Pentre late show denies Town a point (From Barry And District News)

Pentre late show denies Town a point

TON PENTRE 2,

Barry Town 1

ON a cold, blustery and often wet Rhondda evening, Barry Town stepped up to the plate and challenged the current League leaders and probable champions, Ton Pentre, in one of the most exciting games of the season.

Beginning the evening in sombre mood, a minute's silence was impeccably observed for Barry Town legend Gwilym Cain who had died the previous week.

The performance from this currently troubled version of Barry Town certainly did his memory credit.

The game burst into life as early as the third minute, when stand-in goalkeeper Ian Sutton pulled off a dramatic save from early Ton pressure, and was called on again to save Barry's bacon minutes later with another fine effort.

Expecting the onslaught and backlash from a Ton side who had recently been humbled by Maesteg Park, a sizeable away support for the Dragons was pleased that Barry then began to take control of the game.

A Danny James long shot whizzed wide of the Ton goal in the 23rd minute, and energetic and influential Sean Nash had an excellent shot parried two minutes later.

Barry Town's good work was nearly undone on the half-hour when a Ton attacker found a crossed ball drop right to his feet in the six yard box with a clear shot on goal.

No doubt fazed by this easy tap-in, the eventual shot flew dramatically skywards into surrounding gardens to the wild delight of the Barry Town fanbase.

For once, the opposing side's misfortune turned to Town's advantage as the resulting goalkick ended with a free-kick for Leonne Jeanne just outside the Ton 12-yard box.

The skilfully placed shot beat the keeper but rebounded cruelly off the post.

However, the ball merely bounced on to the knee of a hapless Ton defender and rebounded into his own net.

A slice of luck for Barry then - but well overdue for this season.

With Osborne making a crucial tackle in defence in the 37th minute, the half ended with total Barry Town dominance which nearly paid off with two great efforts from Nash in the closing two minutes of the first half.

The second half opened with Barry Town facing the stiff wind and frequent heavy showers, and you got the feeling that Ton's belief was beginning to increase.

The pivotal point of the half happened on the hour when Ton and Barry both changed their midfield.

Unfortunately, it was Ton's which proved the better substitution, as Barry lost their grip. Moments later, and with pressure building, Ton got a great equaliser through Lyndon Williams in the 62nd minute.

Ali Kiyagi went very close for Barry in the 64th minute, but from then on in it was all Ton Pentre.

Cruelly, the deadlock was broken in the 87th minute when a clearance by their flawless captain, Dinas Powys boy David Loosemore, looped over Sutton in the strong wind and landed in the back of the Barry net to make it 2-1 to Ton Pentre.

A great performance for Barry, who were cruelly denied at least a point.

UWIC 4, BARRY TOWN 1

The first half developed along much the same lines as the Ton Pentre game, with great Barry pressure providing many opportunities at goal, finally paying off with a fine chip over the UWIC keeper by young star Rhys Attley.

What else can be said about this game, though?

Barry Town controlled the first half, but totally fell apart in the second period as UWIC put four past the same team who had performed heroics against Ton only days before.

What a let down!

* This Saturday, Barry take on Skewen at Treforest, after playing relegation certainties Garw in midweek.