BARRY Town United make the near-200 mile round trip to Haverfordwest County on Saturday, hoping to extend what has already been their strongest defensive start to a season in 96 years.

Winning their Welsh League Division One opener against Undy Athletic by two goals to nil, Gavin Chesterfield’s side repeated the scoreline at Jenner Park last weekend, as second half goals from Lee Baldock and Kareem Leigh proved enough to see off former champions Monmouth Town.

Having secured a goalless draw at Penybont in the interim, Barry’s Welsh League Cup form has been comparably strong, with Michael Hartley, TJ Nagi and Fahiya (twice) on target in a 4 - 0 win over Briton Ferry and Fahiya’s lob from the centre circle to make it four garnering significant attention; coming almost 20 years to the day from David Beckham’s similar effort against Wimbledon.

In midweek, the Town sealed their progression to the Welsh League Cup third round with a 3 - 0 win at Afan Lido; three goals in extra-time from Nagi, Fahiya and Jordan Cotterill securing the spoils.

Now, with almost 500 minutes of competitive action this campaign to date, Barry will look to maintain their thus-far watertight defence, against a Haverfordwest side relegated from the Welsh Premier League at the close of the 2015-16 season.

Former European entrants, Haverfordwest County ran out winners of the teams’ last two league meetings, prevailing at both Jenner Park (2 - 0) and Bridge Meadow (3 - 2) in 2012-13.

However, the Bluebirds were beaten by Barry on home soil in pre-season two years ago, as well as in a memorable Welsh Cup second round tie on Bonfire Night in 2011.

While fans might be hoping for further fireworks this weekend, manager Chesterfield is likely to stick with the defensive stability that served him well through August, with goalkeeper Mike Lewis expected to retain his starting berth, supported by a back-four from Baldock, Lewis Cosslett, Luke Cooper, Chris Hugh, Bobby Briers and returning Paul Morgan, who re-signed with the club this week.

Meanwhile, the long-serving Dan Bradley presents Chesterfield another strong option; Bradley holding the formidable record of achieving more than 100 competitive clean sheets in Town colours.

Kick-off on Saturday afternoon at the Conygar Bridge Meadow Stadium is at 2.30pm, with supporters encouraged to contact secretary David Cole on 07557 665 847 for travel availability.

Finally, for the record, the last time the Town’s first team began a campaign with five clean sheets was in 1920-21; their first and only Southern League championship season.