Davies scores winner on last outing for Dragons (From Barry And District News)

Davies scores winner on last outing for Dragons

Despite losing their second manager since the summer, Barry Town endeavoured to pull out yet another Welsh League victory - to the delight of the travelling Dragons' fans.

With much uncertainty over exactly which players will be playing in the famous yellow-blue shirts of Barry Town from one weekend to the next, it came as sweet relief to actually sit back and watch the assembled players pull out possibly their most important win of the season.

Make no mistake, Skewen Athletic are a tough and physical side, and well-deserving of their lofty League position of fourth place prior to kick-off, but it was a troubled Barry Town who got off to a cracking start with a near-post header into the net by Gary Davies in the 16th minute. This appeared to settle Barry Town and they began to play some decent football. With the number three shirt becoming vacant, it was a huge ask for U17 academy lad Sion Anstee to repel any threat to the Barry goal on the left-hand flank, but Sion showed maturity and fitness beyond his years in what was a demanding, and at the end, pressurised game.

The game itself was by no means a classic, with few goal opportunities falling to either side. The two teams had similar League records and so a tight competitive match was always on the cards. However, Paul Fowler twice went close to increasing Barry Town's lead when his first shot just zipped over the bar, while the second shot rattled it and the ball bounced back into play.

On the hour mark, Lee Matthews was injured and a decision had to be made on the Barry bench. There was a choice of three; two more U17 academy lads, or 43-year-old Ashley Griffiths, back at Barry as part of the new management team with Gavin Price.

Experience was preferred over youth, and so Ashley Griffiths, nine years since his last game in Barry colours, and well over 21 years since his March 1983 debut, entered the field of play in defence. The lad did well. Despite the pressure in and around the Barry defence, and with some sterling saves yet again from Ellacott, all three points were heading back to Barry, to rapturous applause from the 50 or so travelling Dragons supporters.

The squad on Saturday was: Marty Ellacott, Simon Heal, Sion Anstee, Marc Otten, Gary Davies, Josh Dupre, Luke Sherbon, Lee Matthews (replaced by Ashley Griffiths), Paul Fowler, Andy Hammett, and Grant Thomas. Unused subs; Mattie Trotman and Daniel Jones.

Unfortunately, this will be the last we see of Davies, Otten, and Fowler because, as expected by many fans last Saturday, the trio have chosen to leave the club after the recent budget reductions.

Fans say they are quite shocked that the chairman chose to reduce the budget without first calling a meeting with supporters in an effort to raise funds.

Barry Town are at home against eighth-placed Bridgend Town this Friday night, in a clash between two sides that have been playing each other on and off since the 1920s.

With their three top-scorers no longer with them and the successful unit of O'Brien, Otten, and Davies also now being broken up, it looks as though Barry are going to struggle to score goals and to defend, unless the remaining players and any newcomers perform miracles.

Kick-off on Friday is at 7.30pm, and the cost of entrance has been slashed to 4 for adults and 2 for children. For all the latest Barry Town news, gossip, and match photos, be sure to log on to www.forzabarry.co.uk