Dragons - more misery (From Barry And District News)

Dragons - more misery

Clinical finishing from Caernarfon Town meant another miserable afternoon at Jenner Park as a much-changed Barry showed promise but gained nothing but a disappointing 5-0 away defeat.

The Dragons made six changes from the previous week's defeat at Connah's Quay, with boss David Hughes handing debuts to new signings Philip Allen, Steve Mardenborough, Raith Plant, Mark Duckett and Lee Matthews who has returned to the Dragons after a five-year absence, and Adam Shakespeare, back from a three-month injury lay-off.

However, the game had barely started when Caernarfon took the lead.

A long ball downfield from the Canaries caused a mix-up in the Barry defence and, with goalkeeper Lee Rudall out of position, former Swansea and Wrexham striker Steve Watkin had little difficulty in firing into an empty net from 12 yards.

Having given their opponents a head start, Barry began to feel their way into the game and competed well for the remainder of the first half, albeit without putting significant pressure upon the Caernarfon defence.

Barry's best opportunities came through the hard work of Mardenborough, who twice forced Caernarfon 'keeper Ian Willcock into making saves.

The Dragons did feel hard done-by, though, with two penalty shouts being turned down by referee Andy Woodthorpe.

In the first, Luke Sherbon appeared to be hauled to the ground as he entered the box, while in the second, Raith Plant looked likely to beat Willcock to a ball over the top before his shirt was tugged and his progress impeded.

Having looked in little danger for much of the opening 45 minutes, there was little evidence of the opening of the floodgates which was to follow in the second half.

Just two minutes after the break, Barry were again caught cold as Caernarfon striker Chris Moores found himself the wrong side of the Barry defence and his angled shot took a deflection off a desperate defensive dive to spin past Rudall in the Barry goal.

Six minutes later, the North Walians made it 3-0. Gavin Rees gave away a free-kick on the edge of the box and the visitors again profited.

Dylan Owen's free-kick took another deflection to send the ball past Rudall and give the Canaries an unassailable lead.

The Dragons didn't give up, though, with Plant twice going close for the home side and the new signing should have done better in two one-on-one situations, firing wide on both occasions.

Substitute Mattie Davies also forced Willcock into action.

Carnarfon were down to ten men for the final half-hour after Steve Watkin was red-carded. As Watkin was running away from the Barry goal in pursuit of the ball, his elbow caught Barry defender Gavin Rees and the former English League player was sent off.

It made no impact on the match, however, and Caernarfon found the goal twice more before the end of the game.

Moores again found himself behind the Barry defence after 75 minutes, and from the same angle as his opening goal he fired past Rudall to make it 4-0.

The final goal came five minutes from the end and was testament to the efficiency of the visiting strikeforce.

A four-man passing move saw Dylan Owen in space 25 yards from goal and he unleashed a powerful low drive which struck the inside of the post before crossing the line.

Barry showed potential, especially taking into account the appearance of so many new players in the side, but that meant little as Caernafon finished almost every chance that they created while Barry wasted theirs at the other end.