AFTER their Welsh Cup third round exit against the The New Saints, Aberystwyth manager Ian Hughes was hoping that lessons will be learned when they return to Park Hall in the league on Friday night.

Depleted Aber were only able to name two players on the bench, due injuries and unavailability, and crashed out with a 3-0 loss to the full-timers - having fallen behind after nine minutes due to a goalkeeping error in the windy conditions.

It was always going to be a big challenge against the unbeaten Saints, who had also beat Aber 4-0 at Park Avenue in October, and are targeting a domestic treble.

“It’s always very tough to come here and play, and obviously with the wind it made it even tougher as we were fighting the elements,” Hughes to atfc.org.uk.

“Chris Venables had a decent chance to make it 2-1, and I think if he had done so, we could have maybe gone on and got something, and taken it to extra time.

“Momentum is massive in a game, we were getting on top, and had that chance gone in, it could have been different. We will have learnt from today’s defeat, so hopefully next week will be better for us.”

The Seasiders will still be without loan striker Jamie Reed against his registered club, but Hughes will hope to welcome back Jack Rimmer from illness as well as defender Lee Surman from suspension.

“Jack Rimmer would probably have started, but he phoned in ill, which was disappointing, and obviously with Geoff Kellaway out injured and Lee Surman and Jamie Reed unable to play, we had four players out from the starting eleven.

“It gives players like Liam Jaques an opportunity, and I thought that he did well.

“At 17 years of age, coming up against the league champions, he staked his claim for the place in the team next week.”

The Seasiders, who have now not won in five matches, have dropped to ninth place in the Welsh Premier League, but Hughes is hopeful that his side can still qualify for the top six at the league split.

Five of their remaining seven matches are at home, and they welcome Carmarthen Town to Park Avenue in their rearranged match next Tuesday evening, before hosting Bangor City the following Saturday, 19 December - before a festive double-header against Haverfordwest.

“Before I was manager, Aberystwyth had not qualified for the top six in the 12 team league format, and were it not for off-the-field issues we would have got there twice in two seasons,” said Hughes.

“To do it for a third time would be great, and that’s our aim. We’ve got two games to catch up on, because of the weather, and we’re also playing on Tuesday - but that can be problem with a small squad.”