Linnets just hold on in local derby (From Barry And District News)

Linnets just hold on in local derby

THE TWO Barry sides shared seven goals in a tense thriller at a sunny Jenner Park last Saturday.

Barry welcomed back Mattie Davie to the side after injury threatened to rule him out for the season, while Tom Sloman made his debut in goal for the Linnets.

Admiral showed why they had been consistently at the top end of the table throughout the season, forcing the debutant into a number of early saves.

However, the Linnets" young side came good in the sunshine, taking the lead for the first time since January when a James Dawson free kick curled around the wall and beat Admiral "keeper Daniel Mote in the seventh minute.

Barry made it 2-0 a few minutes later when William Trott scored his first goal for the club, lashing the ball home from outside the box.

The Linnets looked as if they could hold on until half-time as Admiral struggled to find any consistency in midfield, but hard work from Admiral"s Steven Coxon presented him with the opportunity to make it 2-1 before the break.

Barry returned to their two goal cushion seven minutes into the second half when good work on the left saw the ball centred for Luke Brodie-Miles to drill his shot home from the edge of the area.

From then on, the Admiral bossed the game in terms of possession, but it was Barry who looked as if they had the cutting edge up-front, Ben Taylor spurning a glorious chance to make it 4-1, his sidefooted shot going just wide of the post.

With the minutes ticking away it seemed as though Barry would comfortably hold on to take their first three points since January, but the visitors had other ideas, Ryan Davies scoring in the 89th minute to make it 3-2 and set up a nail-biting period of injury-time.

Barry fans thought that they could relax when Ben Taylor was fouled just outside the Admiral penalty area and James Dawson stroked home his second free-kick of the match to give Barry a 4-2 lead.

However, no sooner had the on and off-field celebrations ended than it was 4-3, the Admiral putting together a swift passing move that led to Ross Matthews scoring.

The visitors could have sneaked a point as well, with Barry substitute Rhys Newman clearing off his line and, with the final kick of the game, Steve Coxon watching his looping effort bounce off the top of the crossbar.

Barry man-of-the-match Lewis Stait played arguably his best game in a Linnets" shirt this season, commanding the midfield with a series of energetic runs from deep and consistently winning difficult challenges.

The Linnets will be more than happy with a win against one of the league"s top sides, but the Admiral will surely want revenge when the two teams meet again on April 15.

* The Linnets are at home again this Saturday when SP Construction visit Jenner Park for a 2.15pm kick-off.