Flint Town United 3-0 Aberystwyth Town: Silkmen claim first win under Neil Gibson
Flint Town United moved from the bottom of the relegation zone as they beat Aberystwyth Town 3-0 at the Essity Stadium in the Cymru Premier.
Rob Hughes was on target twice in the second-half as he added to Mark Cadwallader’s opener to give a comfortable first victory for Neil Gibson.
Aberystwyth meanwhile fall to 12th in the table and look to be in real danger of losing their JD Cymru Premier ever-present status. They are now winless in nine.
Flint and Aberystwyth started this game occupying the bottom two places in the JD Cymru Premier and it showed.
Owain Jones and Matthew Jones had the best of the chances for Aber, but their long range efforts did nothing to trouble Aaron Jones in the home goal. Flint’s direct style was yielding even less, Cadwallader unable to get behind Aber deep line. There were no shots on target in the first half an hour.
Ben Nash’s header sparked the home side into life. The centre back’s brilliant header was only kept out by an even better save by Connor Roberts.
But three minutes before halftime Roberts was beaten by Flint’s marksman Mark Cadwallder. Alex Jones, captaining the side in Richie Foulkes’ absence, played a defence splitting pass through to Cadwallder, who evaded the two Aber centre backs to poke the ball home. 1-0 Flint at half time in a half they just about edged.
Jamie Veale replaced Gwion Owen at the break for the Seasiders as Gavin Allen tried to turn the tide of the match. His introduction proved to make Aber more creative in the final third, with Owain Jones and Matthew Jones again firing wide from half chances. Flint however almost doubled their lead as a wonderfully executed counter attack led to Wes Baynes rifling just past the post from the edge of the box.
Rob Hughes was inches away from a dream introduction as moments after coming on he flashed an effort just wide from a lovely turn outside the box. Two substitutes were to prove decisive when in the 83rd minute Richie Ricketts brought down Rob Hughes in the area. Hughes himself stepped up and dispatched his penalty straight down the middle.
In less than ideal conditions it was Flint’s individual talent that ultimately proved the difference. Callum Bratley’s running was at the forefront of everything good Flint did, as it has been all season. Ben Nash was a calm and steady head in the middle of defence, and Rob Hughes brings a touch of class to proceedings.
Hughes’ mazy run and finish past Roberts in the 92nd minute was everything Flint deserved from a professional second half and will please new manager Neil Gibson as he oversaw his first Silkmen win.
Flint Town United: Aaron Jones, Sam Hart, Wes Baynes (Kai Wallis 88’), Ben Nash, Kai Edwards, Alex Jones, Mark Cadwallader (Rob Hughes 69’), Callum Bratley, Andrew Brown (Conor Harwood 56’), Ben Maher, Thomas Kemp
Goals: Mark Cadwallader 43’, Rob Rob Hughes 83’ 92’
Yellow Cards:
Aberystwyth Town: Connor Roberts, Matthew Jones, Marc Williams, Rhys Davies, Steff Davies (Jonny Evans 14’), Gwion Owen (Jamie Veale 45’), Steven Hewitt (Richie Ricketts 81’), Owain Jones, Jon Folingo, Jack Thorn, Jack Rimmer
Yellow Cards: Matthew Jones 66’, Jamie Veale 78’
See how Flint Town United claimed victory over Aberystwyth here:
