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Eden winner is paradise for Druids
Aberystwyth Town 0
Cefn Druids 1 Adam Eden 85
Adam Eden came off the bench to secure all three points as Cefn Druids defeated Aberystwyth Town at Park Avenue.
The winger got the only goal of the game with five minutes remaining to lift The Ancients out of the bottom two ahead of the final first phase fixtures next weekend.
Huw Griffiths installed new signings Filippo Mosetti Casaretto and Nathan Peate straight into the starting line up in place of the absent Michael Jones and Jordan Barrow.
The hosts started the brighter of the two sides as Luke Borrelli dragged a shot wide in the second minute. This was followed by John Owen seeing an effort saved by Druids’ new ‘keeper.
Druids then began to show their attacking teeth as Stuart Cook started to stamp his authority on the match. His shot from distance could only be parried by former Druids stopper Chris Mullock but Steve Blenkinsop, following up on the rebound, was unable to control the loose ball and Mullock was able to gather.
Naim Arsan sent in a deep cross from the left wing which the home defence could only clear to Mike Pritchard on the edge of the penalty area, but his shot went inches wide of the post.
The Ancients came close to taking the lead on the hour mark when Pritchard released Arsan on the left side of the home six yard box. The wing back’s low cross narrowly evaded Blenkinsop’s sliding attempt to turn home the ball.
Aberystwyth came close to taking the lead after half-time when Borrelli’s header from Ricky Watts’ right wing cross struck the top of Casaretto’s crossbar and went behind.
At the other end Blenkinsop came close again to breaking the deadlock as his header from Corey Roper’s corner struck the foot of the post and rebounded back into the grateful arms of Mullock.
Druids had a let off when Fisnik Hajdari’s weak header on halfway enabled John Owen to break clear, but could only drag his shot across goal and wide under pressure from Adam Hesp.
The Seasiders had a golden opportunity to take the lead when Owen’s floating cross from the right side of the goal area was met by Chris Jones’ header at the far post, but he could only send it wide with that side of the goal at his mercy.
Eden came on with 14 minutes remaining and immediately put the home defence under pressure as he broke clear to send a shot wide of the far post.
But, with five minutes remaining, Eden struck.
He timed his run to perfection to beat the high offside trap and latch on to a through ball. The winger’s run took him to the edge of the penalty area and his low strike beat Mullock’s dive and nestled into the bottom corner of the net.
The win took Druids out of the bottom and ended Aberystwyth’s hopes of a top six place for phase two.
Aberystwyth Town: Chris Mullock, Ricky Watts, Cledan Davies, Sam Rodon, Luke Sherbon, John Owen, Luke Borrelli (Lee Healey), Ryan Wollacott, Kostya Georgievsky (Chris Jones 53), Kurtis March (Jamie Crowther 62), Elliot Scotcher. Substitutes not used: Will Bell, Jack Rimmer. Booked: March 26.
Cefn Druids: Filippo Mosetti Casaretto, Kyle Parle, Adam Hesp, Matthew Eckersley, Stuart Cook, Steve Blenkinsop (Adam Eden 76), Michael Pritchard, Nathan Peate, Naim Arsan, Fisnik Hajdari, Corey Roper. Substitutes not used: Matty Cook, Daniel Lloyd, Jordan Harper. Booked: Peate 37, Arsan 81.
Attendance: 187. Referee: Nick Pratt.
