Barry Town United 11

Risca United 0

CHAMPIONSHIP-chasing Barry Town United went goal crazy on Saturday, recording what is thought to be their third biggest win in more than 100 years of football.

In a battle between the Welsh League Division One leaders and relegated Risca United, Barry stampeded to a crushing 11 - 0 victory; the first time the first team has hit double figures since a 12 - 0 thrashing of Cemaes Ynys Mon in April 1998.

While Risca travelled to Jenner Park with little more than pride to play for, the same scenario meant they arrived with with nothing to lose; and thus some saw the clash with the Cuckoos as a potential banana skin in Barry's title run-in.

Instead, Gavin Chesterfield's players rose to the occasion, putting together their largest win ever under his stewardship and hauling themselves within three points of promotion, while handing their goal difference a sizeable boost in the process.

After forward Drew Fahiya headed home to break the deadlock, teammate Jordan Cotterill reached into his bag of tricks to unleash another superlative effort, adding to a season's worth of majestic goals from the former Ely Rangers marksman.

With Fahiya making it three and TJ Nagi dispatching a penalty, Barry were out of sight by the interval, but it was the second half that saw the floodgates open, as hungry Town resoundingly staked their claim for a Welsh Premier League berth.

After Nagi, whose re-emergence as an attacking force has been vital to the club's current campaign, put the home side 5-0 up, Cotterill headed home his second, before Nagi finished off a delightful passing move to complete his hat-trick.

Not to be outdone, Fahiya headed in his own claim for the match ball, making the score 8 - 0 in Barry's favour, before defender Luke Cooper surged forward to score a goal of his own; equalling the 9-0 win over Pontypridd Town in March 2014.

Lee Baldock then hit the net to ensure Barry made it to double figures for the first time this century, before Tyrell Webbe put the icing on the cake with the eleventh; celebrating in a style befitting of this extraordinary result.

Among the hundreds on hand to see history made at Jenner Park, as well as an 18th clean sheet of the season for goalkeeper Mike Lewis, were the family of long-serving shot stopper Trevor Nott, whose memory was honoured before the match.

As it was, Saturday's result would be another fitting tribute; Nott had been the Town's first choice goalkeeper in the 1984-85 season, as they completed their biggest ever victory, a 13-0 home win over Milford United in the same division.

This Saturday, Barry travel to Cambrian and Clydach Vale in a 2.30pm kick-off, looking to mount a final push for their first Division One silverware since 1994.

At the time of writing, a win over Goytre United on Tuesday evening at Jenner Park (April 18, 7.30pm) would be enough to clinch promotion, with admission on the turnstiles only £5 and concessions for senior citizens, students and children.