BARRY TOWN go marching on to a fourth league championship with this hard fought victory over a tough and uncompromising TNS.
A superb headed goal by man of the match Lee Barrow and an own goal gave Barry the points though twice in the first half the Saints rocked the crossbar.
Barry are still not at their best, going through a rough patch when the football is not flowing as it was and the driving force of desire is understandably a little jaded.
A real challenge is needed to stir the Barry players and they will look forward to their FAW Premier Cup match against Merthyr to boost the adrenaline.
Representatives of FIFA were present at Saturday's game and would have appreciated a hard fought first half as would Frank Burrows. If the Cardiff City manager was checking on Eifion Williams, he would have seen him well shackled by the TNS defence and by his standards having a disappointing game and going through a goal drought which happens to all strikers at some time.
The goal machine had his best chance with a snaking run though the TNS defence, but his shot on target was cleared off the line by Parry.
After Paul Mitchell was booked for a foul on ex-Barry star Darren Ryan, TNS were given a free-kick some 30 yards out. The kick, which was taken by Ricky Evans, cannoned off the crossbar and minutes later Gareth Wilson also hit the crossbar from close-range to establish that it wasn't going to be their day!
Barry's goal came in the 35th minute. Darren Davies with some clever work on the left wing, passed to Danny Carter and his pinpoint cross was superbly met by Lee Barrow, who, with a diving header, put the ball beyond Mulliner's reach to make it 1-0.
Barrow had a superb game as did fellow centre-back Andrew York, and Ryan and Evans the TNS front men were well-managed by the Barry duo.
It was the other Evans, midfielder Gary who sent in a stunning 25-yard drive which as equalled by Dave Wells in the Barry goal with a great save.
It wasn't until the 69th minute that Barry went 2-0 up. In a drab second half it was Williams who threatened on the mid-Walians goal and Gallagher panicked and put the ball into his own net to leave Mulliner totally bemused.
TNS could not find any more shooting chances and sought to contain Barry in the closing stages as they tired. After Carter tried a shot for Barry, the rebound came to substitute Jody Jenkins, who curled his shot just wide of the target.
On a cold day, everybody was glad to hear the final whistle and Barry renew their championship drive on Saturday with a trip to Latham Park to play Newtown.
It's a tough week for the talented Newtown side who played Wrexham in the FAW Premier Cup on Tuesday and meet the champions on Saturday.
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This page edited by the Yellow Dragon, 1999.
This article first published in the Barry and District News, 25.02.1999
Match report, Barry Town v Total Network Solutions, League of Wales, 20.02.1999
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