ABERYSTWYTH Town succumbed to their first defeat of the season at Park Avenue as high-flying Gap Connah’s Quay turned the screw to claim a solid 3-1 win.

Chris Jones had fired Aber ahead with a superb strike into the bottom corner of the net after just three minutes, and Matthew Bishop’s men hung on to that lead until the interval.

Within two minutes of the second half, however, the visitors had levelled through sub Shelton Payne, and they tightened their grip on the game to score their winning goals through Nick Rushton and Matty Williams.

After two wins and a draw at Park Avenue, Aber had dropped back out of the top six with a bump - but they could at least take heart from the fact they have now played both the top two sides twice already this season.

Aber had even dared to dream when, in the opening minutes, Kurtis March broke through the middle and Geoff Kellaway laid the ball on neatly for the tricky Jones, who cut inside Wes Baynes from the left to brilliantly fire into the net from 25 yards out.

Nomads, however, soon warmed up on a bitterly cold afternoon to take control of possession, and very soon Aber’s central defenders Sam Rodon and Ryan Wollacott were into action.

Nomads had a golden chance to level matters in the 15th minute, when Rodon was ruled to have handled in the penalty box, but Matty Williams sent his spot kick wide of the left post.

March and Jones combined again in the 17th minute, but Jones’ shot didn’t threaten keeper John Danby at the Dias end, whilst Nomads continued to get at the Aber defence without troubling keeper Chris Mullock.

Aber’s Ricky Watts had to leave the field after 28 minutes, with Will Bell coming on at left-back, and they defended their lead against the wind until the welcome half-time whistle.

Mike Wilde, the former TNS marksman, saw a bicycle effort go wide past Mullock’s right goal post, but the resolute Seasiders coolly kept them out.

The visitors then introduced Shelton Payne at the start of the second half, and within two minutes he had escaped Bell to meet a cross from the left and score from eight yards out.

The Nomads worked to build on the goal, with Mullock making a good low save to keep out Wes Baynes’ powerful effort from 20 yards out.

Lewis Short’s long throw-ins were also putting Aber under pressure, but despite wave after wave of attack they held out for 20 more minutes.

When scorer Payne was stretchered off injured with an unfortunate knee injury on 65 minutes, to warm applause, replacement Nick Rushton suddenly became the second Nomads sub to score with his first touch.

Mullock dropped a high cross, under pressure from Wilde, and Rushton found himself free and in space to comfortably fire the Nomads in front with his low, well-directed strike.

The introduction of recently recalled Cledan Davies gave Aber a lift, and he was quickly into the action on the left wing, testing Danby with a free kick, whilst Chris Jones and captain Luke Sherbon also fired over.

Just as Aber found their feet, however, Nomads sealed it with a third goal at the Dias end on 80 minutes.

Aber failed to deal with a long throw into the crowded area and the unmarked James Owen headed goalwards for Matty Williams to flick the ball into the net in the six yard box.

The introduction of Blake Davies for Kellaway gave Aber a fresh outlet in attack, and they sent in a few aerial threats - but the visitors held firm for the last 10 minutes, and five minutes of added time, to secure a solid win.

ABER: C Mullock, R Watts (W Bell 28), S Rodon, J Clarke, G Kellaway (B Davies 81), L Sherbon, L Borrelli, R Wollacott, K March (C Davies 72), D Alfei, C Jones. Subs not used: K Georgievsky, J Crowl.

GAP CONNAH’S QUAY: J Danby, J Disney, D Harrison, J Owen, W Baynes, M Owen, M Williams (C Rimmer 81), N Woolfe, A Ruane (S Payne 46' [N Rushton 65']) , M Wilde, L Short. Substitutes not used: J Manley, C Harwood, T Field.

Attendance: 235. Referee: Iwan Griffith.