BARRY Town United could be top of the pops this Christmas Day in the JD Welsh Premier League, should Gavin Chesterfield's in-form side win a potential cracker against Caernarfon Town this Saturday night.

Canaries boss Sean Eardley will look to be the Scrooge figure in Saturday's televised tussle, with kick-off at Jenner Park at 7.35pm and admission payable at the turnstiles.

The match between Barry and Caernarfon will be the first meeting of the clubs at Jenner Park since January of 2004, a fixture the Canaries won by an emphatic five goals to nil.

Nevertheless, in September's most recent encounter, Caernarfon would be left to rue a late wonder goal that earned the visitors from the Vale a terrific 1-0 triumph at The Oval.

Caernarfon make the long trip to Barry in explosive form, having followed their 3-0 JD Welsh Cup win at Prestatyn Town with a 4-0 demolition of Aberystwyth on home turf.

However, Barry's recent record stands up against any other in the top flight and the Jenner Park team took their tally to 34 points with a 3-2 win at Carmarthen on Friday.

As a result, the Town stayed second in the JD Welsh Premier League, a point behind Connah's Quay Nomads, but now four clear of The New Saints, as one of the most compelling campaigns in the league's 26-year history enters its busy festive period.

After a barren first half at Richmond Park, it was the Old Gold who opened the scoring in the 47th minute, as long-serving forward Liam Thomas side-footed in from six-yards.

However, resilient Barry had already overturned a losing position to win three other JD Welsh Premier League matches this season and Jonathan Hood's superlative strike to equalise minutes later would soon set them on the way to securing a festive fourth.

Collecting the ball on the left flank, Hood's mazy run at the Carmarthen Town defence culminated in a perfectly-pitched right-footed hit from outside the penalty area, an effort that gave goalkeeper Lee Idzi little chance as it flew beyond him into the bottom corner.

While Barry's equaliser was a slice of individual brilliance, the goal that put them ahead on the hour was a textbook team affair, with Hood enabling Mo Touray to pick out Troy Greening in space, before the midfielder teed up Chris Hugh to drill home their second.

Then, in the 86th minute, Barry were handed a golden opportunity to secure the victory, as Kayne McLaggon was tripped by Jordan Knott inside the Carmarthen area, after Knott had managed to block the former Southampton striker's initial attempt on goal.

Running up with confidence, McLaggon's spotless spot-kick duly made it 3-1 and though Carmarthen would claim a consolation deep into stoppage time, when Luke Cooper's defensive header unluckily beat his own goalkeeper, Mike Lewis, Barry would ultimately return down the M4 with an eleventh league win from their 17 fixtures to date.

With leaders Connah's Quay Nomads prevailing 2-1 against Cefn Druids at The Rock, a 1-1 draw for champions The New Saints away at Bala Town has ensured that Barry will at very least occupy a place in the league's top two come Christmas Day.

However, should Andy Morrison's men drop points in their Saturday afternoon meeting with Cardiff Met, then the path may then be clear for Gavin Chesterfield's team to take a shot at the Christmas top spot, something few supporters would have dreamt in August.

Ironically, Barry then meet the Met in two successive matches to round off their 2018, with the first to be played at Jenner Park on Boxing Day afternoon (2.30pm) and the second to be held at Cardiff's Cyncoed Campus Stadium on New Year's Eve (1pm).

Officials at Jenner Park are hopeful of a bumper Boxing Day crowd for Barry's final home game of 2018, with a variety of festive fun on offer, on and off the field.

Admission for Boxing Day's JD Welsh Premier League derby is only £7 (adults), £5 (seniors/students) and £3 (children), with the same for Saturday's Caernarfon clash.