Barry Town will go into Saturday's match at home to Rhyl with renewed confidence after a promising dislay against Caersws at the Recreation Ground.

It was only the post which left Barry with nothing from Saturday's match - a Raith Plant header coming off the post and being cleared by the home defence but a Caersws shot hitting the same post and rebounding straight to their top striker, Graham Evans.

Unlike in recent weeks, Barry were never second-best in a match which they were disappointed to lose.

The Dragons went close in the first minute, with Adam Shakespeare shooting wide with a speculative effort from the edge of the box, but were soon forced on the defensive as a Caersws free-kick from outside the penalty area tested the Dragons' new on-loan goalkeeper Gerard Doherty.

Perhaps the best move of the match took place just before the half-hour. The Dragons broke quickly following a Caersws attack, with Lee Matthews supplying Plant on the half-way line. Plant crossed to Shakespeare but continued his run and when Shakespeare's curling cross came in, Plant beat Caersws 'keeper Andy Mulliner to the ball with a header which looked to be going in.

Cruelly, however, the post intervened and the ball bounced straight to a home defender who cleared.

At the other end, Caersws went close when Dylan McPhee shot wide from close range after a goalmouth scramble.

Unfortunately for Barry, Caersws took the lead four minutes into the second half.

The Dragons looked to have cleared a corner, but the ball was returned into the melee.

The Bluebirds managed to force in a shot which beat Doherty but came off the post. With Doherty still on the floor, the ball fell to Caersws' top forward Evans, who scored from inside the six-yard box

The second half was a downbeat affair as Caersws went all out to protect their lead, while Barry showed five minutes of fragility after conceding the goal.

The Dragons nearly got back into the game on two occasions around the hour mark.

The first saw Plant outpace the Caersws defence, but was unable to force his shot past Mulliner in the Bluebirds goal when he should have done better.

The second was five minutes later when new signing, former Manchester United trainee Gary Twynham, opened up the home defence and fired in an awkward shot which took Mulliner two attempts to hold.

At the other end, a dangerous cross from Graham Jones kept Doherty busy, but Caersws were content to spend the final ten minutes of the match winding down the clock in the corners.

Despite the result, it was a promising display from a Barry side still finding their feet following so many new signings, although the Dragons will need to step up a further gear if they are to take a good result from this weekend's game against second-placed Rhyl, whom they also play next Tuesday in the Premier Cup quarter-final.

Tuesday's coach leaves at noon from Jenner Park. Contact Tim Johnson on 01446 734050 for details.

Barry Town: Doherty, Shakespeare, Duckett, Elliott, Picknell, Rees, Sherman, Sherbon (L.Davies), Plant, Matthews (A.Hughes), Twynham. Subs: Shugar, Minett.

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