LoW Spotlight, by Mark Bloom
BARRY TOWN suffered two major blows in 48 hours this week but still managed to put their worries behind them and beat struggling Rhyl 2-0.
First, it was the sale of Eifion Williams to Torquay, who went on to score a brilliant hat-trick on his league debut on Saturday.
And secondly, the players were told on Friday morning that the club was up for sale, as revealed in Saturday's Echo.
A senior player said: "Players are now playing for themselves, there is an uncertainty about the club's future since chairman Paula O'Halloran has decided to call it a day.
"Some of the players still have a year or so left on their contracts and have families and mortgages. It is a bit up-in-the-air at the moment.
"Six or seven of the players' contracts are up at the end of the season and I know they will be doing their best to put themselves in the football shop window again.
"Training this week will be a strange feeling to say the least, but we will just have to grin and bear it."
The squad ralled round and produced two excellent goals, one from Mark Dempsey shooting from the edge of the area after 36 minutes. And an opportunist strike from Justin Perry in the second half which beat the keeper from 35 yards.
Barry need just one point to secure the league crown for the fourth consecutive year.
Both are players Cardiff City looked at closely - and both have proved a success in the Nationwide League.
The Bluebirds made a bid for goalkeeper Ovendale, only to see Bournemouth snap him up for �30,000. He has helped the south coast club remain in the play-off positions and helped them win 2-1 against Colchester in their latest outing.
Williams hit three goals on his Third Division debut for Torquay, who paid �70,000 for the striker.
That looked a snip as he put Hartlepool to the sword and eased Torquay's relegation fears.
Links to other sites on the Web
Barry Town homepage
What the Papers Say index
This page edited by the Yellow Dragon, 1999.
This article first published in the South Wales Echo, 29.03.1999
Get your own Free Home Page