Aberystwyth…5 Newtown…0


SILVERWARE at last. However, in all honesty Aberystwyth Town's four
remaining Welsh Premier encounters are individually more important
than a competition that should be confined to the Welsh Premier
clubs' reserve team outfits, writes Bob Davies.

Last Tuesday evening's final at Llanidloes, the scene of some more
significant Aberystwyth cup triumphs over the years, at least
provided a useful training session, with the Seasiders otherwise
without a game for a whole fortnight.

As a senior competition, it enabled John Lawless and Lee Spike to
knock a match off their three and four match respectively
suspensions. Fortunately Aber appeared to suffer no injuries as they
approached their "European make or break" period.

It also allowed Marc Lloyd-Williams a taken opportunity of
recapturing his scoring form of earlier in the campaign. His four
goals highlighted an easy win over a Newtown second string that can
nevertheless take considerable pride and encouragement from their
display that saw them restrict almost full-strength Aberystwyth to a
single strike before the interval.

The young Robins showed from the start that they were not prepared
to merely lie down and take the expected hiding. Aber keeper John
Worsnop was called into early action, saving a David Fletcher free
kick, and his defenders were given plenty to think about by a lively
Newtown attack in the opening stages.

At the other end, Marc Lloyd-Williams was denied by goalkeeper
Warwick in a one-on-one situation, but Aber were unable or unwilling
to exert their authority.

However, as the half-time whistle approached, the Seasiders began to
turn the screw and after the break they moved from cruise control to
top gear, before easing off the throttle with a five-goal advantage
over the Robins.

Five minutes from the break David Burrows put Marc Lloyd-Williams
clear down the right and the ginger-haired striker slipped the ball
under the advancing Warwick to at last break the deadlock.

Lloyd-Williams and Anthony Wright both had the ball in the net again
before the break but both were adjudged offside.

Aber convincingly wrapped up proceedings during the first half of
the second period. After player-boss Gary Finley had gone close with
a header, Lloyd-Williams notched his and Aber's second with a 48th
minute speculative 30-yard lob that caught young Newtown keeper
Warwick off his line.

With Bari Morgan, Ged Hennigan and Andy Lee in complete control in
midfield, the impressive Lloyd-Williams volleyed in Anthony Wright's
60th minute right wing cross to complete his hat-trick.

He then turned creator to set-up Andy Lee for Aber's fourth five
minutes later and took advantage of Newtown's failure to clear Ged
Hennigan's free-kick to round off the tally in the 67th minute.

With Aber well in the comfort zone, Gary Finley replaced himself
with Llyr Hughes and gave Gari Lewis some much-needed match
practice, following his long injury lay-off, in place of skipper
Bari Morgan.

Morgan still went up to receive the cup, and he will be hoping this
was practice for the collection of a major trophy in the next
campaign.

ABERYSTWYTH: Worsnop, Burrows, Lee, Thomas, Finley, Baker, Lloyd-
Williams, Morgan, Wright, Jones, Hennigan. Subs: Lewis, Short,
Hughes.

NEWTOWN: Warwick, Reynolds, D Davies, McKenzie, Fletcher, Fenton,
Morgan, Morris, Williams, Danson, Giles. Subs: Gorman, Powell, N
Davies.

Copyright Tindle Newspapers Ltd 07 April 04