 75), Williams (Kellaway 75), Boundford (Boss 85), S Jones, M Jones, Phillips. Subs: Jenkins, Ricketts.