Moralee brace moves Town within title grasp (From Barry And District News)

Moralee brace moves Town within title grasp

BARRY TOWN 2 - LLANELLI 0

BARRY need to beat Oswestry on Saturday to claim a sixth championship in seven seasons.

The win over lowly Llanelli on Tuesday evening puts them six points clear of Bangor, the North Wales side falling 2-0 to Newtown.

Barry are 32-71 with away games at Oswestry and Newtown while Bangor are away to Afan Lido on Saturday and still have to travel to Rhayader and Carmarthen. Bangor's record is 31-65. Barry's goal average is 11 goals better than Bangor, so is not really a factor in the title race unless Barry falter and share the same number of points. A win on Saturday will install Barry as champions and another bite at the Champions League.

They have been easily the strongest team in the league, but have made life difficult for themselves this year by not scoring enough goals! Chances created have been incredible and again in this match Barry missed chance after chance, the biggest culprit being Mike Flynn.

Flynn, such a consistent scorer last season, has had a miserable season for goals. Slotting in behind the front two, he has scored just four goals in his last 15 starts.

Jamie Moralee has scored 13 goals in 15 starts while fellow striker Dave Toomey has netted six goals, defender Lee Phillips seven goals in 15 starts.

Kenny Brown will almost certainly hunt down a proven goal scorer in the close season. Top scorer Jamie Moralee has had a great season, but by his own admission, is not an out and out goal scorer. Thirteen goals from 15 games though is excellent from the ex-Crystal Palace star.

Peter Nicholas, currently managing the Sospans, was given a good cheer by the Barry faithful and has obviously already tightened up this young and talented West Wales side.

The Reds bravely playing three up front had an early chance when Raith Plant hit the post. It proved to be basically their only real chance, as Barry took the game by the scruff of the neck.

The half was one of missed chances. Scott Morgan hit the bar from close range early on. Man of the match Tom Ramasut, was making lots of inroads and carved out a great chance for Toomey who scuffed his shot straight at the keeper.

Again Ramasut tricked his way into the box beating three men, a perfect pass to Flynn, who missed a great chance to score. A minute later again Ramasut to Flynn who fired over the bar.

Then it was Moralee to Toomey who headed wide, again another chance went begging as Barry seemed to shoot themselves in the foot, so 0-0 at half time.

Moralee broke the deadlock in the 49th minute, firing home Jon French's cross. Moralee got his second in the 57th minute from Toomey's header across goal. Moralee could have got a hat-trick but unselfishly laid off to Flynn. The midfielder tried to burst the net, when he only had to tap the ball past the keeper and he made a real hash of an easy chance.

The game petered out as both sides settled for the 2-0 scoreline. Barry will travel to Oswestry on Saturday confident that they can get the three points but will really need to keep their composure and not to be over anxious as the obvious nerves are bound to jangle a little.

The supporters coach leaves at 9am. Ring Tim Johnson to book. Kick off is 2pm.