Abergavenny Town - 4

Aber Valley YMCA FC - 3

ABERGAVENNY Town left their supporters’ nerves in shred last Saturday as they struggled to come to terms with their South Wales Alliance opponents Aber Valley.

Despite dominating the early exchanges, Town found themselves in arrears on the half-hour when Liam Stacey put the visitors ahead, and it took until early in the second half before they drew level thanks to a Luke Lewis effort.

Joy was short-lived as on 50 minutes, Aurelious in Town’s goal conceded a penalty which Thomas Mantle converted, and more Town woe followed two minutes later when Radziherski extended Aber Valley’s lead and Town knew they were looking at an early exit from this season’s competition.

Town’s Ben Watkins did his best to salvage something, and was unlucky when his pile-driver blasted the crossbar and struck Aber Valley’s ‘keeper Daddow on the back of his head before rebounding to safety.

Town were handed a lifeline four minutes from time when Craig Norman converted a penalty, but as the minutes ticked away defeat looked likely.

It was in the sixth minute of added time when Brett Morgan became Town’s hero, flicking a header past Daddow to send the tie into extra time.

The pattern of play in extra time was similar to that in regulation play, and again the minutes were ticking away.

A goalless first period was followed by a stalemate in the second, and a penalty shootout looked on the cards, except in the very last minute Craig Norman muscled his way into the box and headed past Daddow as Pen-y-Pound Stadium reverberated to the biggest cheer of the season so far.

After Saturday’s drama, Town are in the hat for the first round draw, but the previous Tuesday night they bowed out of the Welsh Premier League Cup, now known as the Nathaniel MG Cup to local rivals, Goytre FC, at Pen-y-Pound Stadium in front of a crowd of 203.

Town took the lead through a Craig Norman penalty, before Goytre replied through Lewis Sommers. With the tie locked 1-1 at 90 minutes, Dan MacDonald grabbed Goytre’s winner on 110 minutes.

On Saturday Town travel to league leaders, Llanelli Town who boast a 100% record (2:30pm). A supporters’ bus will depart Pen-y-Pound Stadium at 11:30am.

Town (v Aber Valley): 1 James Aurelious, 2 Brett Morgan, 3 Aaron Norman, 4 Dafydd Brewer, 5 Declan Bull, 6 Jordan Chappelle, 7 Ben Watkins, 8 Lewis Jones, 9 Craig Norman, 10 Sean Feeley, 11 Luke Lewis. 12 Jack McGonnigle, 14 Jake Heckles, 15 Tyla Preece