FOR only the third time in the league this season, Barry Town failed to find the back of the net but, unlike the previous two occasions, they managed to return to Jenner Park with a point.
This was the second time in successive seasons that Rhayader have battled hard to earn a point against the champions. Last year in Cavalier up and at 'em fashion, they drew 2-2. On Saturday the scenario was similar to last season, with a new manager having just taken over and Rhayader looking to get something from a game everyone expected them to lose as they battled against relegation.
The new man in the Rhayader hot seat is former Barry, Ebbw Vale and Merthyr boss, John Lewis, who was confident before the game that his tactics would earn the mid-Wales side a point and he was proved right, as his new troops rallied to the colours and defend their goal to the death.
Their cause was helped considerably when Barry's Justin Perry was sent-off for a two-footed tackle after 25 minutes. Even so, Barry still created enough chances to have won the game but a combination of good goalkeeping from former Newtown keeper, Mike Barton, and a misplaced set of shooting boots by Eifion Williams and his colleagues, served to give Rhayader a point and a massive boost to their confidence.
Last season they went on to avoid the drop and who's not to say that history will now repeat itself this season?
Barry now turn their attention to this weekend's Welsh Cup tie against Connah's Quay Nomads (kick-off 2:30p.m.). The two sides met just four weeks ago and the Town had to work hard for their 1-0 win.
It will come as no surprise if Gary Barnett's men find Connah's Quay even more of a handful this time round as the Deesiders would love to do what they did last year and knock Barry out of the cup.
The Nomads are a hard working, well organised side and while they employ the same, every man behind the ball tactics as all visitors to Jenner Park, they can break with a great deal more composure than the majority of LoW teams, and, in Jamie Hughes, they have one of the most highly rated young strikers in the league.
Hughes came close to snatching a point for the Nomads last month when he struck a post late in the game. Last Saturday, he scored twice as the Nomads beat Afan Lido 3-1.
If the game ends in a draw the replay will take place on Tuesday night.
The Dragons return to league action on February 20 when Llansantffraid TNS are the visitors to Jenner Park (ko.2:30p.m.)
Williams was not the only Town player on the pitch. Selected from the start, and playing the full 90 minutes, Gary Lloyd also did well playing down the left, putting in a number of good crosses.
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 Barry Gem, 11.02.1999.
Get your own Free Home Page