Twenty-four hours after the disappointment of their senior counterparts in their JD Welsh Cup final defeat, Aberystwyth Town’s Under 19 side lifted the club with their first ever National League Trophy.
Managed by former Aber player Bari Morgan, Jack Rimmer stepped up from the penalty spot to earn the Seasiders a 1-0 win over Development League (North) Champions The New Saints.
In a tense finale at Latham Park, Newtown, Aberystwyth kept their defensive shape superbly with a dominant display from central defender Lee Jenkins and Jack Rimmer anchoring centre midfield.
Aberystwyth looked threatening down the right-flank as full-back Tom Evans caught the eye with some buccaneering ruins whilst Liam Doherty worked tirelessly to lead the line and Harri Horwood showing attacking intent down the left.
The breakthrough came after 36 minutes when Rimmer was upended in the box and he himself got up to confidently strike the penalty home. From that moment on Aberystywth kept things tight, restricting to The New Saints to half chances whilst looking dangerous on the break to hold on to their lead.
Aberystwyth are now hoping their young guns can now transition into the senior Welsh Premier League set-up.
A club statement said: “Bari Morgan, Iwan Roberts and all of the players deserve huge credit for achieving in one season something that Aberystwyth Town FC has never managed before in its 134 year history, and everyone at the club hopes that this golden generation of players will be able to develop into first-team players in the coming seasons.”
Aberystwyth Town: Alex Pennock, Liam Berner, Tom Evans, Jack Rimmer, Harri Horwood, Carwyn Morgan, Lee Jenkins, Liam Doherty, Niall Coleridge (Ryan Evans 77), Osian Rees Jones (Matthew Jones 65), Harri Rowe.
