Match report by Richard Rowlands Following    the    previous    week’s    laudable    display    at    league    leaders Caldicot   Town,   hopes   were   high   for   this   floodlight   fixture   against   mid table Abergavenny. These   thoughts   were   dashed   with   an   insipid   second   half   performance   and the   manner   of   defeat   yet   again   in   concert   with   Groundhog   Day   that   when the   opposition   strike   back,   the   team’s   fragility   shows,   displaying   a   visible drop in confidence resulting invariably in final capitulation. With   Matt   Flynn   an   absentee   following   the   head   injury   sustained   at   Caldicot, Richard   Ingram   returned   to   the   starting   eleven   with   Levi   Jones,   who   was   to produce the man of the match performance starting in central defence. The   opening   fifteen   minutes   produced   little   cohesive   football   with   both   sides guilty   of   sloppy   distribution   and   only   the   visitor’s   Nathan   Davies   showing creative   designs      with   some   neat   passing   and   control   in   striving   to   unlock the host’s defensive barrier. Aberdare   slowly   began   to   test   the   visitor’s   defence   but   the   chances   that came their way and not converted would come back to haunt them. Seb   Haggett   drilled   wide   of   the   far   post   and   Elliot   Morris   blazed   over   from   a similar    advantageous    position    moments    later.    But    Haggett    redeemed himself   shortly   after   picking   up   an   excellent   through   ball   from   Matthew Glassey   and   lobbing   expertly   over   the   advancing Abergavenny   keeper,   Tom Indge for the opener. Aberdare   were   the   dominant   force   now   with   Rhys   Tandy   a   constant   threat and Morris and Rhys Williams, up for a set piece, going close. Frustratingly, Aberdare   were   being   constantly   flagged   for   off   side   where   the tactic of playing off the last man has to be carefully and cleverly deployed. There   was   little   to   enthuse   the   decent   home   crowd   up   to   the   break   and were   only   partially   content      to   take   their   half   time   refreshment   with   their team enjoying a one goal lead when it should have been more. Half Time: Aberdare Town 1-0 Abergavenny Town But   the   optimism   of   the   fans   was   to   turn   to   despair   despite   a   bright   opening when   a   Tandy   cross   traveled   into   the   danger   area   and   cut   out   desperately by a retreating defender and a speculative Haggett effort going inches wide. But   as   has   been   the   running   theme   throughout   the   campaign   Aberdare   are unable   to   see   things   out   and   a   series   of   defensive   lapses   saw   the   visitors and especially Sean Feeley take full advantage. A   long   ball   saw   the   home   defence   caught   on   the   back   foot   allowing   Feeley to sneak in and score. With   no   wins   in   thirteen   league   games,   including   the   latter   end   of   the previous   season,   confidence   is   understandably   fragile   but   this   does   not excuse the lamentable display following the equaliser. Abergavenny   were   now   well   on   top   with   Feeley’s   second   goal   coming   in   the 77th minute being allowed two bites of the cherry in rattling home. The   visitors   third   and   with   it   Feely’s   hat   trick   arrived   three   minutes   later   with the   home   defence   opening   up   like   the   Red   Sea   allowing   the   striker   to casually slot home. Aberdare   are   now   firmly   entrenched   in   the   relegation   places   and   early season   thoughts   of   a   challenge   for   promotion   scuttled   and   the   aim   now   only to    extricate    themselves    from    the    league    basement    and    find    mid    table comfort. A   period   of   soul   searching      is      certainly   on   the   cards   with   Aberdare’s   next game an away encounter at newly promoted Llantwit Major Man of the Match: Levi Jones Team:    Clint   Forbes,   Matthew   Glassey,   Josh   Powell,   Rhys   Williams,   Lewis Holder, Elliott Morris, Levi Jones, Ross Daniels, Seb Haggett, Rhys Tandy Subs used:   Cory Thomas, Mitchell Boyce, John Phillips Subs not used:   Ben Gibbs, Andrew Ellis