Aberaeron 3-1 Bow Street

Aberaeron 3-1 Bow Street

Aberaeron 3-1 Bow Street

There are few certainties in football that can be relied on. Two teams a ref and a ball would probably be the safest assumption. When Aberaeron meet Bow Street this early in the league and with both teams starting well in the new season then you are guaranteed a noholds barred fight to the end in an enthralling match that lacked football quality but made up for it in intensity.
Aberaeron have started each game this season slowly allowing themselves to grow into the game. Here, they were on the front foot from the first whistle and Bow Street were rattled. Gareth Evans picking the ball up across the park and running at the visitors at every opportunity saw panicked challenges disturb the flow of the game with the referee having to try and keep control on the hotly contested opening exchanges. The constant infringements allowed BowStreet to regroup and get the ball up the pitch and one long punt through the middle saw the ball bounce behind the centre backs and Barry Edwards hesitated at the bouncing ball allowing Ifan Burell to contest for a high ball. With the keeper stranded Burell got to the ball only for Anthony Evans to bring him down in the box and a penalty awarded against Aberaeron. Tom Williams stepped up and calmly put the visitors ahead. All seemed set for Bow Street to dominate with their tails up after the goal but seemed intent on trying to impose themselves physically on the game where strong running had been their best way of attacking the Aeron lineup. This cost Bow Street dear when after a series of late challenges the referee grew impatient and when Tom Williams kicked out at the industrious Gareth Evans he showed a straight red card and Bow Street were down to ten men. Aberaeron were now in the ascendancy and it was their turn to fly forward. A cross into the box was turned behind and from the corner saw a Rhodri Edwards effort tipped onto the bar and back out to Edwards who made no mistake emphatically finishing from 10 yards. The home side pushed for another before half time but the sides were still level at the break.
A man light Bow Street were resigned to occasional forays into the Aberaeron half but their quick runners and movement of the ball meant the home side didn't have it all their own way into the second half. With a long ball over the back line a footrace between Anthony Evans and the bow Street forward culminated in Evans catching the trailing foot of the attacker and brought him to the ground. Having already seen a yellow card in the first half the right back was dismissed and parity restored as both teams were now playing with ten men. Bow Street attacked with a lot of bodies forward and good counter attacking from Aberaeron saw Ryan Jones feed the newly returned Daniel James down the right who held the ball up well and passed inside to the onrushing Gareth Evans who stepped away from his marker only to be taken down from behind in the box. Mattie Davies didn't hesitate from the spot and stroked the ball into the bottom right to put the home side in front much to the supporters delight. The game improved a little as both teams played football for the first time in the match and Bow Street nearly levelled matters when Ifan Burell was denied by the onrushing Barry Edwards saving well low down to his left. Aberaeron were not going to let this slip away and finished much stronger with Bow Street weak on their left Aeron created a few more chances which saw a Gareth Severs effort go just over the bar. Not to be outdone by his strike partner though some good work by Jamie Owen and James Hemming saw the ball come to Severs and with a Robson-kanuesque turn allowed him time to poke the ball home and secure the points for the home side. Mattie Davies had a chance at the end to putsome gloss on the score line but couldn't force the ball home.
This wasn't a game for the purists and whilst the home side will be happier of the two sides this game could've gone either way. As it was,superior firepower and a lot of hard work paid off for Aberaeron in the end and Manager Jason Jones will be pleased at how his team has responded to setbacks with a good win away after the Machynlleth loss and here,coming from a goal behind.
Next up will be a difficult home fixture against early pacesetters Rhayader. Kick off 2.30 Saturday.