BARRY Town’s JD Welsh Premier League Phase One fixtures have been confirmed, with a local derby set for opening night, as the Jenner Park side make the short trip to top tier newcomers Penybont, writes Ashley Cox.

Rhys Griffiths’ charges won Welsh League Division One by a 20-point margin to secure promotion and should provide a tough opening test for Barry in the S4C fixture on Friday 16th August (8pm).

Barry’s first home action arrives a week later, when JD Welsh Premier League ever-presents Aberystwyth Town are the campaign’s maiden visitors to Jenner Park in a 7.45pm kick-off.

August Bank Holiday football is on tap for 26th August, as Barry welcome Bala Town to Jenner Park (2.30pm), while fans are filling up a coach to Carmarthen Town for Friday 30th August (7.45pm).

After hosting Caernarfon Town on Saturday 7th September (2.30pm), Barry make a first-ever visit to Huws Gray Alliance champions Airbus UK, who play at the distinctive Airfield ground in Broughton, Flintshire.

The Wingmakers have been more like passing ships in the night for Barry, securing their inaugural Welsh Premier League promotion in 2004, the year of the Town’s relegation to the Welsh League.

Then, as Barry sealed their top flight return in 2017, Airbus took a nosedive back to the second tier.

Managed by former Town player Steve O’ Shaunessy, the former Welsh Premier League and Welsh Cup runners-up will make their first appearance at Jenner Park on Saturday 26th October (2.30pm).

Among other games of note, Kilmarnock’s European conquerors Connah’s Quay Nomads come to Barry on 10th November, while champions The New Saints visit on 14th December; both matches 2.30pm kick-offs on their respective Saturdays, pending any of the dreaded changes for television.

For the third successive season, Barry will entertain Cardiff MU on Boxing Day (2.30pm) with the return match between the Europa League adventurers set for Monday 30th December (7.45pm).

While the Town’s Welsh Cup commitments begin at the Third Round stage in December, Barry’s first opponents in the expanded, 46-team Nathaniel MG Cup competition have already been determined.

Four-time winners from 1997 to 2000 and finalists in 2017, Barry will head west to Haverfordwest County on Saturday 10th August (2.30pm), in a Second Round tie that must be settled on the day.

This season’s MG Cup tournament has the largest field in its history, with a place representing Wales in Scotland’s wonderfully-named Tunnock’s Caramel Wafer Challenge Cup (formerly the IRN-BRU Cup) at stake for the eventual winners.

The Scottish knock-out competition itself has introduced key changes of its own in recent times, with representatives from the League of Ireland (Bohemian and Waterford), NIFL Premiership (Ballymena United and Glenavon) and England’s National League (Solihull Moors and Wrexham) entered in this year’s cup, alongside Welsh Premier League pairing The New Saints and Connah’s Quay Nomads.

While TNS and Nomads fly the flag in Europe this week against Copenhagen and Partizan Belgrade respectively, Barry’s second run of pre-season friendlies was set to begin on Tuesday evening (23rd July), with the visit of Pontypridd Town to Jenner Park (7.45pm).

Gavin Chesterfield’s team then host Llanelli Town on Saturday 27th July (2.30pm), before back-to-back home matches with Swansea City and Hednesford Town on 2nd and 3rd August respectively.

Latest signings Keyon Reffell and Eli Phipps are expected to be on show as the club’s pre-season rolls on, with the duo arriving to bolster the team’s attacking options for the demanding campaign ahead.

The 21-year old Phipps spent over a decade in Cardiff City’s youth set-up, enjoying a stint on loan at Gloucester City, before joining Colchester United and spending last year at Weston-Super-Mare.

The 28-year old Reffell meanwhile arrives from Hereford and has also worn the colours of Kidderminster Harriers and Merthyr Town, linking up with Barry forward Kayne McLaggon in his time at Penydarren Park.