Aberystwyth made a few changes from the Bangor match with Gari Lewis Returning in place of the suspended Andy Evans and Hayden Fleming and Glyndwr Hughes both returning to warm the bench until the second half. The Rhayader team was changed quite dramatically from the printed programme (which also featured Tomsky's interview with Ryan Nicholls and Steve Moore's customary seasonal jollity) and there was no Tommy Morgan. But Aber old boys Martyn Davies and Peter Griffiths were here and they both performed like they had something to prove. Which, of course, they did.

The first half lacked a spark to ignite the good moves that Aber created and Gavin Allen had a shot on an open goal well blocked by a sliding defender. Rhayader, whose style is more from the old school (to match their kit), attacked Well with neat touches from Davies, Griffiths and Hugh Clarke nearly paying dividends. A close in header was missed by Dylan McPhee early on and they could not create such a clear chance until the second half. Gari Lewis seemed to lack something but otherwise Aber were a strong unit with Nigel Nicholas looking like he was back to something of his earlier form. He even wished us a Merry Christmas as we walked sheepishly into the ground an hour before kick off having arrived in a spartan Aberystwyth only ninety minutes earlier to brave no open shops and karaoke in Burger King.

The second half was better though less ordered. Rhayader took the lead when Martyn Davies broke through the defence and beat the outcoming K. He celebrated like a man possessed and proceeded to play like one and had to be substituted before he received a second yellow card. It was noted that he had done more in a single game for Rhayader than he seemed to whilst playing for the Green & Blacks but Andy stood up for him in the ensuing discussion. Aberystwyth equalised via a snapshot from Gavin Allen that left everybody standing because no one had expected it. In much the same way (i.e. no one was expecting it), Rhayader took the lead within ten minutes when an unmarked header from a corner brought delight to their large support. After that it was Peter Griffiths' turn to be substituted.

By the time, Aber had brought on Glyndwr and Hayden, neither of whom had distinguished games but Hayden played out of position and Glyn was presumably not one hundred per cent fit. With Rhayader looking more assured it seemed that the hundred and sixty mile journey back might seem a tad long but then we hadn't read they ending that some heartless scriptwriter had crafted. On eighty-six minutes, Nigel Nicholas bore down on the box and, urged on by the shed, unleashed a shot that Simon Jones spilled and before any defender could get there, Gavin Allen had beaten Ry and Glyn to the ball to score. Two minutes later with Aber on the attack again, Rhayader suffered a cruel twist of fate as a Wyn Thomas shot was mis hit and gave Ryan the chance to score. It was harder to miss and so Aber won. From last season's experience, I know that that's the way it seems to go when you're down the bottom.

So a game at Aber without a fistfight or any incidents of note after the final whistle? Well, stranger things have happened. The crowd was reasonably large today, probably taking advantage of the lack of students. The size of the Rhayader support was refreshing and it's a shame their team didn't get thepoints (although Aber had by far the greater share of play) but they've got a long way still to go. Aber seem to be heading towards mid table obscurity, which no one is complaining about and, in the short term, there are still two more local derbies to come, notably the old enemy, Newtown, next.