Dragons hang on for stalemate point (From Barry And District News)

Dragons hang on for stalemate point

TAFF'S WELL 0

Barry Town 0

DESPITE this being a top-third of the table clash, this game had very little in entertainment to offer either set of supporters.

Both sets of fans were surely aware that the two teams that took to the field last Saturday were far from the all-conquering teams of just a few weeks before.

With Barry Town's seemingly inevitable climb up the table being put on hold (hopefully momentarily) by budget cuts to the squad, Taff's Well have had problems of its own.

There were not many Barry Town fans on Saturday who thought they were about to witness a high-scoring game, and so it proved. Chances were pitifully few on both sides, but with Marty Ellacott still between the sticks for Barry Town, there is an excellent last line of defence should it come down to it.

Apart from plucking crosses out of the air with ease, Marty was hardly troubled to make any stops of significance. Both teams were edgy, as if they knew that just one goal would be enough.

Barry Town's string of best chances came early in the second half after some pressure in the Wellmen's final third. A shot parried by Damian Lack in the Taff's Well goal and a header over the bar by Luke Sherbon, were the pick of a meagre bunch.

Dramatically, late on in the half ex-Barry Town player, newly bald-chinned Morgan Harris, struck the bar with a fierce header. It could well have been the winner, and the resulting penalty call by the assistant referee, mercifully overruled after some debate with the referee, could also have sealed the points for the home team. With the final whistle being blown, Barry Town's excellent travelling support reflected on a disappointing game, but a game that saw their team gain a decent point away from home against a team who would end the day in third place in the Welsh League.

This Saturday at Jenner Park, The Dragons look to seriously dent the Grange Quins title challenge. Sitting in second position in the League on 34 points, but with two games in hand over League leaders Ton Pentre also on 34 points, Grange Quins have recruited the skills of one Darren Ryan from Welsh Premier League outfit, Haverfordwest.

Ryan was a popular player among some fans during his stint at Barry Town, although his attitude to the game sometimes left a lot to be desired. His daft sending off against Dinamo Kiev for Barry Town at Jenner Park in a Champions League tie all those years ago is still remembered as an infamous low-light.

Grange Quins are living up to their billing of title favourites thus far this season, despite coming a cropper against Skewen recently for their first League defeat of the season, and they will certainly be looking to batter Barry this weekend.

Barry Town are Grange Quins bogey team so far this season, being the only club to take points from them for months in the opening game 0-0 draw at Leckwith, and also spectacularly dumping them out of the League Cup several weeks ago in a classic match at Jenner Park.