BARRY Town United’s Welsh League Division One season begins this weekend, with Gavin Chesterfield’s team hoping to avoid an opening day slip-up against league newcomers Undy Athletic at Jenner Park on Saturday afternoon.

The match with Barry will be Undy’s first ever appearance in Welsh domestic football’s second tier, yet the two sides are no strangers to one another, having contested a pair of division two fixtures in 2014-15, as well as a memorable Welsh Cup second round tie the preceding campaign.

That afternoon in November 2013, Undy led the former holders on two separate occasions, only for efforts from Barry’s Nickie Jones and Lee Baldock to put the hosts on level terms. A long-range strike from Jordan Cotterill then looked to seal the Town’s progress, before visiting Athletic scored a spectacular equaliser at the death; with TJ Nagi’s extra-time winner proving the deciding factor in the 4 - 3 cup thriller.

Meanwhile, in league action, Undy currently hold the upper hand over Chesterfield’s Town; winning 3 - 1 at Jenner Park in March 2015, following a 2 - 2 draw at the Causeway at the start of the calendar year.

With both teams enjoying a successful 2015-16, this weekend’s division one meeting sees Barry and Undy attempt to start their respective campaigns on the front foot; with Town supporters acutely aware of the potential banana skin the promoted visitors possess.

Nevertheless, hopes will be high at Jenner Park that Barry can replicate the kind of form that took them within a whisker of the division one title last time around.

Kick-off on Saturday is at 2.30pm, with admission at the turnstiles for the new league season frozen at £5 for adults and concessions, as decided by the fan-owned club’s supporters at its summer AGM.

The same rates will apply for the Welsh League Cup first round tie against Briton Ferry on Tuesday, August 16 (7.30pm kick-off), with the latter to be decided via extra-time and penalties, if required.

Finally, on the eve of the new campaign, the Barry first team squad has been bolstered by the signing of former Carmarthen Town and Aberystwyth Town goalkeeper Michael Lewis.

With Welsh Premier League experience to his name, Cardiff-based Lewis featured in Aberystwyth’s 2014 Welsh Cup Final against TNS at Wrexham’s Racecourse and represented the Seasiders in their ensuing UEFA Europa League qualifying round appearance.