ABERYSTWYTH Town’s League Cup hoodoo continued as they fell to a shock 2-1 defeat at Cymru South side STM Sports in the MG Nathaniel Cup semi-finals last weekend.

Marc Williams’ diving header on 27 minutes had the Seasiders dreaming of a first ever Final appearance in this competition, but goals either side of the interval from Callum Bateman, from the penalty spot, and Josh Graham turned the tables on the visitors.

Aber laid siege to the Sports’ goal from then on, but the Cardiff hosts held on to book their place in the showpiece final.

On a rainy day in the capital, Matthew Bishop’s men had started well, with Adam Hughes lobbing over the bar after a few seconds, and glancing a header over the target from Wes Baynes’ corner.

Tom Price sent a volley wide, Lee Jenkins surged through and just missed the target from distance, Joe Phillips curled an effort past the post, and a Mathew Jones cross also swept past the post.With Aber well on top, Paulo Mendes had a shot saved, before unleashing another from 30 yards, which was saved. A howitzer from Mathew Jones fizzed wide, then Phillips had yet another attempt cleared off the line - and Aber’s lead on 27 minutes was richly deserved.

Tom Price sent in a deep cross from the right, which was headed back by the influential Jenkins, and Williams dived to head home the opener from 10, yards out, to delight the superb travelling support.

Joey Evans was denied by visiting keeper Connor Roberts from 12 yards out, and that looked to be a costly miss as Aber threatened to put the game to bed.

Phillips drifted across the box and sent an attempt past the far post, and with Aber defending well, including dangerous free kicks, they seemed in control.

On 38 minutes, however, Sports’ Lamin Conteh drifted across the back line and Roberts was adjudged to have fouled him in the area for a penalty, which Bateman converted, despite Roberts’ best efforts.

Mendes had an effort saved from 8 yards, before a penalty shout, and Price hit the side-netting after a great cross from Phillips, but it was 1-1 at the break.

Into the second half, Hughes played in Price, bearing in on goal, but the Swansea loanee couldn’t quite get the ball under control - and Aber paid on 54 minutes.

With STM Sports settling, Graham drifted into a pocket down the left and sneaked in to finish well into the far corner, to give the hosts an unlikely lead.

Roberts then did well to deny Batemen, and Geoff Kellaway and Luke Boundford were thrust on for the final half an hour, soon followed by Alex Boss. The subs gave Aber added impetus, and with STM tiring Aber dominated the final stages.

Boss set up Williams for a volley from the edge of the area which was saved, and with another downpour starting Matthew Jones saw a cross cannon off the bar.

Hughes sent in another decent cross, but Williams headed wide, Boundford knocked on a header for Kellaway to test home keeper Benjamin Boyer, and then had another shot cleared for a corner.

Chance after chance came, but it was just not Aber’s day. Lee Jenkins saw a goalbound header tipped over by Boyer, and although Graham chipped wide at the other end, Aber remained on top.

Price’s super shot from outside the area brought the save of the day from Boyer, and then Baynes’ excellent cross from the right was headed agonizingly wide at the back post by Boundford. Jenkins also fired an injury time effort over - but to the visitors’ dismay, the Sports held firm.

STM SPORTS: B Boyer, H Yohanes, D Hamady (G Hajgato 51’), C Hajgato, D Biggs, T Rutherford (T Frick 73’), J Evans, J Graham, C Bateman (S Cawley 80’), C Worsley, L Conteh. Subs not used: D Gardiner, E Dimonekene.

ABERYSTWYTH: C Roberts, W Baynes, R Edwards (A Boss 68’), P Mendes, M Williams, L Jenkins, S J Jones (G Kellaway 56’), M Jones, A Hughes, T Price, J Phillips (L Boundford 56’). Subs not used: A Pennock (gk), E Vaz, R Ricketts. Attendance: 207. Referee: L Evans.