In a highly entertaining game on Tuesday night, Barry convincingly beat the West Walians to claim their fourth successive League of Wales championship.
Gary Barnett was quick to point out that this has been the most difficult, because the standard has improved, with no walkovers.
Also teams are keen to beat Barry and there is pressure on the lads to perform week in and week out and Barry have not the strength in depth that they have previously enjoyed.
Nevertheless, the league has been won and Barry did it against Carmarthen without Gary Lloyd, Richard Jones, Gareth Shone, Paul Mitchell and David Wells who are all injured.
In the starting line up were two front runners who are currently on loan, they are John Jones from Chester who has 20 or so first team games and is only 20 and Chris Sloan, a 21-year old from Bristol City. Jones scored a goal and Sloan scored a creditable hat-trick, both players doing well. Barry's other scorers were Mark Dempsey and Justin Perry.
Referee Steve Jones of Swansea had a better second half but was, as in previous matches, not fully aware of what is going on, however he booked four Carmarthen players early on for bad challenges and dissent.
After only seven minutes, the visitors went ahead when Tony Rees crossed a ball to Parker who seemed to let the ball hit him and it bounced into the corner of the net.
Carmarthen are the only side to have beaten Barry on their ground this season and may have fancied doing the double.
Dempsey was continuing his fine form firing in a couple of 25 yarders and Ryan Nicholls went close for Carmarthen. Barry though were in no mood to be denied their championship night and they began to bombard the away goal and Danny Carter had an on target 30 yarder, just saved by the goalkeeper.
Carter became provider, his cross was met by Sloan's head and it was 1-1 on 38 minutes. Dempsey took out two of his markers and fired from just outside the box into the corner to make it 2-1 at half-time and put Barry in the driving seat.
Dempsey created the third goal, his speculative cross cum shot found a defender playing the ball inadvertently to John Jones, who gratefully fired home in the 49th minute. Just a minute later, Carmarthen pulled one back, Nicholls fired home and it 3-2.
In a game which was end to end with Terry Evans and Rossiter for Carmarthen, trying to add to the scoreline, ex-Barry player Steve Williams was sent off in the 65th minute for handling the ball and stopping it going into the net.
Dempsey hit the resultant penalty wide and it was not until the 77th minute that Barry went 4-2 ahead and into the safety zone. Lee Barrow crossed and Sloan headed his second.
Darren Davies, with two superb crosses provided Sloan with his hat-trick on 88 minutes and Perry with a powerful header on 90.
Andrew York lifted the cup to the cheers of the crowd and once again, Barry take the accolade for a fine consistent performance, losing only two games and winning 22 out of 29. Congratulations to all the team.
There is no game on Saturday and the remaining games are: Tuesday, April 6, Inter Cabletel (league, away); April 10, Haverfordwest (league, away); April 13, Inter Cabletel (League Cup, home); April 20, Inter Cabletel (Premier Cup, home); April 24, Aberystwyth (league away); April 27, Inter Cabletel (Premier Cup, away).
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This page edited by the Yellow Dragon, 1999.
This article first published in the Barry & District News, 01.04.1999.
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