PLAYER-COACH Richard Jones scored a well-taken goal at misty Jenner Park last night to put Barry into the semi-finals of the FAW Premier Cup.
The League of Wales champions will meet their closest league rivals, Inter CableTel, while Wrexham will play Cardiff City over two legs.
The decider, in the 30th minute, came from a moment of magic by Eifion Williams.
The Wales B striker, who could join Cardiff City when his contract runs out in the Summer*, cleverly got past Michael Regan to make space for a low cross from the right.
Former Swansea City midfielder Jones reached it first to poke a low shot past Neil Thomas.
The Dragons collected �20,000 from sponsors BBC Wales by avenging a defeat by Merthyr in last season's quarter-finals.
They could have won more comfortably but for unusually wasteful finishing by prolific scorer, who had missed four games with a thigh injury.
Danny Carter failed to capitalise on the game's best pass from Gary Lloyd, another Wales B international.
Merthyr's hopes were kept alive and Cohen Griffith went closest to equalising against his former club.
Substitute Jamie Michael spurned a simple chance in the 78th minute and Merthyr's late charge, when they should have had a penalty for a foul on Griffith, failed to force extra-time.
The Martyrs exerted early pressure with a direct approach that tested centre-backs Gareth Shone and Lee Barrow, but Barry kept their defensive discipline.
The home side would have taken a sixth-minute lead but for the vigilance of Thomas. Carter controlled a fine pass from Lloyd and hit an early cross that Jones met with a glancing header, but the Merthyr keeper dived to his right to save on the line.
Jones stole in to reach another cross from Mark Dempsey, but his effort wasn't good enough to beat the keeper.
The Dr.Martens League Premier Division club failed to accept several half-chances before the break. Mark Williams could not take advantage of a mis-kick by Barrow and Gary Shepherd pulled two shots wide.
Barry, heading for their fourth successive title, turned defense into attack with swift counters but too often their delivery let them down in front of goal.
In contrast, former Barry midfielder, Colin Loss, hardly wasted a pass. His 39th minute inswinging corner was fumbled by Dave Wells, resulting in a scrum-like battle for possession by half-a-dozen players from both sides before Swansea referee John Collins penalised Merthyr for a foul on the keeper.
Visiting defender Paul Richards was booked for bringing down Williams in full flight and Griffith was cautioned for a foul on Jones, but for a cup tie with so much at stake it was played generally in good spirit.
Merthyr captain Gareth Abraham limped off after 62 minutes.
Squads:
Barry Town: Wells, Evans, Lloyd, Jones, Shone, Barrow, Barnett, Carter, Mitchell, Williams, Dempsey (Davies '79), Subs, unused: Perry, Jenkins.
Merthyr Tydfil: Thomas, Regan, Richards, Needs, Abraham (Michael '62), Williams, Ramasut, Griffith, Chiverton, Shepherd, Loss. Subs, unused: Benbow, Durham.
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 Weestern Mail, 17.03.1999
Match report by Karl Woodward, Barry Town v Merthyr Tydfil, FAW Premier Cup quarter-final, 16.03.1999
Get your own Free Home Page