Godd striker needed (From Barry And District News)

Godd striker needed

NEWTOWN 3,

Barry Town 0

BARRY Town's on-off problems continue with this comprehensive defeat by mid-table Newtown. While the club is fighting for its very existence, manager David Hughes also has a major battle on his hands to avoid relegation.

Only one point from nine games leaves Barry firmly rooted at the foot of the table, six points below Carmarthen.

This game illustrates how Barry need striking power. They have scored just four goals all season, one of them by the previous side under Kenny Brown.

The only league scorers are Michael Emery, Alan Hughes and Mattie Davies, and just Hughes played against Newtown.

Defensively they have conceded six goals in the last two games, so what can David Hughes do?

He has no money to play with and he cannot keep a settled side. Every time Barry play there are several changes from the previous game as the manager tries to formulate a winning team.

Another major factor is that Barry Town is still a very big name and Welsh Premier sides are hungry to play against the fallen giants. Revenge is the name of the game as sides set out to overturn previous maulings.

Newtown are one of the few sides who have been able to give Barry a good game in the past. Nevertheless they will be delighted to have taken all three points from this clash.

Barry had their chances when new signing Josh Perry had two efforts brilliantly saved by Newtown keeper Paul Edwards.

The champions received a setback in the 11th minute when striker Peter Smith gave Lee Rudall no chance from the edge of the box with a powerful effort.

Smith had given an earlier warning of his intentions with a surging run and shot.

Perry could have given Barry the lead with a little more luck, but it was the home side who held a slender 1-0 advantage at the break.

Newtown showed more urgency in the second half, but Lee Rudall rivalled his counterpart Edwards with some fine saves.

The Barry keeper has shown much promise this year and it was largely down to his efforts that the home outfit did not score a lot more. He saved well from Smith and Fletcher while Danny Barton will reflect on a missed chance when he was put through.

Newtown were running the show in the last 15 minutes and added to the scoreline with a 78th minute goal by Justin Wickham, and another by Danny Barton with a minute to go, making it 3-0.

Barry play newcomers Porthmadog at Jenner Park on Saturday. The North Wales coast club had a flying start to the campaign, at one time topping the table, but they were brought down to earth with defeats at the hands of TNS, Caersws, Rhyl and Cwmbran, and are now in 11th position.

They are not good travellers and have won only once in six trips on the road.

If Barry can get their best side out they must be in with a good chance of recording their first win and relieving the pressure on David Hughes.

But Hughes will have noted that last Saturday Porthmadog had a great, confidence boosting 2-1 win over visiting Aberystwyth.

Saturday's game kicks off at 2.30pm.

Barry Town Lotto The winning numbers for the draw made on November 18 are: 5, 8, 10, 11,12, 14