IT'S anybody's guess just how demoralising it must be to play well, yet still find yourself on the end of a 5-2 defeat.
This is what happened to Caersws on the weekend, as the Bluebirds found out what many more have also discovered, that for all their hard work at keeping Barry at bay the slightest mistake will be punished.
Barry welcomed back Eifion Williams from his week-long trial with Portsmouth and also Danny Carter, who has been out of action since before Christmas following a knee operation. Carter started the game on the bench. Gareth Shone, who played well against Caernarfon the week before, kept his place in the starting line-up.
The game was hardly a minute old when Caersws almost had a dream start when an in-swinging corner, a constant threat to Barry throughout the game, was met by Rob Hamer; but somehow the Barry defence prevented the ball from crossing the line.
This dramatic start seemed to help lift the mist that was drifting in off the Bristol Channel and threatening to envelop the game.
With almost their first attack of the game, Barry took the lead. Gareth Shone, challenging for a far post cross, prevented the Caersws defence from effectively clearing the ball and Justin Perry was able to place his header beyond the keeper's reach.
Typical of the fighting spirit Caersws displayed throughout the game, the visitors struck back within a minute of the restart when Hugh Clarke rifled home from all of 25 yards, with Dave Wells rooted to the spot.
Barry responded with two quality breaks resulting in Matthew Griffiths, the Caersws goalkeeper, diving low to cut out a Mark Dempsey cross, while Richard Jones shot wide. During this period Eifion Williams and Gary Lloyd were both booked.
Williams, showing a greater amount of aggression in his play since his return from Portsmouth, was quick to react just past the half-hour, robbing Jason Weetman deep in Caersws territory and crossing for Gary Barnett to nip in at the far post to head past Griffiths and restore Barry's lead.
Just before half-time Justin Perry was put through by an intelligent Gary Lloyd header, but he fluffed the opportunity, shooting wide.
For much of the second half it was one way traffic, with Barry camped in the Caersws half and the ever alert Williams took full advantage of the slightest hesitation between Kevin Lloyd and Griffiths to slot home goal number three.
The third goal looked to have sealed the fate of Caersws, even so Barry still pressed forward and an Eifion Williams' cross caused all sorts of problems for the Caersws defence.
Confident that the game was won, Barry brought on Danny Carter, Chris Pridham and Terry Evans for Richard Jones, Mark Dempsey and Lee Barrow, but within minutes of the introduction of fresh legs, Gareth Shone was adjudged to have fouled Tim Steele and the referee, Mr.P.Southall from Port Talbot, awarded the Bluebirds a penalty which Sean Jehu duly converted.
Were we about to witness a remarkable comeback along the lines of last season's epic and improbable 5-5 draw against Newtown?
Caersws obviously felt that there was a point to be won and attempted to push forward, but it was not to be as Justin Perry connected with a Danny Carter cross to restore the two goal advantage. Then it was left to Eifion Williams to add insult to injury when he finished off a Terry Evans break down the right, shooting past the hapless Griffiths.
The Town are now a minimum of eleven points clear of the three main pre-Christmas challengers Aberystwyth, Cwmbran and Inter Cable-tel. The challenge now for Barnett and Richard Jones is to ensure that the high degree of professionalism displayed by the Town squad to date is maintained in the league while the rest battle it out for the runners-up spot.
This weekend, the Town travel to bottom club Rhayader, who are managed by former Barry boss, John Lewis.
While they may be propping up the League of Wales, Rhayader are still in touch with the clubs above them and are by no means certainties to go down, but will need to pick up all the points going to avoid the drop.
Leading League of Wales goal scorer, Eifion Williams, is joined by Gary Lloyd in a squad which contains two former League of Wales regulars Mark Delaney and Marc Lloyd-Williams.
Delaney, a former Carmarthen Town player, is currently getting rave reviews for his performances in the table-topping Cardiff City side, while former Bangor City striker Lloyd-Williams is leading the line at Halifax.
Barry fans will be interested to know whether or not Eifion Williams and Gary Lloyd will get the opportunity to perform on the night.
Williams, who has scored 25 League goals this season, should get to play at some point during the evening, even if he does not make the starting line-up. Since returning from injury, Gary Lloyd has not been playing as well as he can, so may play a more limited role in the match.
For Eifion Williams, this will be an ideal opportunity to put himself in the 'shop window'. His goal-scoring feats have attracted the interest of a number of other clubs, notably Nottingham Forest, and, more recently, Portsmouth. The GEM understands that his trial at Portsmouth went very well with the south coast club showing a keen interest in signing him but, as the club is currently in the hands of the receivers, it is unlikely that any deal will be struck. A good performance from Williams on Tuesday night would probably increase the number of scouts visiting Jenner Park.
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This page edited by the Yellow Dragon, 1999.
This match report first published in the Barry Gem, 04.02.99.
Match report, Barry Town v Caersws, League of Wales, 30.01.99.
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