IT'S beginning to look as though Connah's Quay are Barry's bogey side after they repeated last year's shock win at Jenner Park yesterday.
Barry, who seem to dispose of most sides quite easily, struggled against the Nomads.
They only managed a single goal win in the league encounter last month.
Connah's Quay are a big, physical team who defend well in depth and even kept Barry at bay after they lost Jamie Hughes for showing his studs on 37 minutes.
There was a frantic start to the game with a spate of bookings early on although it was never a dirty match and the Nomads struck after just eight minutes.
Andrew Thomas floated in a cross which the Barry defence failed to clear and Stuart Rain pounced to score from close range.
Barry dominated most of the time and created numerous openings but few clear-cut chances.
It didn't help their cause that Connah's Quay goalkeeper Phil Collister had a great game, helped to a large extent by the Barry strikers who always seemed to shoot straight at him.
Barry have become used to winning in the league without fully extending themselves and couldn't seem to find the extra gear they needed to conquer a well-organised defence and can have few complaints.
Connah's Quay manager, Neville Powell, was naturally a happy man as he headed home to North Wales last night. Although accepting that one swallow doesn't make a summer, Powell was naturally elated at his triumph.
With the way things went yesterday it was hard to believe that some 28 points and 12 places separate the full-time professionals of Barry Town from the part-timers of Connah's Quay Nomads in the League of Wales. But Barry secretary, Alan Whelan, philosophical about the result, said last night: "Well now we can really concentrate on the league and make sure we win the title once again."
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This page edited by the Yellow Dragon, 1999.
This match report first published in the Wales on Sunday, 14.02.99
Match report of Barry Town v Connah's Quay Nomads, 13.02.99, Welsh Cup Fourth Round
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