A RESOLUTE Barry Town United climbed to the pinnacle of Welsh League Division One on Saturday afternoon with a 3 - 0 win over former Welsh Premier League foes Afan Lido at Jenner Park.

With manager Gavin Chesterfield in Germany with the Wales Under-16s camp, Barry spurned a golden chance to go 1 - 0 ahead when Bobby Briers saw his first half spot kick saved; only for Town goalkeeper Mike Lewis to pull out a fine penalty stop of his own at the opposite end.

The in-form Lewis’ second key save in consecutive Welsh League weekends handed the Town the impetus to push on, and by the half hour, the home side were a goal to the good; Tyrell Webbe eluding the Lido goalkeeper and slotting the ball into an empty net.

A comfortable second half would then see two more; striker TJ Nagi doubling Barry’s advantage, before teammate Briers compensated for his earlier miss by dispatching the game’s third penalty.

Meanwhile, defeats for pacesetters Cwmbran Celtic, Goytre and Caerau Ely, coupled with Risca United’s loss the night before, ensured the Town ended the weekend on top as the division’s sole unbeaten side; scoring seven and conceding none to collect 11 points from their first five outings.

This weekend sees a clash of 1st and 2nd, as Chesterfield’s men travel to Cwmbran Celtic (2.30pm); a traditionally difficult test that should reveal more about the validity of each team’s title aspirations.

The Town return to Jenner Park on Saturday, September 24, when Caldicot Town provide the opposition. The Welsh League fixture coincides with the 20th anniversary of Barry’s famous 3 - 3 draw with Aberdeen, with a special race night event planned for the Jenner Suite later that evening.

Having qualified for the expanded competition as one of the feeder system’s top-placing club sides, Barry Town United made a splash in the Nathaniel MG Welsh Premier League Cup in midweek, coming from behind to beat a high-quality Cambrian and Clydach Vale outfit 3 - 1 in extra-time.

The Town found themselves a goal adrift after goalkeeper Mike Lewis had conceded a 26th-minute penalty; the former Aberystwyth Town man adjudged to have brought down a Cambrian forward.

For a long period, this first-half goal seemed set to be the difference, as the hard-working hosts showed their strength and organisation, succeeding at keeping an out-of-sorts Barry team at bay.

However, a daring triple substitution in the latter stages turned the tide in the Town’s favour, with forward Kareem Leigh coming off the bench to clinch the crucial equaliser in the 87th minute.

From there, a rejuvenated Barry XI looked much the more likely to advance, and so it proved; with Jordan Cotterill finishing coolly five minutes into extra-time and Drew Fahiya settling the tie with the decisive third, to cheers from the travelling support.

Of additional note, the extra-time period saw a small piece of Welsh football history, as Cambrian introduced a landmark fourth substitute; a new innovation for the floodlit cup competition.

Barry’s success sets up a second round clash with the Welsh Premier League’s Cardiff Met on a date to be confirmed.

Meanwhile, Monday’s Welsh Cup and Welsh League Cup draws have handed the Town trips to Aberbargoed Buds (October 1) and Llantwit Major (October 29) respectively.