After    notching    their    first    point    of    the    season    in midweek   against   Blaenrhondda,   Aberdare   produced a   superb   team   performance   with   a   comprehensive first league win for 18 months. Visiting   a   Trebanog   side   who   had   scored   9   goals   in   their last    two    games,    manager    Terry    Fitzpatrick    had    to replace   6   of   the   previous   squad   through   injury   and   non- availability. In    came    new    signings    Jordan    Hughes    and    Rhys Thomas   while   2   under   19   players,   Brychan   Davis   (who has   been   with   the   club   since   5   years   of   age)   and   Gabriel Butts   were   also   on   the   bench.      Nial   Jones   was   back available   and   took   his   place   in   the   heart   of   defence while   new   goalkeeper   Ioan   Protheroe   was   unavailable due   to   a   long   standing   commitment   from   prior   to   him signing for the Club. On   a   pleasantly   warm   afternoon   and   on   a   good   pitch, Will   Eastwood   shot   over   after   5   minutes   while   Trebanog forced   several   corners   which   were   well   dealt   with   before Yusuf   Ali   set   up   Eastwood   on   12   minutes   only   for   the home   No.1   to   save   well   for   a   corner   which   came   to nothing. 28   minutes   saw   a   drive   from   Sanna   Jawo   parried   by home   keeper   Sam   L'Homme,   Eastwood   followed   up   but was    taken    down    by    L'Homme.    A    clear    penalty    but Eastwood   was   unable   to   continue   being   replaced   by Noah   Searl.   Captain   Simon   Grmay   took   responsibility from   the   spot   in   sending   the   keeper   the   wrong   way   to put Aber in the lead.                                                                 

Match Report Trebanog 1 Aberdare Town 3

by Ray Pearce

Saturday 14 August 2021 | 14:30 | Trebanog

Trebanog 1-3 Aberdare

Niall Jones

Player of the Match

LINE-UP

1 Liam Pryor 2 Simon Grmay 3 Amenye Ndele 4 Arran Finalyson 5 Nial Jones 6 Dan Simms 7 Yusuf Ali 8 Abs Camara 9 Will Eastwood 10 Aaron Rees 17 Sanna Jawo

SUBSTITUTES 12 Noah Searl 14 Jordan Hughes 15 Rhys Thomas 16 Brycan Davies 18 Gabriel Butts REFEREE Mark Boucher

After   a   fierce   drive   from   the   hosts   hit   the   crossbar,   a long   clearance   from   Aber   keeper   Liam   Pryor   saw   a   mix up    between    Trebanog's    keeper    and    defender    and substitute   Searl   knocked   it   home   for   a   deserved   2-0 half-time lead. It   was   expected   that   there   would   be   a   lot   pressure   from the    robust    hosts    as    the    game    progressed,    but    the visitors coped well with any pressure exerted. Indeed,   the   goal   of   the   match   came   on   73   minutes   and it   put   the   game   beyond   doubt   as   Ali's   excellent   cross from   the   left   saw   Jawo   through   on   goal   and   lobbed   over the     keeper     for     3-0     and     Aberdare     fans     were     in dreamland. Trebanog   came   forward   and   Pryor   made   a   fine   save   to protect   the   three   goal   cushion   but   was   finally   beaten   on 76   minutes   for   3-1   as   Connor   Ray   scored   a   consolation goal. Aber    fans    were    obviously    still    anxious    after    previous efforts   over   the   last   few   seasons   but   total   commitment from   the   team   saw   them   going   close   to   extending   the lead further after an amazing goalmouth scramble. New    men   Thomas    and    Hughes,    who    came    close    to scoring,    came    on    to    replace    the    Harrent    Properties Player   of   the   Match   Niall   Jones   and   Aaron   Rees   ,but, just   as   the   two   Under   19's   were   due   to   come   on,   the referee ended the game. The   final   whistle   saw   the   obvious   delight   of   all   involved from     players,     coaches     and     fans,     a     magnificent performance   all   round   and   must   be   built   on   when   Aber Valley   and   then   Grange   Albion   visit   Aberaman   Park   for the next two fixtures.

Photo by David Sweet