Llanelli 1 Barry 1

A LATE, late equaliser from Kayne McLaggon helped Barry Town United secure a last-gasp point at Llanelli Town on Friday, though Gavin Chesterfield’s men will have left disappointed to have not taken all three.

With both teams coming into the televised clash off the back of 3-2 wins the prior weekend, visitors Barry would trail at Stebonheath for almost the entire game, after falling a goal behind less than two minutes in.

Latching onto a piercing ball over the top from his teammate Joe Clarke, in-form James Loveridge beat and then nipped past Barry goalkeeper Mike Lewis to tap home his third in as many league appearances.

Rattled by the early setback, Barry would regain their composure and would subsequently seize the lion’s share of possession, although this did not always translate into clear-cut chances or hits on goal.

Their finest opportunity of the first half came when lively Momodou Touray picked out fellow forward McLaggon, who quickly took the ball around shot stopper Oliver Davies to leave an empty net in sight.

However, with the Reds rushing back to defend their line, the ex-Southampton man opted against a left-footed placement; his right-footed pass towards Jonathan Hood zipping on past at the back post.

After Touray curled his own effort wide and saw a later attempt cleared to safety, the promising young striker worked to set up McLaggon once more, yet with a herd of Reds defenders blocking his path, McLaggon’s final effort would only skim past the frame of Davies’ goal.

With the sun swiftly setting at Stebonheath, the second half saw Barry maintain their steady pressure on the JD Welsh Premier League newcomers, who worked doggedly to hold onto their slender 1-0 advantage.

In one of the moments of the match, midfielder Tom Fry ran onto a beautiful back heel from McLaggon, only to see his first-time shot rebound cruelly off the post, to be collected by a relieved Llanelli defence.

McLaggon would continue to act as provider, setting up Touray for a rising effort that soared inches over the bar, before the latter’s fine footwork enabled him to force a rare diving save out of goalkeeper Davies.

In the midst of a trio of second-half substitutions, Barry found themselves reduced to ten men, with midfielder Clayton Green handed his second booking of the evening with a little over 15 minutes remaining.

Despite this hindrance, Chesterfield's introductions of Drew Fahiya, Louis Gerrard and lastly Marcus Jones helped keep the Barry comeback flame flickering on.

With one eye on the clock, a well-taken corner from full-back Chris Hugh found its way right to McLaggon in the box, only for his header to fly agonisingly wide.

Nevertheless, the frustrated forward would make no mistake when, deep in stoppage time, he connected with Jones’ own perfectly-placed header back into the danger zone to score the Town’s 96th-minute leveller.

Such was the desperation that even goalkeeper Lewis had joined in the attack and might had himself scored from in would prove to be the final play of the game.

Credit must go to substitute Jones and Macauley Southam-Hales for an exquisite delivery, but also to McLaggon for shrugging off those earlier missed chances to make the final difference at the death.

This Saturday, Barry are at home to JD Welsh Cup holders and early pacesetters Connah's Quay Nomads, with kick-off at 2.30pm and admission at the turnstile.