BARRY Town United reached the JD Welsh Cup quarter-finals on Saturday, with Jordan Cotterill, Jonathan Hood and Kayne McLaggon on target in a 3-2 win over Cefn Druids, writes Ashley Cox.

Gavin Chesterfield's side will now play Welsh League Division One Cambrian and Clydach Vale at Jenner Park on the first weekend of March,with a place in April's semi-finals at stake.

Penalty shoot-out victors over Rhyl at the weekend, Cambrian and Clydach are the last team from outside the JD Welsh Premier League remaining in this season's competition.

Nevertheless, the Rhondda outfit have proven their knock-out pedigree this term, toppling no fewer than top flight teams, including Barry, en route to January's Nathaniel MG final.

Barry started strong in Saturday's Fourth Road tie against Druids, with captain Cotterill's low shot from distance squeezing past a sprawling goalkeeper to give them a tenth minute lead.

The Ancients though were eager to avoid a repeat of January's 5-2 league defeat and soon equalised in the 14th minute when Wales C international call-up Naim Arsan teed himself up with his right and crashed home a fine left-footed effort from the edge of the penalty area.

On many other afternoons, Arsan's sweet strike would have been goal of the game, but Barry's Jonathan Hood would sensationally eclipse it three minutes into the second half.

Collecting from teammate Chris Hugh 35 yards from the Druids goal, hitman Hood would skip past his man and move towards the centre, while weighing up an ambitious attempt.

Taking a single touch forward, Hood eyed the top corner and let rip, rattling the top corner to restore Barry's advantage and surely stake a claim for the Welsh Cup goal of the season.

Their stunning second was quickly followed by what would become a crucial third, with Hood supplying Mo Touray and running into space, only for the Wales U21 international to switch things up and pick out Kayne McLaggon, who then rounded the goalkeeper to score.

Druids would pull one back in the 78th minute, when Jon Owen tucked a hotly-contested penalty into the bottom corner, handing Huw Griffiths' men a lifeline for the final stretch.

Barry though would do enough to maintain their Jenner Park winning record and advance to what now appears a fiercely competitive last eight, where holders Connah's Quay Nomads travel to Caernarfon Town, professionals TNS head to Llandudno and Bala host Cardiff MU.

This weekend, league football resumes, with a visit to Caernarfon Town's Oval on the cards.

After taking a mighty 1,300 supporters to their Welsh Cup win at Bangor City on Saturday, a large home crowd is expected to be backing Sean Eardley's sixth-placed side in north Wales.

Barry's record against Caernarfon has been positive this season, with hard-fought 1-0 and 2-1 wins at The Oval and Jenner Park respectively securing a full set of six Phase One points.

With champions The New Saints in action at Bala on Thursday night, another victory might be required for leaders Barry to be top of the JD Welsh Premier League this time next week.

However, the league campaign thus far has taught us to expect the unexpected and with Bala having thrown a spanner in the works for Connah's Quay's title tilt over the Christmas period, could the Lakesiders do Barry a favour to close out January, ahead of the two teams' televised clash at Jenner Park on Saturday 9th February?

Whatever plays out at Maes Tegid on Thursday and at Latham Park this Saturday, where the Nomads tackle Newtown, Barry will be acutely aware a win in Caernarfon will see them top, with nine subsequent matchdays to round out this exciting JD Welsh Premier League season.