Barry win first game of 2005 (From Barry And District News)

Barry win first game of 2005

NEATH 1 Barry Town 2

THIS was the current squad's first victory of 2005 after almost 1,000 minutes of football - and what a victory it was.

There was a sizeable contingent of that hardy perennial - Barry Town supporters - on hand at Llandarcy Park on Saturday to witness a victory the players and management have been threatening for so long.

With the season long since dead in the water, supporters were pleased more for the players than for themselves.

The boys have given total commitment to the League campaign since they took an enforced step up the ranks to represent Barry Town's senior side back in December.

Neath's defence is the third worst in the Welsh League, and so the work rate and skills of Ramadan and Jeanne should have proved fruitful.

As is Barry's luck nowadays, Neath broke away and for a moment time slowed down as an apparently poorly-hit shot endeavoured to dip over the struggling Sutton in the Barry goal and nonchalantly plopped into the back of the net. After all the hard work and industry, it was a bitter pill to swallow.

A penalty decision on the half hour mark appeared to tip the balance of play back in favour of Barry.

Having picked himself up from the foul, the club-hopping Leon Jeanne took the penalty - but the poorly-taken kick was easy meat for the Neath goalkeeper.

Barry thought they had equalised when a shot appeared to cross the line before it was cleared away hastily, but the assistant referee's flag remained rooted to his side and Barry had to battle on.

This geared up the Barry support once more as Neath's defence was looking decidedly wobbly.

With Barry playing the better passing football on Llandarcy Park's billiard table-smooth surface, it was with some relief that an excellent move forward finally ended in a Barry goal mid-way through the second half from the boots of ex-Dinas Powys player Lee Piotrowski.

Still, at 1-1 and with Barry's recent history of capitulation at the forefront of everyone's mind, the remaining minutes were being wished away, particularly as Barry went through a period of substitutions and injuries that threatened to spoil the flow.

With minutes remaining, Piotrowski clinched the points as he scored his and Barry Town's second.

A few late scares were a worry, but it was a jubilant Barry Town that greeted the referee's final whistle.

This win at least halted Barry Town's slide down the table, but the club still remains in the lower half of the Welsh League.

This Saturday, Barry travel to hapless Gwynfi United who are almost certain of relegation to Division 2 at the end of the season.

Without a win to their name in 24 games, Gwynfi have registered just two draws - but start the game on minus one point thanks to three-point fine for non-fulfilment of a fixture.

They have conceded more than 100 goals.

The pressure, of sorts, was beginning to mount for the Barry lads before this game, but with a handy victory over Neath now under their belts, it is hoped that they will attack Gwynfi's invisible defence with renewed confidence.