LoW
29.11.97 Aberystwyth Town 2-1 Flint Town United

The wind blew strong and the rain fell hard and the match should never have started. There was surface water on parts of the pitch before kick off and several shots should have forced saves but just died in the box. But in spite of that, this was a match of some real skill and bucketloads of determination from two teams desperate to bring to a halt runs of shockingly bad form. Aber, who have been leaking goals and losing games and Flint, who have been doing the same for longer.

I contributed to the first goal, I am certain. Running to keep up with play, I went arse over tit and sure enough spread mud all over my nice, clean BEIGE jeans. Such a sight must have inspired Andy Evans as he smashed in with his nut on nine minutes. Flint, after a dodgy start, fought back. They were unlucky on several occasions and K pulled off his matchly miracle save, this time he even managed to prevent the deflection going to an attacker. It wasn't until the forty first minute that Flint got an equaliser. Their #11 taking advantage of slack Aber defending after yet another attack from the right yielded results. This time Nigel Nicholas cannot be blamed as he was not playing, so maybe it is time to look elsewhere for answers.

But the end of the first half will be remembered for another incident entirely as Hadyn Fleming and the Flint goal scorer set about each other in a punch up following a nasty tackle. They both received their marching orders, with both sets of supporters (Flint did actually bring some vocal ones) decrying their own chap's dismissal. Needless to say, our man Keith was on hand to explain the decision and pacify our desire to murder the ref at half time. And, once in the warmth and dryness of the shed, things did start to make a bit of sense.

And they soon did on the pitch as well, as Aber for once produced a team effort which finally overwhelmed their visitors, courtesy of Gavin Allen who proved that he still knows how to score goals when it counts. Flint rallied once more and worried the faithful, but it was not to be. The game was also notable for the return of Ryan Nicholls to active duty and he was unlucky not to score after coming on as a sub, though no one in the ground could work out where his shot had gone as everyone thought he'd scored.

So, another poor result for Flint, who really must be lamenting their luck if they play like this every week and still lose. Aber will be happy to claim three points and, hopefully, arrest their slide into the murky deep. They still have to face the ultimate challenge of their season though: the cup match against Penrhyncoch.

JDS Dec 97

Don't send me back to Flint. NOOOOO! 1