Holywell Town 0-0 Aberystwyth Town (ATFC win 3-2 on pens)

Welsh Cup Round 4
Holywell Town 0 - 0 Aberystwyth Town (Aberystwyth Town win 3-2 on pens)

Aberystwyth Town made it in the next round of the Welsh Cup after a dramatic penalty shootout out against Holywell Town, and the Welsh Premier side can count themselves lucky to still be in the competition after a spirited Holywell Town performance where they pushed Aberystwyth Town all the way.

The first chance of the afternoon fell to Aberystwyth Town, and they were awarded a free kick in a dangerous position just outside the Holywell Town penalty area. Chris Venables stood to take it but his effort went wide of Mike Platt’s post. Town’s first chance fell to Tony Roebuck who had a shot blocked before a great move down the right involving Paul Williams when he beat his man but his cross into the box was cleared to safety by the Aberystwyth defenders. On 20 minutes mark, it was the visitors who broke clear and Craig Williams got past Lee Emberton and ran into the box but his cross come shot was blocked well by Platt. Aber’s Mark James then had a shot go wide before another good move for the Wellmen saw Paul Williams break clear and passing the ball through to Phil Lloyd, but Lloyd’s shot went straight at Mike Lewis in the Aberystwyth goal.

The Wellmen were playing great football and another move involving Tom McElmeel and Tony Robeuck saw the ball fed through to Matty Harvey, his cross was met by Paul Williams but his effort went over the bar. Town were piling on the pressure now, and a move down the left saw Matty Roberts feed the ball to Tony Roebuck, and his cheeky chip towards the far post was only inches wide of dropping into the net. Town they nearly broke the deadlock entering the final five minutes of the half. A Jack D’Arcy clearance saw Phil Lloyd run on goal, he fed the ball to Roebuck who’s shot was saved well by Lewis, who threw himself to his right and saved the ball one handed before the ball was finally cleared by Antonio Corbisiero. Harvey then had a shot go inches wide before another great move with Paul Williams and Tony Roebuck before Roebuck had his shot saved again by Lewis. The half ended with both Aber’s Mark Jones and Cledan Davies shoot wide of Platt’s goal.

The second half started with Venables seeing his free kick go wide before Aberystwyth’s Stephen Wright got a yellow card for a bad tackle on Tom McElmeel. Craig Williams then had a shot go well wide before Williams was involved in another good move as he crossed the ball over to Luke Sherbon but his flick on went over Platt’s crossbar then Geoff Kellaway had a shot go wide. Town’s first real chance of the half came with an hour on the clock. Phil Lloyd broke clear and beat his defender but from a tight angle, his shot was blocked by Lewis and the ball went out for a corner. Aberystwyth Town were then reduced to 10 men as Stephen Wright made another bad tackle on McElmeel and referee Mark Petch had no hesitation in showing him his second yellow card and sent him off for a early shower.

The sending off pushed the Wellmen on and the next move saw Paul Williams’ cheeky lob go over Lewis and hit the cross bar before falling on the edge of the area to McElmeel but his effort flew over the bar. As the game entered the final 10 minutes of the half, Venables had a free kick brilliantly saved by Platt, who flew across the goal and pushed the ball out to the right to safety. Lloyd then broke clear down the left and his cross from the byline fell to Paul Williams but his shot went over the bar in what was the last chance of the normal 90 minutes.

The first period of Extra Time begun with Aberystwyth’s Chris Venables forcing a good save out of Mike Platt who palmed Venables’ shot over the bar. Graeme Williams then saw his shot hit the side netting before a Tony Roebuck cross saw Lewis drop the ball and the ball was then cleared after a bit of a scramble in the Aber penalty area. Tom McElmeel was then brought down after a good run and from the resulting free kick, Dafydd Griffith’s header went wide of the goal.

The first chance of the Second period of extra time fell to Aberystwyth’s Geoff Kellaway, who broke clear and chipped the ball over the advancing Mike Platt. The majority of the 600 strong crowd thought the ball was going to drop into the goal but the ball bounced over the cross bar and Town breathed a huge sigh of relief. In a good move for the Wellmen, Tom McElmeel’s flick on from a great cross in by Graeme Williams fell to Rob Salathiel, but his shot across goal went inches wide. The final real chance of extra time fell to the Wellmen, a great move involving Salathiel, Lloyd and Harvey saw the ball fall to McElmeel, but his effort went over the bar.
As the sides could not be split over 120 minutes, the result was to be decided by the lottery of a penalty shootout. Holywell’s Tom McElmeel was first to take a kick and his spot kick beat Lewis to put Town in the lead. Up next was Aberystwyth’s Chris Venables who’s kick beat Mike Platt to level the scores. Next up for Town was Tony Roebuck but he had his spot kick saved by lewis who guessed the right way. Aber’s Mark Jones was next up and his kick was saved brilliantly by Platt to keep the scores level. Rob Salathiel then put Town ahead, firing his spot kick straight down the middle before Luke Sherbon levelled the scores again. Captain John Leonard then saw his spot kick saved by Lewis before Chris Davies gave Aber the lead by converting his spot kick past Platt to make it 3-2. Graeme Williams then stepped up knowing he had to score but his kick was saved by Lewis and Aberystwyth went through to the next round.

It is a terrible way to lose a game, especially after playing well and we more than matched the Welsh Premier League side. Town can take great pride from the defeat and to take the team who currently sit in 2nd place in the Welsh Premier to penalties show’s how well the Wellmen played. It was an excellent performance and the crowd of 636 witnessed a great cup tie.