Following last week's look back at the end of the 1997/98 season, this week the Yellow Dragon turns its eye to the second half of 1998, and the beginning of this year's 1998/99 season.
Date Competition Opposition Venue Score Att: Scorers 23.07 ECL pr-1 Dinamo Kiev A 0-8 14,500 - 30.07 ECL pr-2 Dinamo Kiev H 1-2 1,200 E.Williams 22.08 LoW Cwmbran Town A 4-0 386 E.Williams (2), M.Dempsey, R.Jones 25.08 FAWPC Grp B Wrexham H 3-2 900 D.Ridler (og), R.Jones, D.Davies 29.08 LoW Conwy United H 1-1 323 A.York 08.09 LoW Afan Lido H 0-2 292 12.09 LoW Connah's Quay N A 3-0 591 Eif.Williams (2), R.Jones 19.09 LoW Caernarfon Town H 3-0 490 Eif.Williams (2), R.Jones 22.09 LC1 Caersws A 2-2 412 Eif.Williams, J.Perry 26.09 LoW Caersws A 4-2 375 G.Lloyd, Williams, Mitchell, Dempsey 03.10 LoW Rhayader Town H 7-1 451 D.Carter (2), Eif.Williams (2), G.Barnett, R.Jones, J.Perry 06.10 LC1r Caersws H 5-0 254 Eif.Williams (3), M.Dempsey, J.Perry 10.10 LoW Total Network S A 2-1 374 Eif.Williams (2) 13.10 FAWPC Grp B Swansea City A 1-1 1,259 G.Lloyd 24.10 LoW Newtown H P-P 27.10 FAWPC Grp B Caernarfon Town H P-P 31.10 LoW Bangor City A 3-0 503 R.Jones (2), Eif.Williams 07.11 LoW Holywell Town H 4-0 466 G Lloyd (2), Dempsey, Eif.Williams 10.11 LC2 Haverfordwest Co.H 2-0 281 Eif.Williams, Perry 14.11 LoW Rhyl A 6-0 292 Eif.Williams 2, G.Lloyd 2, D.Carter, R.Jones 17.11 FAWPC Grp B Swansea City H 2-0 767 Eif.Williams, R.Jones 21.11 WC3 Haverfordwest Co.H 2-0 309 Eif.Williams 2 23.11 FAWPC Grp B Wrexham A 0-1 403 - 02.12 FAWPC Grp B Caernarfon Town A 1-0 - Barrow 05.12 LoW Haverfordwest Co.H 2-0 320 Eif.Williams 2 12.12 LoW Carmarthen Town A 1-2 511 Barrow 15.12 FAWPC GrpB Caernarfon Town H 3-1 267 E.Williams 2, P.Rowlands (og) 19.12 LoW Aberystwyth Town H 5-1 454 J.Perry 2, R.Jones 2, G.Barnett 26.12 LoW Inter Cable-Tel H 1-1 523 Eif.Williams
A number of players were making their domestic debuts for Barry, including former Republic of Ireland u-21 cap, Mark Dempsey, former Wrexham player, Gareth Shone, Darren Davies, Jody Jenkins and Chris Pridham. Northern Ireland under-21 goalkeeper, Dave Wells, was injured at the start of the season and had to wait for his debut, but Barry brought in a replacement in the form of young Australian 'keeper, Tynan Scope, on Coventry City's youth books.
A number of those players took to the field in Barry's first League of Wales match of the season, a magnificent 4-0 victory over Cwmbran Town, pretenders to our League of Wales throne. Mark Dempsey celebrated his LoW debut with a goal, firing in from the right after 27 minutes, with the three extra goals coming after the break, Eifion Williams scoring twice with his head, and Richard Jones adding a further goal.
That was followed by our first match in this season's FAW Premier Cup, yet again the flagship match for the competition. Entertaining Wrexham at Jenner Park, Barry deserved their 3-2 victory over the English League Second Division side. Barry took the lead just before half-time, when pressure forced Dave Brammer to head into his own net. Wrexham hit back, but further goals from Richard Jones, who forced his angled shot home from six yards, and a wonderful volley from Darren Davies gave us the 3-2 win and the advantage in the group.
