With the home game against Caernarfon Town to come, the pressure is on nextTuesday night, for our home team to win and top what is called the Group of Death by the BBC. This would be a major success for the Jenner Park clubm who will gain �22,500 and much acclaim if they head Wrexham and Swansea and will ensure that their tie is at home in the quarter-finals.
Nothing should be taken for granted however, as football is, as Jimmy Greaves, put it 'a funny old game". If this match is anything to go by, then anything can happen on the night.
Barry dominated the game for long periods but sometimes stumbled and stuttered, often losing possession in midfield, trying to play football when a more direct game seemed favourable.
The pitch was uneven, unpredictable and greasy and favoured route one soccer which is seemingly alien to Barry! A ball knocked over the top of a pretty square back four would have given Eifion Williams something to run onto, as it was, he had a quiet game, shackled by his ex-club's defence.
Barry were often caught in possession, particularly Danny Carter and Gary Lloyd. Lloyd, on trial with First Division, Crewe, had a game he would rather forget. He has been a good servant to Barry and has the skill and confidence to succeed at a higher level.
Barry certainly missed the wide play of suspended Mrak Dempsey. His speed and skill were sorely missed and his replacement, front runner, Justin Perry, was a major disappointment, contributing little to the game.
It was Carter's superb cross which found Lee Barrow's head, the central defender out-jumping the home defence to get the vital goal.
Outstanding performances were limited. Gary Barnett worked his sock off, Andrew York and Lee Barrow were solid in defence and Andy Dibble was secure in goal as Barry kept another clean sheet.
Referee, Ceri Richards, of Llanelli who was not biased to either side but failing to clamp down on rough tackles, had a poor game, failing to give penalties to either side, Williams pulled for Barry and York rugby tackling a Caernarfon striker.
The last minutes saw Caernarfon pressure almost bring heart failure to the 30 or so Barry supporters who made the long-trip to North Wales.
Despite all the why's and wherefore's however, Barry gained the victory needed. Carter showed the way early on when his classy cross was headed over by Williams. It was quality crosses that were at a premium.
Dibble was soon in action, saving well from Tynan and Barry were struggling to get their game together. When they managed to get forward a Lloyd free-kick was blasted over, after he had fired over from close range after a corner.
It was in the 37th minute when Barrow headed home and it helped to ease the pressure on the champions.
In the second half, Carter crossed and Richard Jones headed wide and with Caernarfon sensing that an equaliser was on the cards, Dibble again saved the day, firstly with a diving save and then a punch away from the home team strikers.
The second half really was much to do about nothing, Lloyd firing another free-kick way over, a Carter shot almost hitting the corner flag, Perry with a glaring miss and Barry supporters groaning.
Caernarfon pressed hard and almost got what they wanted with Barry's defence under tremendous pressure.
Relief came when York got away with his rugby tackle and no penalty awarded to give the home team chance of an equaliser. With almost the last minute of the action, Perry broke down the right wing and crossed a ball which cleared eveynone when a low cross into the box was needed.
As the referee blew up for time, it was a relieved Barry contingent sailing down the motorway after a poor display by the champions but a win nevertheless.
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This page edited by the Yellow Dragon, 1998.
This report first published in the Barry and District News, 10.12.1998.
Match report of Caernarfon Town v Barry Town, 02.12.1998. F.A.W. Premier Cup, Group B
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