BARRY TOWN UNITED MAKE IT FIVE WINS SINCE THE SPLIT

ABERYSTYWTH TOWN 0 BARRY TOWN UNITED 2
WELSH PREMIER LEAGUE @ PARK AVENUE
24 MARCH 2018 --- 2.30PM

ABERYSTWYTH V BARRY AT PARK AVE

Five straight wins since the league split have made Barry serious contenders should they make the end of season play-offs and who is going to stop them?  A first half Jordan Cotterill goal was added to by Louis Gerrard on the stroke of full time to collect all three points at Park Hall in what had been a tough and highly entertaining affair and had Aberystwyth found their finishing touch could have so easily seen a different outcome.

A FAMILIAR VIEW OF THE GROUND

Back to Wales then and a trip that had so often come onto the radar but never quite been completed except in my head, it being a long journey and often an overcrowded train from past experiences of the mid Wales line.  Departure was just after 9am from base and with a change at Birmingham the twenty minute connection for the following 3 hour journey to Aber was made and thankfully today both trains saw the blog gaining a seat, a small miracle in itself on Cross Country and Arriva.

NATIONAL LIBRARY AND THE VALE OF RHEIDOL RAILWAY

It was all fairly comfortable stuff and when we departed Caersws it was all new territory including a brief view of the streets of Machynlleth while the back two carriage departed for their costal journey to Phwelli.  In the meantime we were soon off to stop next at Dovey Bridge the junction for the line to pop along the Cambrian Coast and onwards for us to Borth and Aber.

PARK AVENUE SIDE

The station itself is in the middle of a marshy nature reserve with what looks like no access and I guess nobody gets off apart from a train change.

GAVIN CHESTERFIELD MARSHALLING THE PLAYERS

Aber was arrived at on time at 1.20pm with just over an hour to kick off and an hour spare at the end for a whistle stop tour of the town this would be a brief stay.  Cutting through the adjacent retail park I somehow missed Park Ave it really is that close to the station.

THE FAMOUS TREFECHAN BRIDGE

Having crossed the modern suspension bridge that crosses the river Rheidol it was on for a picture of Trefechan Bridge the site of a protest in 1963 to gain recognition for the Welsh language with enough time to complete the circuit back down the other side of the river it was time to enter the ground.

WHAT A STAND THAT WOULD HAVE MADE BUT ITS FLATS

Having seen the ground on Sgorio many times the biggest surprise was the massive steel structure rising by the main stand and my initial thoughts were wow superb new stand for Aber of course its a very tightly situated apartment/flat that are being built I believe all part of the deal that allowed the club to go 4g in pitch terms from the start of this season.

EXCELLENT PROGRAMME BEING SNAPPED UP

It was all a warm welcome on the gate, programme of which this is an excellent example and golden goal areas before a circuit of the ground was not completed due to barriers behind the far goal I.ve never quite worked this out because its all hard standing and of course no segregation was in place.

REFEREE KRIS HAMES LEADS THE TEAMS OUT

Straight on and on the right hand side is the business end with club shop to the right and onwards we have the offices, snack bar, bar which is quite smart with lots of history attached to its walls and then the highly perched small capacity main stand with below tunnel and changing rooms.

MATCH PICTURE APPEARING EARLY HERE IS ABERS CRAIG HOBSON

It would appear the stand now has a block closed for safety reasons and the roof appear to be concrete a very interesting construction.  Onwards to the far end and a superb view is offered from a raised terrace and then behind the divided goal terrace flat hard standing.  From this side an excellent view of the Rheidol Railway sheds are offered plus the National Library of Wales standing on the hill side.

HERE HE IS AGAIN THIS TIME BARRY KEEPER LEWIS WINS THE DAY

Turning left from our entrance and the Dias Stand which was opened by John Charles in 2000 has a few seats removed alongside a few with no bottom halves too but it offers a good 'close to the action view'.  Over onto the far side what was temporary staged seating remains from I believe Aber's European jaunts, this side is completed by the again massive TV gantry and hospitality build and in the far corner a hospitality area that offers fine views of the pitch from probably the biggest window I've seen in a building of its size.

ABER RACE DOWN ON GOAL WITH HOBSON AGAIN

With about ten minutes to kick off there was time to take in the surroundings of what is a superb club in the Welsh Premier and which has a real community feel about it.  Barry fans were emerging from the bar and it has to be said their numbers were good and they offered excellent support for their team something which it was good to see did not go un recognised by Gavin Chesterfield and his players at the end of play today.

BARRY KEEPER LEWIS DEALS WITH THIS CROSS

There will be a catalogue of memories from today that could have been mentioned and probably wont be in a superb day its always what to put in and what to leave out including the pictures but hopefully a true reflection is gained of an enjoyable day and game.

INTO THE SECOND HALF AND BARRY IN POSSESSION

The first half was a high tempo encounter with both Mike Lewis and Chris Mullock in the Barry and Aber goals respectively being in fine form to deny some good efforts on goal however the break through did come on 41 minutes when Jordan Cotterill fired home from 20 yards into the bottom right hand corner.

CAREFUL

The first half had also seen the blog get into an interesting conversation with Aldwyn, hope that's spelt right, from The Cambrian Press who was photographing proceedings thanks for your welcome.
Aber started on the front foot and had an excellent chance on 55 minutes when agonisingly Joe Phillips fires over from 2 yards out with an open goal begging following a Craig Hobson cross.  As the home side looked for a way back into the game Ryan Wollacott saw his effort cleared off the line by the Barry defence, but the visitors defence was holding strong.

MULTI TASKING RECEIVING TREATMENT AND DRINKING WATER

In the closing stages at the other end Mullock was still in fine form denying Johnathan Hood and then from the corner Curtis saw his header also saved the Aber number 1.  His opposite number Lewis was on hand to deny James Saddler at the other end before the game was wrapped up on 90 minutes.

FINE SAVE FROM ABERS MULLOCK

Barry sub Louis Gerrard powered his way into the box and fired home past Mullock to make it two nil and three points were on their way back to South Wales with referee Kris Hames calling time shortly after.

LOUIS GERRARD GETS THE SECOND AND IS THEN MOBBED BY HIS TEAMATES

This had probably been one of the most entertaining Welsh Premier games I had seen with both sides playing some lovely football and having a real go at securing the win for Aber it was a case of missed chances while for Barry they took a firm grip on securing a play off position and if they keep this high intensity going who would back against them?

A TEAM TOGETHER CELEBRATE THE SECOND GOAL

It was time to depart Park Ave sadly a very short period had been spent in its company after a long journey but it was time to take a brief look at the town. 
Emerging into the south bay and around the mini headland with its towering war memorial and to the rear its castle ruins we soon arrived in the north bay with its mini Llandudno style promenade, truncated Royal Pier and Old College.  In the distance is The Cliff Railway very similar, but over a steeper climb, to the Scarborough examples.  Cutting back through the town via Terrace Road the station was soon viewed now taken over by a Wetherspoons, sadly no time today.  Off to the new build M and S for hoppers provisions for the journey back there was just time to greet the 5.15 return on the Rheidol railway which runs into side platform.

THE PROMENADE AT ABERYSTWYTH

The main station is sadly now just one platform and it was already looking like the 5.30 would be busy and so it turned out to be the opposite of the journey in but with seat gained the three hour journey back to Birmingham didn't seem to long, honest!  A late running connection from Birmingham departed at around 9.15 and base station just over an hour later. 
A superb journey which would always be helped by more seats on some of the trains and there are already some visits to clubs on the line past Caersws being thought about.