WALES manager Bobby Gould believes Barry Town duo Eifion Williams and Gary Lloyd are good enough to play in the Football League.
"I have already recommended them to numerous clubs. They are well worth taking a chance with," said Gould, renowned for recruiting unfancied players who became stars while he was manager at Coventry City and Wimbledon.
Within minutes of leaving the substitutes bench, Williams scored with his first touch - a thunderous 20-yard drive - to earn Wales a 1-0 victory over Northern Ireland in Tuesday night's Wales 'B' international at Wrexham.
Lloyd, who played the full game, produced an accomplished performance at left wing-back after a nervous start.
"The influx of foreign players has made it more and more difficult for British and Republic of Ireland players to break into league football." said Gould.
"But we put two League of Wales players - Williams and Lloyd - in the shop window against Northern Ireland.
"A posse of managers were present so perhaps clubs will come in for them now.
"Eifion has predatory instincts. People may see other aspects of his game and say he doesn't do this or that.
"But if you don't put the ball in the back of the net you don't win matches. He's a natural scorer."
"Gary has a great left foot and a lot of skill on the ball."
At 23, Williams still harbours hopes of playing league football. His luck has been out so far.
"I was with Wolves on schoolboy forms but they didn't take me on their YTS scheme," said the striker who has already added 36 goals to the 57 he netted for Barry last season.
"I scored twice in a trial game for Nottingham Forest last Summer and things looked promising until the Forest manager Dave Bassett got the sack.
"Last month, I spent a week with Portsmouth but then the club went into liquidation, so there was no way that the manager, Alan Ball, could buy me.
"All I can do is keep scoring and hopefully a league club will come in for me.
"Scoring for my country against Ireland was such a fantastic feeling, especially as it was my first touch of the ball.
"Carl Robinson played the ball through and I just hit it, looked up and saw the ball in the net.
"I've really enjoyed training and playing with the Welsh lads with Premiership and top Nationwide League clubs.
"It lets you see what standards you have to achieve to get on in the game. I jut hope things happen for me."
Wales B manager, Graham Williams and coach, Kevin Ratcliffe share Gould's belief that Williams has the ability to succeed in league football.
"It was a world-class finish," said Williams.
Ratcliffe said, "There's no doubt in my mind that the lad can succeed at a higher level and score goals wherever he plays."
Barry bought Williams from Caernarfon for a League of Wales record �25,000 after he completed sports and recreation studies at Bangor College.
The League of Wales champions would probably want four times as much for his services.
Meanwhile, a freak injury has forced former Manchester City goalkeeper, Andy Dibble, to turn down an offer to join former Everton manager, Howard Kendall, at Greek club Ethnikos.
Dibble, 33, is currently on the books of Unibond League Altrincham Town but is still recovering from a chest injury he picked up while playing for league leaders Barry Town.
"I ended up with chest burns after diving on the pitch," said Dibble.
"There was something on the surface that caused the problem, and it has taken me a few weeks to recover."
He said, "I got a call from Howard a couple of days ago asking me whether I fancied Greece. It sounded great, but I have not really recovered from my injury and have had to let the chance pass."
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This page edited by the Yellow Dragon, 1999.
This article first published in the Western Mail, 11.02.1999.
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