FRIGHT night came 48 hours early for Airbus as two errors gifted victory to Aberystwyth at Park Avenue.
With a quarter of hour to go, the Wingmakers looked the most likely winners, buoyed by Jonny Spittle's equaliser. But goalkeeper Ryan Neild underhit a clearance from Ryan Wignall's backpass when under no pressure and Luke Borrelli took full advantage with a well-taken finish.
And, five minutes later, Spittle went from hero to zero as he was adjudged to have brought down Chris Jones in the box, got himself sent-off for remarks to referee Leigh Jones, and was down the tunnel when Jones sent Neild the wrong way from the penalty spot.
Despite dominating possession in the first half, Airbus had fallen behind when Borrelli turned in a Jones corner on 35 minutes. Neild had earlier made a good save to deny the striker but Aber had a let-off when keeper Chris Mullock's clearance went straight to Ryan Fraughan, who chose the wrong option and saw his shot saved.
Jamie Menagh found Fraughan, whose shot was just wide and Ryan Edwards fired wide from 25 yards while another mistake from Mullock sent the ball straight to Menagh, whose lob found the roof of the net.
Aberystwyth started to get on top after the break and, after some hesitant play from the back, Airbus were nearly punished when Jones crashed a shot against the crossbar.
Geoff Kellaway put the ball over the top from 12 yards but the visitors then broke upfield and won a corner from which Menagh's delivery was headed home from four yards by Spittle.
Tony Gray was unable to take advantage of another Mullock error but then got on the end of a good crossfield ball from Menagh only to be denied one-on-one by the keeper.
The miss proved costly as Aber punished Neild's error and the penalty then put the game well beyond the 10-man Wingmakers.
Photos (top) Ryan Neild is beaten by Luke Borrelli for the second Aberystwyth goal and (below) Tony Gray is challenged by Joe Clarke [Photos courtesy Aberystwyth Town FC].
