A STUNNING hat-trick for striker TJ Nagi helped keep Barry Town United in pole position for the Welsh League Division Two title at the weekend, as the current division three champions ran out 5-1 winners at Chepstow Town.

Despite the in-form pairing of James Dixon and Dale Howarth being ruled out of contention by injuries, Barry started the match on the front foot and raced into a seventh-minute lead when Nagi netted his tenth of the season.

Maintaining the early pressure with considerable hunger, Nagi and Rhys James would skim either post in pursuit of a second goal, though it took a fine block from resolute centre back Ryan Evans to deny Chepstow an equaliser at the opposite end.

With the hosts visibly struggling to contain Nagi especially, the fan favourite soon found himself carried down the field in a manner which encouraged calls for a free kick. Troy Greening then made a challenge that would see the former Newport County man injured, bloodied and eventually replaced by Lee Baldock, who did well in his hour or so of action.

Minutes later, the pendulum swung in Chepstow's favour again, as Barry full back Geraint Frowen, who had entered a man-of-the-match performance the previous weekend, faltered under pressure; the home side capitalising and finishing smartly into the bottom right-hand corner to equalise.

With the fixture intriguingly poised at one apiece, James' inquisitive delivery soon caused problems for the hosts; although Lewis Cosslett, on his 200th start for his hometown club, could only direct his turning effort into the hands of the Chepstow goalkeeper.

The final chance of the half meanwhile saw Barry's Rob Blatchford break down the right, but with no teammates in green arriving to convert his teasing cross, the sides headed in on level terms.

With their opponents typically strong and the Larkfield Park pitch beginning to cut up, a tough second period appeared in store for Barry. However, happily for their band of travelling supporters, the men from the Vale of Glamorgan still had one of their strongest 45 minutes of the season in the tank.

With the half still relatively young, experienced midfielder Jamie Bradford collected well and freed the rampant Nagi, who raced away from his man and slotted the ball beyond the Chepstow goalkeeper to gift his side a welcome 2-1 advantage.

Then, after skipper James Saddler set up namesake James at the edge of the box, only for the Barry midfielder's shot to curl wide, Nagi completed his hat-trick at the near post to inflate a comfortable 3-1 cushion.

Matters moved from bad to worse for Chepstow; their goalkeeper limping off with an injury of his own, though former Barry man Lewis Grant would come on to bolster their ranks and boost spirits.

The hosts then almost grabbed one back when, in what proved their closest effort of the half, a sweet, dipping shot from distance cannoned off the top of Bradley's crossbar.

Ultimately though, Barry would press on and they looked to kill the game off in style when Nagi trapped the new, makeshift goalkeeper's clearance in mid-air; with his back to goal, no less.

It was a sublime piece of skill, matched only by the unselfishness shown as the forward chose not to fire home his forth but to set up James instead for the simplest of tap-ins.

Capping a fine team display, two substitutes then combined to deliver Barry's final blow; with Chepstow's attempted tackles in vain before Tom Billing unleashed a fine diagonal drive to make it five and delight the travelling followers ahead of their journey home.

An excellent outing for the Town senior squad, this 15th Welsh League win of the season coincided with defeats for four of the chasing pack; leaving league leaders Barry eight points clear of second placed Caldicot Town, with one game in hand.

This Saturday (February 14), Gavin Chesterfield's side welcome Croesyceiliog to Jenner Park in a 2pm kick-off.

Admission is £5 (adults), £4 (OAPs/students) and £3 (unaccompanied children), with accompanied children welcomed free of charge and discounts available for members.

Membership for 2015 will be available at the match, with refreshments and a range of new club merchandise also available and all monies raised directed back into the club, helping support Barry teams at senior, youth and junior levels.

Finally, the club was pleased to welcome its president Mr Colin Churchill back to the touchline this weekend after a period of ill health. Mr Churchill, a supporter of the Town for more than 70 years, has occupied the role since its creation in 2013.