INTERIM manager Wyn Thomas was left stunned as Aberystwyth’s hopes of winning the Welsh Premier Play-Off Conference were ended by an injury time goal at rivals Carmarthen Town.

A tense battle looked destined to end all square until a last-gasp 94th minute deflected strike by Kieron Lewis lifted the Old Gold four points clear of Aber, with just one game to go.

In order to secure a place in the play-offs, the Seasiders have to beat Bangor at home on Saturday to secure eighth position, and then hope that Airbus UK repeat their result last weekend against TNS in the Welsh Cup Final.

Aberystwyth are offering free entry and a family fun day promotion to ensure a bumper crowd, for what will be the last league match played on grass at Park Avenue, before a new 3G pitch.Thomas said his side will be looking to lift themselves after the disappointment of last weekend’s cruel defeat.

“I’m not sure we did enough to win the game,” he admitted after the game.

“We’re bitterly disappointed. We didn’t start the game the best, but we came and grew into the game well.

“Geoff Kellaway has had a great chance in the second half, which he was incredibly unlucky not to take.

“But we’re bitterly disappointed to have lost. Since the split we’ve done well and I’ve got an incredibly disappointed squad in the dressing room right now.”

After successive wins over Rhyl and Haverfordwest, Aber had started the game with purpose, but it was Carmarthen who created most of the early chances.

Lewis Harling lobbed a soft effort into keeper Mike Lewis’ hands, before Mark Jones set up Harling, but his shot was deflected to safety.

Luke Cummings then set up Kieran Lewis, who flashed an attempt wide, but then the visitors started to find their feet and Kellaway’s cross found Rhys Griffiths’ head, but the effort squeaked past the goal post.

The dangerous Kellaway then crossed for Chris Venables, but his attempt was blocked for a corner, and Craig Williams twice found Griffiths’ head with corners, but the first deflected over and the second went wide.

Kellaway then burst down the left and his brilliant left footed strike was deflected wide by keeper Lee Idzi.

Striker Griffiths had another header gathered safely, and despite a strong finish to the half Aber went in, probably deservedly at 0-0.

With both sides’ fates for the season hanging in the balance, and tension rising, the second half developed into a rather scrappy affair.

Kellaway sent an effort wide, before Kieron Lewis was stopped in his tracks on the edge of Aber’s area, but the free kick was cleared.

Griffiths set up Ross Stephens, but his lob was gathered by Idzi, and then Harling saw a lob touched to safety by Mike Lewis.

Home keeper Idzi made further comfortable saves from Ross Stephens and Griffiths, and Williams’ free kick went past the far post.

Venables then played in Kellaway with a great touch, and his instinctive volley went narrowly wide - but then at the other end Kieron Lewis hit the crossbar with an excellent 18-yard drive.

Venables had a goalbound free kick deflected to safety, but then on 94 minutes, disaster struck for the visitors.

Good work from Mark Jones on the edge of the visitors’ box created the space for Lewis to fire from the right hand of the area, and the ball looped up off Lee Surman and over Mike Lewis for the crucial winner.

CARMARTHEN: L Idzi, L Cummings, D Bailey, L Prosser, D Sheehan, C Morgan (C Hanford 53), K Bassett (S Walters 84), L Harling, K Lewis, M Jones, L Thomas. Subs not used: G Fearn, DThomas.

ABERYSTWYTH: M Lewis, A Corbisiero, C Davies, R Stephens (K Owen 82), S Jones, L Surman, G Kellaway, C Venables, C Williams (R Batley 75), S James, R Griffiths. Subs not used: W Thomas, J Rimmer.

Att: 503 Referee: Huw Jones.