Fiery display from resolute Dragons (From Barry And District News)

Fiery display from resolute Dragons

IT was another night of progress made at Jenner Park last Friday night as Barry Town stubbornly held a decent Cardiff City side to a 0-0 draw in warm and dry conditions.

Featured in the line-up for Barry Town were two ex-stalwarts from days gone by; Terry Evans and Leigh Pratt, and both did their new team proud. Evans was at the back, while Pratt refused to give up on any ball, harrying the likes of City's highly-rated Stuart Fleetwood all over the park. These were by no means the stars of the show, however, as Barry Town were suddenly playing like a team again with lots of fluid passing and moving throughout the game.

Of the first half chances it was perhaps Cardiff who shaded it, but chances were very much at a premium for both sides. The Dragons had a decent shout for a penalty when City defender Danny Parslow appeared to handle the ball in the box, but to no avail.

The second-half started with more urgency among the Barry ranks as if they sensed that a win was there for the taking. Barry forward Nana Baah, who'd had a quiet first half, was suddenly inspired.

A few minutes after kick-off, Terry Evans cleared a long ball to Mark Otten who cleverly flicked the ball over his right shoulder to an on-rushing Baah. In one move, he headed the ball into space, directly at the feet of Morgan Harris who sprinted into the City box. A well-timed tackle stopped any further Barry penetration, but it was all Barry at this point.

A minute later, a floating cross came high into the City penalty box and Nana Baah met it with his head, sending keeper Lee-Barrett sprawling as the ball crashed into the back of the net. The referee's assistant had spotted an offside, and the goal didn't count. This didn't break the confidence of Barry though, as more chances came as the minutes ticked by.

Nana Baah soon hit a volley just over the crossbar, and then went very close again with a header that rippled the side-netting of the goal - momentarily delighting the Jenner Park faithful.

No doubt concerned by how the game had turned, City made a triple substitution to stem the flow of chances for the Town team. The latter stages of the game did indeed see Cardiff gain the upper hand with more than a few worrying crosses and corner kicks late on, but Barry held on for a creditable draw.

Barry play Westfields from Herefordshire tonight, with the big one this Saturday away at Welsh Premier outfit Afan Lido.