Dragons take their time to win match (From Barry And District News)

Dragons take their time to win match

IT took a while to come alive but when it did Gwynfi Utd will thank their lucky stars that the final whistle stopped proceedings at 3-0.

After the resounding success of their 5-0 League Cup thrashing of Maesteg Park the previous Saturday, Barry went into the far more important Welsh Cup first Round.

Gwynfi were a difficult side to score against. The breaking down of the defence appeared to be fairly easy, as it was done so often, but the finishing is what kept the half-time scoreline at 0-0. Barry went close as early as the fifth minute when a Lee Matthews cross found Simon Heal in acres of space on Gwynfi's far post, but unfortunately Heal's diminutive frame would not stretch as far as making a good connection and the chance went begging.

There then followed a frequent run of chances from Barry Town who were by then camped in and around the Gwynfi box. In the tenth minute captain Adam Moore flashed one over the bar, and in the 20th minute John Wile headed over the bar. The best chance of the half fell to John Wile on the half hour when a cross-shot by Luke Sherbon sped across the six yard box towards the outstretched foot of Wile - but who somehow managed to miss an open goal.

Ridiculously perhaps, Gwynfi almost went in to the changing rooms at half time with a 1-0 lead as a loose ball outside the Barry box was clattered just wide of Marty Ellacott's outstretched arms, but fortunately for Barry it also went past the post.

The second half began in much the same vein with Barry making all the play and with Gwynfi attempting to catch the Dragons on the breakaway. Gavin Beddard came on for John Wile, but his luck appeared to be as bad as Wile's, as Beddard had a string of headed chances that all managed to go over the bar. After three near misses with headers, Beddard suddenly found himself in the 12-yard box with a shooting chance.

It was the correct decision to make as Barry Town went 1-0 up after an hour played, and totally dominated the game from then on in.

The best move of the match came ten minutes later when a poor cross from Gwynfi was picked up by Lee Matthews. Linking up beautifully with Simon Heal and Adam Moore, the clever interplay saw Moore thread the ball through to Paul Fowler on the left hand side and he immediately flicked the ball with the outside of his left foot over the keeper to make it 2-0 and game over. Fowler made way for Andy Hamnett who made sure of the win with a headed goal from a cross by Sherbon that confirmed Barry Town's entrance in the second round draw of the Welsh Cup - in with the big boys once again. The draw will take place this Saturday.

It's back to league action on Saturday when Barry take on an apparently hapless Garw. Garw lost their League Cup match 9-1 recently after the bulk of the team allegedly preferred to go to Blackpool on a stag night. It hardly improved much last weekend when they were knocked out of the Welsh Cup 6-0. Barry will be looking for three crucial points then, and must take no prisoners. For pictures, stats, comment, and the latest news, be sure to log onto www.forzabarry.co.uk