BARRY Town United return to the familiar surroundings of Latham Park this Saturday, as Gavin Chesterfield’s team tackle Newtown in the JD Welsh Premier League (2.30pm kick-off).

A win for either side would see them into the driving seat for a place in the European play-offs, with both the Robins and Town sitting on 30 points at the top of the Play-Off Conference.

Last weekend, Newtown crashed to a 3-2 defeat at Carmarthen Town, trailing the Old Gold by three goals at the break before efforts from Nick Rushton and Kieran Mills-Evans set up a grandstand finale.

The result at Richmond Park ended a run of three wins on the bounce for Chris Hughes’ men, who are now only a whisker ahead of Barry in the table, thanks to their superior number of goals scored.

However, the postponement of Barry’s trip to Prestatyn (in light of a waterlogged pitch) means the Town now hold a game in hand on their mid Wales rivals, heading into this Saturday’s showdown.

Barry will thus travel up Powys well-rested, after weather got the better of their Matchday 23 fixture.

Ironically, their only player in action all weekend was on-loan midfielder Sam Jones, who helped Cambrian and Clydach Vale to a 3-0 win over leaders Haverfordwest County in Welsh League Division One.

With manager Chesterfield having the majority of his playing squad available, Barry will make the trip in positive spirits, particularly after the nature of their recent 3-1 win against Aberystwyth Town at Jenner Park.

However, Latham Park has been the setting for some heart-breaking defeats for the club in recent times, with Barry losing Welsh Cup semi-finals there in both 1998 (to Connah’s Quay) and 2013 (to Prestatyn Town).

Moreover, the Town have fallen 3-0 to Newtown on both of their previous JD Welsh Premier League visits, with Barry fans forced to look as far back as 2002 for their side’s most recent success at Latham Park.

Many will remember the occasion fondly, as Nicky Burke’s header from Lee Pratt’s cross clinched a 1-0 Barry victory, before the visitors were presented with their sixth of seven Welsh Premier League trophies.

While an eighth remains beyond their grasp at present, the chance to play in Europe again is still a possibility, underlining the importance of each of the Town’s fixtures before the current campaign wraps up.

Knocking off Newtown this Saturday would certainly be a statement to kick on with, with the Town having only won four league games at Latham Park in eleven attempts, since their original promotion in 1994.

With the likes of Jordan Cotterill, Jonathan Hood and Ryan Newman hoping to repeat the feats of victorious Latham Park goalscorers Tony Bird, Eifion Williams and Jon French, Barry will be looking to replicate the sides's first clash this season, as leading marksman Kayne McLaggon helped himself to a brace in a 2-0 win at Jenner Park.

In an interesting final note, Barry have never scored at Latham Park in the JD Welsh Premier League and left with less than a point.

Kick-off this Saturday is at 2.30pm, with supporters travelling by rail advised that a replacement bus service will be in operation between Shrewsbury and Newtown itself, extending the journey times.

Barry return to Jenner Park on Saturday, February 24 against Llandudno (4.15pm kick-off), while the re-arranged game at Prestatyn’s Bastion Gardens is set for the following Saturday, March 3.