Experienced ex-Wolves player Steve Mardenborough scored two late goals to win the quarter-final first leg tie for Inter on Tuesday evening after Barry had dominated the game.
A first-half goal by Craig Hughes paved the way for Barry, who coasted the game for 85 minutes until Mardenborough turned the tie around.
On a wet night at Jenner Park, it was Barry who were calling all the shots, playing neat attractive football with Inter unable to get the ball out of their own half and despite Barry resting key players, they looked more classy than the Cardiff players. Indeed, without Darren Ryan, Eifion Williams, Andrew York, Richard Jones and Mark Ovendale, it was an unusual line-up for Barry.
Mardenborough showed early signs of his quality when, after 15 minutes of Barry pressure, he set up Hewitt, who twisted and turned to get past Lee Barrow and earned a corner. With Inter unable to maintain any worthwhile attacks, it was from set pieces that they looked dangerous.
Barrow meanwhile, sent in a 30-yard thunderbolt which skimmed past the post and would have been a tremendous goal had it gone in.
From a corner, Philpott headed home but was adjudged to have fouled Pat Mountain in the Barry goal. At the other end, Chris Pike, having a good game, set up Craig Hughes who hit narrowly wide. Hughes was lookinh sharp and shot straight at Morris before Gary Lloyd crossed a good ball, which Hughes managed to force past Morris to make it 1-0 in the 34th minute.
Inter's Dai Withers who was largely shut out of the game managed a header which Mountain only partially saved, but Lloyd cleared the danger.
With Barry starting to lose concentration they allowed Inter back into the game and Mardenborough with a cross/cum/shot from the touchline, founbd the back of the net and Inter were level.
The game began to get a little dirty and the referee, who had managed the game quite well, seemed to lose control after a number of heavy fouls and bodychecks went seemingly unnoticed.
Wharton and Wile who both recieved yellow cards, should have both been dismissed for the reckless play, and the latter lashed at young Lee Matthews, after escaping a caution for crudely tackling Craig Evans.
With Wile apparently losing control, he was wisely substituted by George Wood, the Inter manager.
Mardenborough, who had got away with every foul in the book throughout the match, proved to be Inter's matchwinner, picking up a loose ball on the edge of the box, and despite C Evans desperately trying to stop him, the striker found the corner and Inter went into the second leg in a fortnight's time with a 2-1 lead.
Gilbert League of Wales Cup match report: Barry Town v Inter Cabletel, 13th January, 1998
This report published in the Barry and District News, 15.01.98. No accredited writer.
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