A GARETH HUGHES strike after nine minutes proved enough to decide a tight Park Avenue encounter yesterday.

Enjoying an equal share of possession in a game of few chances, the visitors will consider themselves a little unlucky not to have at least gained a share of the spoils.

From the start Druids showed they did not intend merely to contain. Mike Heverin, who worked hard all afternoon, found himself free after only five minutes but fired wide.

Four minutes later Aber had more luck at the other end. Visiting goalkeeper Chris Mullock raced from his goal to challenge Stuart Roberts only for the Aber front runner to steer the ball round him into the path of Hughes, who slotted it neatly into an empty net for what proved an early winner.

Former Seasider Ricky Evans fired a free-kick narrowly wide, while at the other end Luke Sherbon went close after being set up by Jamie Reed as good-build up by both sides went unrewarded.

There was little change in the pattern of proceedings after the break, with plenty of endeavour but no end result.

Druids applied considerable late pressure, but Aneurin Thomas and Christian Edwards at the heart of the home defence stood firm. Aber had a scare when the ball was forced over the line from a corner, only for referee Neil Morgan to award a foul against the visitors.