PRESTATYN BLOWN AWAY BY ABERYSTWYTH

PRESTATYN TOWN 1 ABERYSTWYTH TOWN 2
JD WELSH PREMIER LEAGUE @ MOTION FINANCE STADIUM BASTION GARDENS
28 OCTOBER 2017 --- 2.30PM

BASTION GARDENS HOME OF PRESTATYN TOWN

On a blustery North Wales coastline day the visitors from Ceredigion swept The Seasiders away with 2 goals in 4 minutes which was enough to earn Aber only their second league win of the season, both of these on the road.
Having secured a constant passing glance that as the week wore on became a stare at this fixture it finally came down to being my Welsh debut for this season at Bastion Gardens home of Prestatyn Town a club I first visited a few seasons ago but always had down for a revisit.  Their form this season with a young set of lads, that gained promotion from The Huws Gray League last season as champions, has been inconsistent but following a fantastic 4-2 victory in their last outing versus Bangor the enthusiasm grew.  The overall feeling was that a Welsh trip would do me good and the only down side was the weather was forecasting strong winds there was that alright and on arrival at just short of 1.30pm it was raining sharply too.  Time was tight today so there was to be no re visit/climb to the excellent viewing point at Gwaenysgor well worth a walk up but don't forget the defib and oxygen.  Equally there was no time or point really visiting the seafront which is about 200 yards away from the ground, being a fairly low slung ground protected by little from behind one goal to a small shallow stand pitch length on one side we would suffer with the wind all afternoon!

GREETINGS FROM A WET PRESTATYN

Travel today was nothing short of a major stress just four trains all of which were late and 75% had standing the full length of the carriage and although I managed a seat for the majority of the journey it wasn't without somebody else's body hovering around my face.  The journey to Manchester was unpleasant with this effect rammed to the rafters with one lady and her 2 children, pre booked, failing to board the proceeding train getting on this and then the Llandudno train that I would also board just before noon, that was when I had managed to clamber off the first train and even then gain access to a crowded platform.  Arrival in Prestatyn was just a few minutes down and we were greeted by darkness, rain and of course that wind all three features would prove a problem for the camera during this afternoons game so not too many good pics to select from.

BASTION GARDENS SIDE

The ground is a very short 5 minute walk from the station and has changed little since my last visit there was however a warm welcome, a readily available team sheet and a general feeling of a community club especially after the area chipped in to pay monies owed that in the end preserved the club for this new 2017/18 season.  Having paid admission and purchased a programme the obligatory circuit was undertaken with the blue seated of varying shades low stand shielding the pitch from the winds and the Prestatyn Cricket Club to the rear.

FULL TOUCHLINE STAND WITH ABER KEEPER CHRIS MULLOCH WARMING UP

The far goal is open and bar from a concrete blocked wall and recreation ground would runs straight onto Bastion Rd.  Coming back down the touchline we have an open area with dugouts, police viewing box topped off with S4C television gantry, a pleasure to be up there today!  Back to our entrance point and the general feel is off a selection of low club buildings many of the cabin type but the main concern now was a chip cob or I think bap was the selected local terminology in these neck of the woods.

JACK KENNY LEADS THE PRE MATCH ROUTINE

Having restricted myself to Sgorio on Channel 4 Wales for most of this season so far it was good to see some of the names including of course todays managers Neil Gibson, Prestatyn and Nev Powell of Aber.

A LARGE POLICE PRESCENCE WAS REQUIRED FOR TODAYS GAME, THERE ALL IN THE BOX KEEPING WARM

The weather would play a major factor in this game with the wind whistling straight down the pitch towards the Pontin's end, famous for the 'On The Buses' film recording, and this was the end Aber would kick towards but after a strong start it was Prestatyn who took the lead after 7 minutes when Michael Parker, making his 200th Seasiders appearance swept the ball home at the far post.  The visitors tried to utilise the wind and indeed home custodian Carl Jones did well in the conditions to save from Mathew Jones and Ryan Wollacott just before half time, previous to that Aber had hit the bar through Craig Hobson.

JACK LEWIS LAUNCHES ONE

So the first half had seen the leaders go against the wind and secure the advantage the early stages of the second period looked to be going evenly with Ryan Wade seeing his effort saved by Jones for Aber and then his opposite number Chris Mulloch pushing away an effort from Zyaac Edwards.  The latter one of three brothers at the club Noah who was in the starting line up also and Zebb who was on the bench.

SOME CONFUSION

The four minutes that ultimately lost Prestatyn this game started on 72 when Jones saved from Ashley Young only for John Owen to fire home the loose ball.  It was all wrapped up on 75 minutes when Declan Walker turned the ball home to turn around the score line in a short time.  Much as Prestatyn tried to mount some pressure in response Aber had grown strong and confident with these two goals and they bossed the remainder of the game, it may just be the kick start their season needed.  Overall this was a difficult game to assess either sides prowess in a encounter that was of course controlled by the wind but mention must go to Aberystwyth captain Ashley Young who had a commanding afternoon and was involved in most things good for the visitors, while Prestatyn have a young squad with Jack Kenny always looking a threat up front.

ABERYSTWYTH CAPTAIN ASHLEY YOUNG

Back to green bridge station, the line divides the town from the sea front and for foot passengers you can transverse the lines by a sloped or very steep staircase to get to the other side or depart at its height to a central platform station.  Turn of Arriva train to add to the earlier performance of East Midlands Trains by running the 1647 about 15 minutes late so much so that my return connections of Chester, Crewe and Stockport would be tight so the option was taken to wait another ten minutes or so and travel back direct to Manchester.  Packed train stood full length again late arrival and after a 40 minute wait in and increasingly inclement Oxford Rd station the direct train back to base would be you guessed it rammed the rafters and 20 minutes late back at base station just after 9pm.

JACK KENNY GIVES UP AND ACCEPTS DEFEAT AGAINST THE WIND

I had forgot about the joys of public transport recently but our younger travellers early had not when questioned by stressed mum with "would you rather travel by train or car"?  The first replied "when I grow up mum can I be a train driver" and the second just said "train".  Give it a few more years experience and the young and all that. 
Not an enjoyable day on the trains today but as ever a pleasure to visit The Welsh Premier League and Prestatyn Town.