LoW
2.10.96 Aberystwyth Town 2-0 Carmarthan AFC

A crowd of 636 was here for this basement derby crunch thing. And the fact that not many of them were students can only be good for Aber's long term outlook. The Green and Blacks played like heroes and Carmarthan were threatening enough to ensure that the match was good enough to hold the interest of even the most passive observer, not that there could have been many passive observers. Not after Dai Blair stamped his mark on the game with an exquisite blast on the volley from distance that beat the Carmy keeper all ends up. Then he gets himself sent off. but even then he was doing his duty, preventing a striker from getting the ball by catching it himself. Mr HMP Ellis had no hesitation and Aber spent 78 minutes with ten men.

Their second goal came from Ryan "new but still Godlike" Nicholls on 26 minutes and that was the scoring over. Although Gavin Allen had a perfectly beautiful and legal goal disallowed somewhat bizarrely in the second half for offside.

Carmarthan did not wear "old gold" and their numbers were indistinct, but they had excellent performances from Robert Tolchard and Dudley Lewis. Stevie has now seen Aber 3 times and seen them win 2-0 every time. I've seen them 19 times and hve never seen them win by a singe goal. Speaking of goals, Kinninmouth was superb, holding and deflecting shots when he had no right to do.

The defence looked solid enough, even with Glyndwr at right back, Matthew Harrison played like a wet dream, Old Phil McNeil deserves a knighthood for services to sweat and the front grouping is starting to look genuinly threatening. The season has been made worthwhile, but this was only Cararthan, the Green and Blacks will be tested more by llansantffraid next Tuesday.

J.D.Smalldon Oct 1996

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