BARRY TOWN 2 CWMBRAN TOWN 1
Possibly the last chance of anyone stopping runaway leaders Barry Town from winning their third consecutive championship vanished at Jenner Park yesterday.
Second placed Cwmbran Town certainly competed strongly and with a little touch from Lady Luck might have snatched a draw, but in truth Barry were mush the better side.
That Cwmbran were able to be still in with a shout after 79 minutes owed much to the defensive organisation of Cwmbran's former Welsh international Mark Aizlwewood and Jimmy Blackie, who frustrated the eager Barry strike force time and again.
Behind them Pat O'Hagan was at his brilliant best and, particularly in the second half, kept Barry at bay continually with a succession of superb saves. The moe team had to wait until a minute before the interval before finally taking the lead.
It stemmed from a good build-up on the right hand side when the ball was worked to Phil Johnson.
Cwmbran's defence stood off expecting a pass but Johnson executed a well-placed shot which eluded the diving O'Hagan.
It took only a minute of the second half before the brilliant Mattie Davies created something out of nothing and his equaliser was his 13th goal of the season but certainly not unlucky for the visitors.
Cwmbran continued to deny Barry until player-coach Gary Barnett took himself off and brought on former Cardiff City favourite Chris Pike, the League's fifth top scorer with 14 goals but who cannot command a regular place with the high-flying leaders.
However, with time running out, Pike won the ball 30 yards out and laid it to Craig Evans, whose sweetly-struck left foot shot was a worthy winner.
Barry now top the table by some 17 points and there can be little doubt that the championship trophy is going to stay at Jenner Park for another 12 months.
Barry Town v Cwmbran Town match report. Match played 24.01.98. Report - 'Sport on Sunday' p.19, no accredited writer.
This page maintained by the Yellow Dragon, 1998
Please note all copyright laws. This material is the property of the 'Wales on Sunday' newspaper, January 25, 1998. Support your local newspaper!
Get your own Free Home Page