Ho hum and grounded with a bump as a fixture that normally has relegation dog-fight written all over it found itself shunted into a top of the table struggle for crucial Inter Toto points. Those points were divided equally but Rhyl had the lion's share of the play and will feel sick as North Walian parrots that they missed all the chances they created in the last eighty nine minutes of this match. The visitors, in a stylish, sponsorless kit, took the lead after a few seconds after Donald Kane's swipe and miss clearance let in Steve Jones. The sizeable crowd emitted an audible grown and some of us (ME!) remembered that the last time such a thing happened Aber lost 5-4. The comparison lasted until five minutes in when Gavin Allen, in the only attack he found any free space, pounced to deadly effect and smashed one in with gusto. But there was to be no more scoring and, if truth were told, there were long periods when not much happened. Rhyl, whose attacks were better when they were prepared to be patient, forced several saves out of K, but fluffed several good scoring opportunities whilst Aber's midfield ceased to function meaning that Nigel Nicholas and Leigh Vick were the most threatening men going forward. That looked good on Dai Parry and Gari Lewis, both of whom apparently worshipped by Kate and Karen, as they totally failed to produce anything of note despite being in the midfield where the ball was for most of the match. Rhyl, featuring students and ex-Holywell players, had the greater skill throughout and soon managed to cope with Glyndwr Hughes wild runs as he started in place of Griffiths (who later replaced the ineffective Parry). Up front for Rhyl, the chances were evenly spread and Rhodri Thomas and John Morris had to tackle hard to get any form of defensive result. Rhyl looked strong at the back and guarded Allen throughout and had no difficulty in rendering impotent a lethargic Andy Evans. Before the match, we encountered Tomsky walking round in a hungover daze and Steve Moore looking his usual resigned self. We also toyed with the idea of renting an advertising board with Andy's Internet address on it. It would give us something to lean against and also, a large painted piece of wood. But I digress, the game was poor but the skill content displayed by one of the teams was high. Simple as that but skill doesn't always translate into victories. Eh, Chelsea?
J.D.S. Sept 97
LoW
22.03.97 Aberystwyth Town 2-1 Rhyl
So, the Green and Blacks did it. They have now done the double over two teams (Carmarthen are the other unfortunate bunch). At times today, they looked to be a reasonable outfit but so did Rhyl but neither team lookedthat great going forward from midfield with the visitors relying heavily on long ball, usually pumped up to the tall #9, Powell. Aber made five changes to the programme line up with the dropping of Dai Blair providing the biggest surprise, Mark Standen took his place but did not look to have the same attacking mind. The midfield was composed of Samil Misbah, David Parry and Martyn Griffiths and, after a dodgy opening 45 mins, they looked quite good together, very unlike Wednesday's farce. For Rhyl, the best performances were at the back with David Lee Jones their huge #4, providing a focal point for set pieces as well as being something of a rocky thing
in defence. The game itself was no classic. The opening quarter was poor and the play never really clicked. It was, however, better than the meeting in Rhyl and this time Dave was not mercilessly hacked down onto concrete before kick off. It was even at half time after neither side had really threatened but Aber got the breakthrough witin ten minutes of the restart.
From a freekick Aizer delivered a wetdream of a cross that Ry blasted imn from inside the six yard box. "APPY APPY APPY IN IN IN" was our muffled chant, in contrast to the roar asking for his dismissal on Wednesday. But Rhyl came back, within ten minutes a free kick of their own which wasn't cleared led to the equaliser, converted by Michael Edwards. Again the game went scrappy and it was only in the final fifteen minutes that any chances were created and, again, Aber scored from a cross. This time Nigel "GOD!" Nicholas plopped one across perfectly for Gav to do the business. And 2-1 it stayed. The Rhyl boys let Aber have a few more chances later on and David Parry should have done better with the chances that came his way but, the look of relief on the Aber players faces would seem to indicate that they were quite happy with a single goal victory and, when the whistle went, I think the majority of people in Park Avenue were as well.
J.D.Smalldon March 1997
LoW
02.11.96 Rhyl 0-2 Aberystwyth Town
One of the worst adverts for LoW football produced one of the most welcome results. The parents no doubt will tell the family in Newport that the Exiles are playing better football in the English pyramid but after Ryan Nicolls struck home on 72 minutes with a blistering wallop, I just don't care.
The Green and Blacks never effectively worked as an eleven man team (the bizarre wind didn't help) but it would have
been a travesty of justice if Rhyl had taken any points from this game.
The Lilywhites (who play in white/gold and black) have no firepower
up front and missed plenty of decent chances in the first half
before producing little in their wind assisted second half.
Abers tactics changed at half time and they avoided their earlier mistake
of hoofing the ball up and hoping that their "really tall" strikers (Ryan and Gav
aren't above 5ft10" in height!)could outjump Rhyls big big centre backs.
The referee refused our bribes (he wanted cheese and onion flavour crisps, not plain!)
and the linesman failed to noticed that Aber had a header go
over the line in the first half
and that for Gavin Allen's goal at the end, the ball had actually gone out
of play before ballooning back off the bar to be chested in.
No Phil McNeil as Aber couldn't afford his match fee, but at least
Appy used a substitute (Damian Burke) when he was needed.
So, Aber are no longer bottom and things seem to be slowly improving for the Seasiders.
J.D.Smalldon Nov 1996
