ABERYSTWYTH Town have put their faith in youth by offering talented young winger Richy Ricketts a new 20-month contract, until season 2020/21.

Academy product Ricketts only debuted in senior football at the end of last season with Bow Street, and made a big impression in pre-season. His surging runs and positive play down the left earned consecutive first team league starts against Bala, Penybont and Cardiff Met.

Club chairman Donald Kane said he was delighted to have extended the contract of the talented 16 year-old from Llanfarian, who was also an international angler.

“Richy joins Alex Pennock and Mathew Jones, who are on our Scholarship Programme with Aberystwyth University, alongside Lee Jenkins, who made his debut at 16 last season,” he said.

“The Cymru Premier is a tough league, but we are committed to playing and developing local young players, if they are good enough and are committed enough.”

Aber boasts a very successful Academy, and its Under 19s squad, under Bari Morgan, have clinched back-to-back Welsh Premier Development titles.

Ceredigion talents Ricketts, Jenkins and Jones were all in the Aber starting side to face Cardiff Met last weekend, with keeper Pennock also on the bench, whilst experienced local stars Stuart Jones and Geoff Kellaway were also in the matchday squad.

Manager Matthew Bishop could take heart from the way his side came from behind to clinch an important in a 2-2 draw at Park Avenue. Paulo Mendes’ strike had put the Seasiders in front at the break, but two goals in two minutes from Eliot Evans and Mael Davies shortly after the break put Met in charge, before Ryan Wollacott equalised on the hour.

The point gained has lifted Aber up to eighth position, after back-to-back draws, and the Seasiders are looking for more precious points at Carmarthen Town on Friday.

Aber launched their league campaign with a 3-2 win over Carmarthen in August, and the Old Gold are still seeking their first league win of the season after 10 games.

Despite propping up the table, they ran Bala close in a 2-1 defeat at Maes Tegid, with Louis Robles opening their scoring early on, before Josh Bull and Chris Venables, with his 10th goal of the campaign, earned the Lakesiders their fourth straight win.

Aberystwyth and Carmarthen have also been paired together in the quarter-finals of the MG League Cup at Richmond Park, which has been scheduled for Tuesday, 29 October.

In other additions to the fixture list, Aber’s match away to The New Saints has been moved to Friday, 15 November, whilst the home match against Newtown over the Christmas period has now been moved to 30 December.