ABERYSTWYTH Town had to settle for a hard earned 1-1 draw as they extended their unbeaten run to seven games against a well-organised Carmarthen side under the lights at Park Avenue on Friday night.

Declan Walker’s 10th minute header put Aber in control, but a failure to further capitalise on their first half dominance allowed the visitors back into the game through a Liam Thomas penalty on 55 minutes - and the points were shared.

Aber made one change to the starting side that had won away at Bala as Rio Ahmadi replaced Joe Phillips, to join strike partner Ash Ruane as a central striker.

It was the visitors who started the game brightest, with Terry McCormick being forced into two fine saves in five minutes.

The Aber keeper parried Luke Cummings’ palm-stinger away from goal, before producing a great reaction save with his right foot to deny Mael Davies.

Aber slowly began to find their feet as Mathew Jones and Paulo Mendes took control in midfield, and they took the lead with their first meaningful attack.

Mendes won the ball in midfield and played in Wes Baynes, who delivered a whipped cross for Declan Walker to produce an excellent header into the bottom right corner of keeper Lee Idzi’s net.

The goal gave the hosts a surge of confidence, and when Ash Ruane harried Dave Vincent off the ball, he struck a half volley that seemed destined for the top corner, only for Idzi to produce a fine save.

Alan Goodall turned and volleyed a left-footed effort inches wide of the post, and then Baynes found Mendes in the area, only for his header to loop over the bar.

Aber continued to press forward as Jones, Walker and Mendes continued to win the midfield battle, with Ryan Edwards causing havoc on the left flank.

On the stroke of half time, Mendes found himself in behind the visitors back line once more, but was denied by a fantastic last ditch tackle by Ceri Morgan.

Carmarthen shuffled their pack at the break, with Sean Hanbury replacing Ceri Morgan, and the change lifted them.

The first chance of the second half did fall to Aber though, as Baynes delivered another superb cross to Ruane, who was unable to direct his header towards goal.

Then, on 55 minutes the game was turned on its head as Carmarthen were awarded a penalty kick, after Luke Bowen had smashed the ball against the hand of Steff Edwards from close range.

Ref Iwan Griffith pointed to the spot, and Liam Thomas stepped up and converted the spot kick to McCormick’s right.

The equaliser gave the visitors a lift, and Luke Bowen was denied by some great defending from Aber’s Ryan Wollacott.

The Seasiders introduced Joe Phillips and Geoff Kellaway in place of Ahmadi and Mendes on 70 minutes, but they continued to struggle to find a way through.

The final 10 minutes became a scrappy affair, with neither side able to produce flowing football, but Declan Carroll came closest to finding a winner when he tested McCormick with a long range effort.

The home supporters sensed there may be one last opportunity to notch their third stoppage time winner in a row, but it wasn’t to be as the visitors defended staunchly and the honours ended even.

ABERYSTWYTH TOWN: T McCormick, W Baynes, S Edwards, A Goodall, R Wollacott, P Mendes (J Phillips 70 minutes), PAhmadi (G Kellaway 70 minutes), D Walker, R Edwards, M Jones, A Ruane. Subs not used: J Rimmer, L Jenkins, N Blake, H Rowe, N Coleridge.

CARMARTHEN TOWN: L Idzi, J Knott, D Vincent, L Surman, M Davies, L Cummings, C Morgan (S Hanbury 46’), D Carroll, L Thomas, L Bowen, J Vickers (C Hanford 75’). Subs not used: J Woodford, D Thomas, L Baldwin.

Attendance: 374. Referee: Iwan Griffith.