Reality check for Town (From Barry And District News)

Reality check for Town

EVERYBODY connected to Barry Town FC will havebeen feeling mightily deflated right now, after the display at Jenner Park on Saturday that ended with a 2-1 loss to a Briton Ferry side, who had lost their opening game of the season.

It was a far cry from the last time the two teams met, in 1996-97, when Barry Town ran out 4-0 winners, both at home and away. Those were the professional era days, though, and they are long gone, unfortunately.

Barry Town now find themselves having to play on a more level playing field with teams that have been fighting it out in the Welsh League for years, and are definitely up for taking the scalp of Barry Town.

True, key players have been out injured or suspended, these should be back for the clash this Saturday against near rivals Ely Rangers (at Station Road, Wenvoe). With any luck, the likes of midfielder Luke Sherbon should have been back in the yellow and blue shirts of Barry Town last Tuesday (August 24) when the Dragons took on Bettws.

Prior to Tuesday, Barry found themselves lying seventh in the Welsh League on four points, three points off early pace-setters Ton Pentre, Skewen and Grange Quins.

It's too early to talk of a crisis, of course, but with the champions of the last several seasons only losing a handful of games, Barry have lost their first in the opening week.

It was a gritty performance at Grange Quins which earned Barry their first point of their new era in a 0-0 draw. This was soon followed by a first half performance against Dinas Powys, in shocking weather, that saw the Dragons take a rather flattering 2-0 lead.

The second half was almost vintage Barry Town, and the 4-0 scoreline was ample reward against a hard-working but tiring Dinas side.

The game itself featured many unusual incidents - delays for the net coming away from the bar was one, but the most entertaining was perhaps when the Dinas 'keeper finally took to the field in the first half - 10 minutes late.

Barry Town went on to take a 1-0 lead with clever play in the Dinas Powys box by Neil O'Brien, who headed a loose ball down to Adam Moore to head home.

Towards the end of the first half Dinas had a run of four corners in quick succession, but ultimately lost the ball to Barry who broke away quickly, and to the delight of the small crowd made it 2-0 on the stroke of half-time with a low-shot from Craig Evans.

The Barry performance in the second-half was far more polished, and two more goals by Neil O'Brien and Morgan Harris secured Barry's first Welsh League victory of the season only two games in.

With these two games gone and four points earned, things were looking good, and the fans began to take bets on the size of the win against Briton Ferry on Saturday last - but the actual result was far removed from the pre-match fantasy!

Trailing 2-0, and then missing a penalty before Morgan Harris got on the scoresheet once more, this time for a consolation goal, it was to be Briton Ferry's day.

Barry must pick themselves up for the game with Ely Rangers this Saturday at Wenvoe (3pm). It will be yet another tough encounter, as Ely are in fourth position and at time of writing and have two wins under their belts from three games.

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