Dragons can't afford any more mistakes (From Barry And District News)

Dragons can't afford any more mistakes

CWMBRAN TOWN 2 Barry Town 1

THIS SATURDAY'S home league match against NEWI Cefn Druids is crucial for Barry Town, kick-off 2.30pm at Jenner Park.

Anything other than victory for the Dragons will consign them to relegation from the Welsh Premier, even though Barry have already appealed against the decision to allow North Wales club Airbus UK to groundshare at Conwy United next season while their own ground is developed.

The Druids match is therefore of huge importance for the Town as anything less than three points from the game will take relegation rivals Carmarthen Town out of reach in the last fortnight of matches.

Despite a truly dreadful season Barry fans made up the majority of the crowd at Easter Monday's South Wales derby at Cwmbran, impeccably marking the minute's silence in memory of former Barry and Cwmbran manager Tony Wilcox who passed away a little over a year ago, before supporting their team for the whole 90 minutes as they have done all year.

Barry fans should have had something to sing about as early as the second minute, when Dave Sherman's quick free-kick released Gavin Allen, but he shot tamely into the arms of Cwmbran 'keeper, Gareth Wesson.

Allen went even closer a few minutes later, Wesson palming his shot around the post.

It was against the run of play that the home side took the lead in the 35th minute. A challenge from Duckett was harshly punished and, from the resulting free-kick, Chris Summers knocked down for ex-Cardiff City favourite Jason Perry to see his effort hit the inside of the post and cross the line.

Barry should have equalised five minutes into the second half when Gavin Allen beat the Crow's offside trap and homed in on goal. His final effort was poor though, with Wesson comfortably saving.

The Dragons were the better side, but looked unlikely to claw their way back into the game until a frantic final ten minutes which, paradoxically, began with the home side extending their lead.

Barry 'keeper, Lee Rudall, had saved magnificently at close range from Chris Summers, but the Barry defenders were statue-like from the resulting corner which was headed in by an unmarked Rhodri Jones.

The Dragons then finally upped their game and were rewarded with a Gavin Allen goal after 83 minutes. The former Leicester and Aberystwyth striker made space for himself and was unmarked when the ball was threaded through the defence. Glancing up from the edge of the box, he made no mistake in sliding the ball past Wesson to make up for his earlier failures.

Barry now held the upper-hand, keeping up the pressure on the home defence.

Former Crow, Mattie Davies, beat four defenders before dragging his final shot wide, while he was unlucky at the near post, turning a Jamie Michael cross just wide.

The final effort of the afternoon fell to the experienced head of Richard Kennedy, but his powerfully struck free-kick was saved by Wesson, who parried the shot away from goal. The Dragons deserved a point, if not all three but, frustratingly, they again came away with nothing.

Barry Town: Rudall, Picknell, Duckett, Philpott, Shakespeare (Elliott), Kennedy, Sherman, Sherbon, M.Davies, Allen, Michael. Unused: Matthews, Minett, A.Hughes.

SUPER SIX LOTTERY WINNING numbers for April 13, 2004: 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 11. Jackpot not won. Next weeks draw April, 20, £1,500, numbers 1 to 12.