It has been said that if Barry could put away most of their chances, then someone would get a thumping. So it was, as Barry played the bottom team, who to be fair, tried hard to make a game of it, and held up the avalanche of attacks until their resistance broke and the 'force' hit them.
Two goals by Danny Carter and Eifion Williams and one apiece for Gary Barnett, Richard Jones and substitute Justin Perry sealed the fate of the brave mid-Walians.
With the BBC covering the game, the expected goals made good highlights for viewers and with some tougher games coming up, Barry took full advantage of weaker opposition.
It was the visitors who seized the early initiative when Lee Barrow's back pass to goalkeeper David Wells, fell almost to the feet of the eager Rhayader forwards, but Wells charged out of his box and cleared the danger.
Goalkeeper Starborough had to be on full alert, saving well from a Paul Mitchell drive and Williams on the turn, sent in a swerving, dipping shot just wide. The shot coming off a defender, produced a corner which gave Barrow a chance, but he hit the woodwork with a downward header and Gary Lloyd's follow up hit the bar.
After only 15 minutes, Carter spotted a gap and his 20-yard shot glided into the corner of the net giving the goalkeeper no chance.
Two minutes later the visitors were all smiles as Parker headed in a corner to make it 1-1.
Barry have conceeded quite a few goals off headers from crosses and need to mark a little tighter in these situations.
The spirited mid-Walians perked up with the goal and played some neat football and could have taken the lead, but for Barrow who cleared a shot off the line.
When Barry attacked, Mark Dempsey took on three players and his great shot on target was well saved by the goalkeeper. Again, Starbourough did well to get down to a Jones' header and it was he who headed over when a bad bounce from a Dempsey cross, caught the top of his head.
Barnett picking up a rebound from his first time shot, volleyed over the goalkeeper to make it 2-1 after 35 minutes.
Three minutes later, Lloyd in his own half, hit a long ball out which seemed to be going straight to the goalkeeper. Williams, however, had other ideas and with great quickness of thought, got a foot in to beat Starborough and running on, fired into an empty net.
At half-time, it was 3-1 and Paul Mitchell, who took a knock, was replaced by Perry for the second half.
With Terry Evans and Dempsey playing neat football on the right, the latter's cross was met firmly by Williams to make it 4-1 with just one minute gone.
On 51 minutes, Carter got his second after a neat one-two with Evans and Rhayader's heads visibly dropped.
When Carter was pushed down in the box, Jones scored from the spot after just 53 minutes play.
Barry looked like getting double figures but they took their foot off the gas. A few chances came and went, but the best chance went to Perry, who headed goalward, but the 'keeper superbly deflected the ball away.
Good chances fell to Barrow and Williams, but it was substitute Jody Jenkins who crossed to Perry to head home and complete the mid-Walians misery.
Barry will be difficult to depose now they are on top with seemingly only the next four teams likely to be any threat, namely Aberystwyth, Cwmbran, Newtown and TNS, who they meet on Saturday and an ex-Barry star, Darren Ryan.
Congratulations are extended to David Wells for being selected to play for Northern Ireland under-21s against Turkey on Friday. Hopefully, he'll get back in time to play against TNS!
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This page edited by the Yellow Dragon, 1998.
This report first printed in the Barry and District News, 08.10.1998.
Match report of Barry Town v Rhayader Town, 03.10.1998.
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