Match report by Ray Pearce Picture by Beth Kelly This WJ Owen Cup tie saw Aber entertain Division 1 East side St. Albans. After a minute's silence to mark the death of Connor Berry's father, the hosts were soon on the front foot attacking the town end. An early chance went wide with Leon Jacka then hitting the post. The fifth minute saw Dan Collins instrumental in setting up Evan Olson to finish well inside St .Albans near post. Continuous home attacks saw a Jacka free kick from just outside the box parried but Sam Weaver knocked in the loose ball. 2-0 after 16 minutes became three in the 22nd as good inter-passing down the left between Jacka and Jack Bethell (making his first start for Aber) saw the latter slot home. The visitors bar and goal line clearances thwarted Aberdare before a lapse in the home defence allowed St. Albans to pull a goal back on 38 minutes. Undaunted, a good move down the left saw Cameron McHale make it 4-1 with 3 minutes to the interval. Right on half-time Jacka rifled home the fifth for a satisfactory advantage. An early second half altercation saw an away player become the first in an Aber senior game to be shown a blue card and a 10 minute visit to the dug-out. The goal of the game came in the 58th minute as Jacka's measured lob from 40 yards made it 6-1. Just past the hour a home corner was netted by Owen Jones and as one of several substitutions, Berry came on to notch the eighth on 71 minutes. 6 minutes later Bethell netted his second and his side's ninth. The siege continued as substitute Jordan Jones scored after 82 minutes, and within 3 more minutes (Player of the Match) Berry had made it 11-1 Aberdare were delighted that 16 year old Jack Ford, on his debut, scored from the penalty spot after he had been impeded to make himself the youngest goalscorer for the Club in senior football in the modern day. TEAM: Dylan Pearce, Sam Weston-Sheppard, Brychan Davies, Jack Bethell (Jack Ford ‘81), Sam Weaver, Shay Welch (Jordan Jones ‘68), Leon Jacka (Josh Davies ‘67), Owen Jones, Cameron McHale, Dan Collins (Aaron Rowling ‘67), Evan Olson (Connor Berry ‘56)

Published Saturday 21st October 2023