Commanding position (From Barry And District News)

Commanding position

BARRY TOWN'S eagerly-awaited FAW Premier Cup semi-final match against Swansea City scheduled for last Tuesday evening became a victim of the weather when the referee deemed the Vetch Field pitch unplayable after several hours heavy rain.

It is unclear when the tie will take place now because of both team's busy fixture schedule.

BARRY TOWN 1, RHYL 0

This was far from Barry's best performance of the season, but nevertheless secured the three points to take them eight points clear at the top of the table last Saturday.

Seven consecutive wins and the second clean sheet for Kenny Brown's men sees them in a commanding position with a dozen games left to play.

In form Bangor could give Barry a run for their money, but still have to play eight games against top ten opposition. Cwmbran are also looking good, but also have to play seven matches against strong opposition.

Barry must maintain their good form to win a sixth championship but have only three home games left with nine away games.

Town's away form has been good, losing only to Rhyl back in October. There are tough games away to Bangor, Cwmbran and Connah's Quay. Kenny Brown's men though are well disciplined and are more than capable of wins over their rivals.

Rhyl are talking of quitting the League of Wales to return to the English pyramid system. They will not be missed on the evidence of Saturday's match. Their tactics were to stop Barry playing! They partly succeeded and made sure the game, as a spectacle, was a dull one.

David Toomey's goal separated the two sides and it must be said that Barry really should have done better with the three or four chances they did have.

Interestingly, as with Haverfordwest on the previous Tuesday, Rhyl had also just one real chance to score and likewise they hit the bar. Credit must go to Barry's defensive qualities in which Scott Morgan and Kenny Brown were outstanding.

Richard Kennedy, who seems to insist on getting forward, when surely he should be playing in the holding position in midfield, missed a good chance on five minutes. On ten minutes, man of the match Dave Toomey whipped in a superb early cross which Jon French could only hit wide as the ball came with pace.

Jamie Moralee had a neat downward header saved by the keeper. He then turned provider and again Kennedy spurned a good chance to score. Barry were having to work for their openings with Rhyl heavily committed to defence.

After 42 minutes Gary Lloyd's deep corner picked out Scott Morgan who sent the ball back into Toomey who hit home at last for a 1-0 interval lead. Toomey has done well with his ninth goal in 12 starts as a professional footballer.

Richard Kennedy completed a hat-trick of misses in the second half, shooting straight at the keeper from 10 yards. One wonders why Barry have three attacking midfielders.

Spike hit the top of the bar to give Rhyl a glimmer of hope but as Barry went through the motions the second half was a dull affair.

There was a scare for Barry as Rayner, seemingly fouled, dropped a high cross, but Moralee was on hand to hit the loose ball away for a corner, the referee seeing nothing wrong with the challenge on the keeper.

Barry team: Rayner 7, French 6, Phillips 6, Brown 8, Morgan 8, Lloyd 7, Flynn 6, Kennedy 5, Ramasut 7, Moralee 7, Toomey 8. Subs not used: Jenkins, Pratt, Burke.

This Saturday Barry travel to Rhayader for a League match, kick off is at 2.30pm. Anyone wishing to travel by coach should contact Tim Johnson on 734050.