The FAW Invitation Cup quarter-final match on Tuesday evening proved to be one of extreme disappointment for the Dragons, when even the 50-50 balls didn't got their way and with the loss of Mark Ovendale, who was sent off in the closing minutes of normal time, it wasn't to be their night.
So used to success which comes, not just from ability but also determinationand belief, they played fluent football in the build-up but were denied in the penalty area by a tight defence.
Merthyr have two giant defenders in Abraham and O'Brien and too often Barry played high balls into the area which were easily dispatched by the tall defenders.
Eifion Williams was effectively shackled and had a poor game and Darren Ryan was certainly nowhere near his best.
The Martyrs for long periods were content to soak up Barry pressure, but when they broke they did so very well with ex-Barry player Cohen Griffith extremely effective in midfield.
It was a full house at Jenner Park as the teams lined up to make a good cup tie atmosphere as Gary Lloyd captained the side in the absence of suspended Andrew York.
Both teams seemed a little nervous in the opening stages on a very fast pitch after the rain and Ryan was the first to show with a 20 yard shot just over the bar.
It was Griffith for Merthyr firing across the goal face which gave Barry a scare but Craig Evans replied, turning his marker and hitting a 20-yarder which Thomas in the Merthyr goal did well to tip around the post.
From the corner, Richard Jones with a header, almost put Barry in front., but again Thomas was the hero.
Merthry were often dangerous on the break and Mitchell from a corner, tried to hook the ball in but Ovendale with a good save, was equal to it.
Back came Barry and Terry Evans set up Danny Carter but the midfielder's shot was over the bar. Ryan and Craig Evans had chances to score but hit wide and the latter's chance came after excellent work by new boy Paul Mitchell.
Mitchell's tackling throughout was superb and he is going to be a great asset to Barry on this performance.
After the break, Barry began to play the fluent football which is their trademark. Merthyr seemed so content to absorb the Barry attacks and Lloyd headed narrowly wide and other attacks were either blocked or saved by Thomas who proved an adequate deputy for injured Wager.
Then disaster struck. Ovendale coming out to collect a loose ball on the edge of the penalty box with no danger was adjudged to have been out of the box and was promptly shown the red card by referee Howells. The decision was simply ludicrous as there was no intent by the goalkeeper but Barry were down to 10 men as substitute Pat Mountain took over in goal and Craig Evans went off.
It was Poretta who set up Merthyr's goal, given far too much space, centering to Williams, whose downward header was hit home by Summers, who until then, had not been in the game.
Barry surged forward in attack hardly missing the 11th player but a volley of shots by Williams, Lee Barrow and Jones could not penetrate Merthyr's tight defence.
Mountain was called on to save well from Griffith, but Barry trying everything as the minutes ticked by, could not get the equaliser and were hugely disappointed as referee Howells blew for time.
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This report first published in the Barry and District News, 12.03.98.
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