MATHEW Jones’ 90th penalty earned Aberystwyth Town the point they so richly deserved, as a gutsy and dominant display was finally rewarded with a 1-1 draw against leaders Connah’s Quay at a sodden Park Avenue on Friday.

Jamie Insall had given the visitors the lead against the run of play seven minutes before the break, but justice prevailed as Jones’ spot kick brought delight to the majority of the 276 brave souls who had defied Friday evening’s downpour.

Andy Morrison’s side had started well as Priestley Farquharson’s right wing cross just about evaded his strikers and the post, and Insall saw a header cleared off the line with barely two minutes gone.

Aber settled and Wes Baynes sent in a cross after an overlapping run, which Lewis Brass held well, and Jones’ left wing cross dropped nicely for the well-placed Tom Price, who lost his footing.

Price then got a volley in, which was deflected for a corner, and then Ricketts turned beautifully to send in a cross, but Joe Phillips’ goalbound header was pushed on to the bar by goalkeeper Brass.

With Stuart Jones nullifying the fading Michael Wilde, Nomads were reduced to half chances, and Farquharson missed the target again from the right wing.

The improving Price played a one-two with Edwards, before smashing a volley just over the post, and then Brass again had to grab a promising Baynes cross. Wilde headed wide from Danny Holmes’ cross, and Joe Phillips again brought a save out of Brass with a curling effort.

Then suddenly Michael Bakare dashed down the wing and sent in a cross for Insall to edge in from the edge of the area, and against all odds Nomads were ahead.

They again had to desperately clear off the line from a Paulo Mendes header in injury time, but Nomads again started the second half strongly as Insall missed a great chance to put the game to bed.

Back came gutsy Aber, defending set-pieces bravely and causing problems themselves too. Lee Jenkins went on a thrilling 50 yard run, before unleashing a rocket shot from 30 yards, which saw Brass scrambling away for a corner - and Richy Ricketts sent a volley wide too.

Mathew Jones sent in another beauty of a cross to Phillips at the back post, but somehow his header scraped wide with Brass’ goal enjoying a very charmed life. A Mathew Jones free kick then found Stuart Jones’ head, and a goal seemed certain, only for Brass to pull off a brilliant point blank save to protect his lead.

Another ball in from Baynes just evaded Stuart Jones, with Aber unlucky again. Price volleyed over, and the impeccable Jenkins brilliantly picked out Baynes on the right, but the right back fired wide.

Finally, when sub Alex Boss’ goalbound shot was handled by Holmes, Jones stepped up and smashed home the penalty, to the delight from the home supporters huddled in the Rhun Owens Stand.

Many of those judged this to be Aber’s best performance of the season, and a sign of their dominance was that Quay had six players booked to Aber’s none.

Matthew Bishop’s men could be proud of themselves, even though they didn’t quite manage a momentous victory. The point takes Aber up to ninth in the JD Cymru Premier and puts them in a great mood ahead of their Nathaniel MG Cup Quarter Final tie at Carmarthen on Tuesday night (ko 7.45pm).

ABERYSTWYTH: C Roberts, W Baynes, R Edwards, P Mendes, L Jenkins, S J Jones, M Jones, R Ricketts (G Kellaway 85’), A Hughes, T Price, J Phillips (A Boss 85’). Subs not used: A Pennock (gk), M Williams, E Vaz.

CONNAH’S QUAY: L Brass, J Disney, C Roberts, P Farquharson (C Morris 68’), G Horan, M Bakare, M Wilde, J Insall, D Poole, D Holmes, J Owen. Subs not used: E Merner (gk), D Harrison, C Harwood, K Owens, S Singh-Dool, S Williams. Ref: Griffith. Att: 276.