The bandwagon goes rolling on for the champions, looking unstoppable as third year winners of the League of Wales. Their pedigree was never in doubt, only whether they would miss Tony Bird, Dave O'Gorman, etc. and whether they would still have the appetite for more success.
The answer is a resounding yes, as Barry won again and nearest rivals Cwmbran and Inter Cable-Tel lost.
Inter lost their unbeaten home record to Newtown, who have surprised quite a few people this year with their quality football, beating Merthyr and drawing with Wrexham and Cardiff and of course, who could forget the 5-5 draw early in the season against Barry.
Barry now go 14 points clear at the top and proved once again that when they have to roll up their sleeves and slog it out, then they'll do it. Not that this was a close game, but Caersws battled to a man and defended in numbers and had a superb goalkeeper in Matthew Griffiths who surely denied Eifion Williams at least a hat-trick.
Barry played Danny Carter in a forward role with Darren Ryan linking with the front two and again enjoying the free role.
Gary Barnett, deservedly December Manager of the Month, had an industrious game in midfield as did deputy Richard Jones. Another clean sheet speaks volumes of the defensive qualities of Andrew York and Lee Barrow. Terry Evans, Gary Lloyd and Phil Johnson all contributed to a very solid defence.
Despite mild conditions and clear skies, the pitch was very heavy and might not have held up if the heavy rain continued. As it was, the players did very well, playing good football on the muddy surface, although it was T Evans with a timely clearance to deny Caersws a shot on goal.
Carter, though, was enjoying his his front running and provided Jones with a shot on goal and Griffiths made the first of many line saves to dany the midfielder.
Williams had a volley stopped on the line by a defender and it was in the 18th minute that Ryan was brought down in the box by the goalkeeper to give Barry the lead. Lloyd fired the penalty home and another goal was denied when Barrow's header was again cleared off the line.
Caersws had a rare attack when Lewis fired an angled shot over and Williams for Barry had two successive goal-bound shots saved by in-form Griffiths.
Ryan with some clever play, set up Carter who neatly sidefooted to Williams, who made no mistake just five minutes before the break. Williams had a further chance to score but fired over with just the goalkeeper to beat.
So it was 2-0 at half-time and most of the play dominated by the champions.
Caersws were fired up in the second half and pressed hard to get into the game and not be overwhelmed.
From a corner, the ball went out to Barnett who hit a fierce volley but it was headed away by a defender when looking a certain goal. Williams was looking sharp as he and Carter were carving out openings but often denied by the Caersws goalkeeper.
The best move of the match came when Barnett slotted the ball to Carter who in turn, flicked the ball to Ryan but again Griffiths saved what would have been a great goal.
Barnett again fired a 25-yarder but Griffiths with a diving save denied him to cap a fine performance.
So the second half was goalless but the game was won and Barry will look forward to next Saturday, when they entertain Aberystwyth, whose manager Meirion Appleton was at the match, noting the dangers of Barry's attacking play.
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League of Wales match report: Caersws v Barry Town, 10th January, 1998.
This report published in the Barry and District News, 15.01.98. No accredited writer.
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