NEVILLE Powell says that his new-look Aberystwyth Town squad has offered a platform to build on after a positive first showing against Barry Town at Jenner Park last Sunday.

The Seasiders hit back to secure a deserved 1-1 draw in their Welsh Premier League curtain-raiser, and will be looking to build on that result at home to Llandudno on Friday night.

“Obviously before the game we’d have settled for a point,” admitted Powell. “It was Barry’s first game back in the Welsh Premier League, so it was always going to be difficult.

“We knew that they were going to come out at 100 miles per hour, which is exactly what they did. I thought we started the game well, and we managed it well for the first 15 minutes.

“All of a sudden we found ourselves a goal down off our own attack. It spurred Barry on, but at the end of the half we started to control the game.

“We had a couple of good chances where we should have taken at least one or two of them. We didn’t really want the half time whistle to come.”Powell added: “I told the lads at half time to keep the energy levels going.

“We knew that Barry could not keep going like they did in the first half for 90 minutes, and so it proved. I thought they tired in the second half.

“We got the goal, and I thought that we could have snatched it. I’ll settle for the point, but the lads are a little disappointed they only got one.”

Whilst Jonny Spittle’s equaliser was well-deserved, the manner in which it came from was somewhat controversial, with question marks raised on whether the ball had crossed the line.

Home goalkeeper Mike Lewis had parried the ball from Declan Walker’s corner to Spittle, who deflected the ball back for a crucial leveller, awarded on the assistant referee’s call.

“I was at the other end of the pitch for the goal,” said Powell. “But Declan has knocked in some great corners in at pace today. The linesman’s made a decision, and we’ll go by it.

“People are saying that it was not over the line, but it was the least we deserved to fair, because of the pressure we were sustaining. Some decisions go with you, and some don’t.”

He added: “Jon Owen has missed a couple of chances for us, and we could’ve gone on and won the game.

“We’ve picked up a couple of knocks, but we’ll take the positives.

“I thought the subs looked lively when they came on, and the back four were outstanding again, they are communicating very well together.

“Another team might have folded when we went 1-0 down, but it wasn’t going to happen. The spine of the team looked solid again, and overall, I’m pleased with the performance.”

Powell, who fielded six summer signings in the starting line-up, said he is looking for his side to continue to develop as the season progress.

“This group of lads is just starting to get to know each other,” he said.

“Obviously, I would have liked to have come in two or three weeks earlier, but I haven’t got that luxury.”

“But we have a strong group, and I was looking forward to the game.

“It was a point away from home, we were disappointed not to have got three, but it’s something to build on.”

All attention now turns to facing Llandudno in the first home game of the season on Friday night (ko 8pm), and Powell expects a tough test against Alan Morgan’s team.

Llandudno made a flying start to their new campaign with a 3-0 home win over Carmarthen Town, but were aided by two penalties, both converted by Sam Hart. In between, Shaun Cavanagh had scored on his debut.

“There are 32 games, and we are not going to get an easy one,” said the Aber manager. “Llandudno had a good win, but it was on their patch.

“We’ve got to make Park Avenue our fortress, and get the fans behind us. Seeing the support at Barry, we can’t wait for Friday to come round.

“We’ll see how we are in training on Tuesday, and fingers crossed we’ll go and get a good result on Friday.”