Nicholas nearly foils old team (From Barry And District News)

Nicholas nearly foils old team

Llanelli 2, Barry Town 3

THIS was a strange game, where Barry completely dominated the first half, taking a 3-0 interval lead.

Kenny Brown will be livid that Barry allowed the Reds back in the game and almost clinch a draw.

Llanelli supporters were visibly upset at half time as they saw their team of enthusiastic youngsters outplayed as Barry showed all their passing skills.

The same supporters had no idea of the spirited performance that their team would produce in the second half.

Llanelli now managed by Peter Nicholas have a limited budget, but Nicholas has done well and has a gem of a midfielder in David Shearman who looks likely to go to a higher level, pretty soon.

As against Haverfordwest, Barry scored three first half grab but seem unable to score in the second half.

Peter Nicholas is a wily old fox and certainly his half time team talk worked wonders. If only Barry with all of their talent had the same spirit as the Llanelli youngsters, then they could win the league easily.

Despite Barry's first half passing movement and at times sharp play, there were times when certain players were disappointing. Barry's midfield lacked shape and one of two players lacked the basic speed to go past players.

Nevertheless Barry got the three points, but over 90 minutes they need to show more consistency. With Bangor City due at Jenner Park on November 19, Barry will hope to see some of their injured players back.

Missing against Llanelli were Nicky Burke (suspension), Dave Toomey, Lee Jarman and Simon Rayner. On the bench was Jamie Moralee recovering from injury.

The rain was constant throughout the match but the pitch was in superb condition and did not cut up at all. This gave Kenny Brown's men the chance to knock the ball around, with Lawrence Davies looking lively in the number nine shirt.

It was Davies who opened the scoring in the 21st minute. Set up nicely by Jon French he skipped past a defender into the box with the Reds keeper coming out trying to pull him down.

He would certainly have been red-carded if he had brought Davies down but the ex-Leeds starlet slotted the ball home superbly.

On 30 minutes a clever well constructed corner involving Jamie Jenkins and Gary Lloyd saw Andy York head home for 2-0 on the half hour.

Davies was extremely prominent in Barry's attacks and after a couple of on target shots he was brought down in the box. Jon French slotted home the penalty on 41 minutes, to give Barry a 3-0 interval lead.

Any hope that Barry would cruise to a comfortable victory were given a dent when Nicky Palmer headed home a free kick on 47 minutes.

Tom Ramasut set up Jamie Jenkins who shot wide and Ramasut himself was denied by the keeper.

Barry defenders seemed to be going to sleep when another free kick saw Daniel Joseph make it 3-2 again with a header.

Llanelli were buoyed by the goal but Barry managed to hang on to the three points but certainly Kenny will be livid with this inconsistent performance especially as Llanelli lost 4-0 last Saturday to Flexsis.

Kenny is angry that Barry have a 17 day break before playing Bangor on October 19. The players took a weekend golfing break and will all be involved for two weeks fit coaching.

"With the favourable weather and good pitches we would have preferred to have been playing. Hopefully our injured players Dave Toomey and Lee Jarman will be nearer to full fitness by the time we play Bangor. Simon Rayner is due back on October 11, after his family bereavement.

With reserve keeper Dean Lee injured Barry played a Newcastle-based keeper in Andy Granger against Llanelli.

Barry team: Granger, Phillips, York, Morgan, Lloyd, French, Kennedy, Brown, Ramasut, Jenkins, Davies. Subs: Moralee, Cotterill and Pratt. Man of the match: Lawrence Davies.

When all the players are fit Kenny Brown could well have a striking problem with Moralee, Davies, Burke and Toomey all chasing the two striking positions. Pretty strong at the back, Barry certainly seem to lack a consistent balance in midfield.

One option could be to move Gary Lloyd up to an attacking midfield role. Lloyd a superb footballer could be used as a third attacker, a role his father the well travelled Gil Lloyd believes Gary would relish. "If Gary played up front he would score lots of goals I guarantee" said Mr Lloyd.

Certainly too many of the players who have occupied midfield roles have been inconsistent. The exception is Richard Kennedy who has played well and has chased and challenged. If Kennedy keeps his place and doesn't stray too far forward then the team will benefit.

Kenny has plenty of time to prepare his game plan for the Bangor game and next week we will take an indept look at both sides and bring you the update on all Barry news.