There are times when the champions have to grind out results with sheer hard work and determination. This was one of those occasions, where Barry came up against one of the best footballing teams in the league.
Newtown play a very well rehearsed game with defenders hitting balls into the front runners' feet and they are always ready to lay the ball off or flick it on to catch defenders out.
Barry were given a tough time of it in the first half of Tuesday's game, with reliable defenders Andrew York and Lee Barrow having their work cut out to stop the flow of balls into the front runners.
Things were not helped with the loss of Richard Jones, Danny Carter and Gary Barnett, who was injured in the first minute. These three experienced midfielders were sorely missed as Barry fought a hard battle in the middle of the park to contain the lively Newtown team.
In fact, the home side had the edge in the first half, which, although packed with effort by both sides, failed to record much goalmouth incident.
Dean Huggins took Barnett's place as the player-coach limped off after making an early challenge. Newtown's build-up play created only a couple of shots, one going over the bar and the other dealt with by a secure goalkeeper, Mark Ovendale.
Barry played with more purpose after the break, the purpose of the half-time pep talk was obviously to tell them to get among the Newtown defence and unsettle them.
With Barry giving the ball away, Yates had a chance to put the mid-Walians ahead, but he fired over the bar.
A corner from Ryan saw Craig Evans head goalward, but a defender knocked it off the line for another corner. This brought a goal for Barry as Ryan touched on to Eifion Williams, who fired home.
As Newtown tired, Barry began to pepper the home goal with shots, with Evans and Terry Evans going close.
Just five minutes later, Knott headed home from a Phil Johnson cross and sealed the game for the champions at 2-0.
Once Ryan found himself in more space, Barry had a couple more efforts saved and were glad to come out with three points from a hard game, which they had only dominated in the last 15 minutes.
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This page maintained by the Yellow Dragon, 1998.
This report was first published in the Barry & District News, 30.10.1997.
League of Wales match report, Newtown - Barry Town, 28.10.1997.
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