DIVISION ONE

PORTHCAWL TOWN ATHLETIC ...................... 1 ABER VALLEY ............... 3

. THIS was the kind of game that Porthcawl Town Athletic needed to win in order to turn their season around and climb the table, writes Tony Poole.

But the old chestnut of failing to turn chances into goals once more came back to haunt the Seasiders.

On a decent playing surface, the Seasiders were out of the starting blocks quicker with Hayden Lau and pop idol Jordan Marks having shots easily saved.

But it was Aber Valley who went ahead when Warren got in the way of a whipped free kick - and the ball fizzed into the net.

Porthcawl responded with Thomas Warren heading over the top and chances that fell to Marks, Lau and Jake Lane that failed to find a good home.

Once again Aber Valley posed a set-piece threat and it became 2-0 in the 40th minute when Jacob James headed the ball home, following a shortcorner ploy.

But there was still time for Porthcawl to halve the deficit when a left-wing raid ended in Hayden Lau lashing home a third goal of the campaign.

Trailing 2-1 at the break, the Seasiders soon took a grip on the second half, forcing Aber Valley deeper and deeper.

But sightings of goal came and went for Matt Ellis, substitute Jorge Crofts and Marks, and it was inevitable these misses would come back to haunt them.

And this was the case when Aber Valley won a penalty that Ben Thornton converted to make things safe.

Porthcawl visit fourthplaced AFC Whitchurch on Saturday.