Following that magnificent win, there was a return to LoW football, where a stubborn Conwy United side held Barry to a 1-1 draw at Jenner Park. Andrew York scored the opener for Barry, but Conwy equalised with fifteen minutes remaining.
Following that inauspicious start to the season, Barry traveled to the newly-built Deeside Stadium to face top of the league Connah's Quay Nomads. On a soaking wet day, Barry showed their true character, playing immaculate football, and running out comfortable 3-0 winners, all goals coming in the first half, two from Williams and another from Richard Jones.
Williams scored twice again the following week, when his former club, Caernarfon came to Jenner Park. Barry won 3-0, with Richard Jones again adding the third.
There was very nearly a midweek shock, though, as Gilbert League of Cup holders Barry fell two goals behind in a first round tie at Caersws. The home side scored as early as the third minute, and when scoring midway through the second half, they believed that they had secured Barry's scalp. It wasn't to be, though, as some inspired substitutions saw Barry force their way back into the game. A goal apiece from Eifion Williams and Justin Perry's first goal in a Barry shirt saw the game end as a draw.
Barry traveled to Caersws again a few days later, for a League of Wales match. This time there was no mistakes, with Gary Lloyd firing the Dragons into a second minute lead. Caersws did return to level terms, but Barry pulled away to a 4-2 win, one of the highlights being Paul Mitchell scoring his first Barry goal.
The same could be said a few days later, when Barry entertained Caersws in the Gilbert League of Wales Cup replay. Despite the difficulties which they had encountered first time around, Barry won convincingly. Mark Dempsey started the goalscoring in the sixth minute, and Eifion Williams added a hat-trick, with Justin Perry scoring the other in the 5-0 win.
Following that the Dragons traveled to Total Network Solutions's Llansantffraid home, where a second minute goal from Eifion Williams put Barry on their way to a 2-1 win. Williams himself scored the second goal before TNS got a goal back.
A couple of day later, Barry traveled to Swansea City for an FAW Premier Cup match. The match ended one apiece, but Barry were only moments from victory at the Vetch. A first-half free-kick from Gary Lloyd gave Barry the lead, before former Barry striker, Tony Bird, popped up to level for the Swans.
Barry had an enforced absence from football, with a bye in the Welsh Cup second round being followed by atrocious weather causing the cancellation of home games against Newtown in the League of Wales and Caernarfon Town in the Premier Cup.
However, the month ended on a happy note with a 3-0 away win at Bangor City. Eifion Williams added a further two goals to his tally, while Richard Jones scored the third.
A few days later, Barry secured a semi-final place in the Gilbert League of Wales Cup, defeating Haverfordwest County, the first of three matches in a month against the West Walians. This second round game was played at Jenner Park, with Barry taking the game by the scruff of the neck early on. A fourth minute goal from Eifion Williams saw Barry take the lead, with an 89th minute header from Justin Perry securing the win.
Barry then traveled to Rhyl for a League of Wales match, comfortably beating the bottom club by a 6-0 margin. Gary Lloyd gave the Dragons the lead in the 21st minute, with an awkward free-kick from 25 yards which beat the keeper. In the second half, though, Barry ran riot, with Lloyd scoring a second, alongside a brace from Williams and further goals from Richard Jones and Danny Carter.
The visit of Swansea City to Jenner Park saw Barry definitively stamp their mark on the FAW Premier Cup, group B. Boosted by the appearance of former international Andy Dibble in goal to replace Dave Wells, who was on international duty with Northern Ireland, Barry coasted to a 2-0 win over the Swans. Eifion Williams scored the opening goal, with a first-half header, while Ricahrd Jones fired home from the penalty spot.
Barry continued their success with a Welsh Cup third round win over Haverfordwest County. Eifion Williams was responsible for both goals, including a magnificent strike from the by-line, which was rightly awarded goal of the month by S4C's Gol programme.
However, that was followed by a single goal defeat to Wrexham. Under the circumstances, the result was irrelevant, by Wrexham caught Barry cold at the beginning of the second half to score the winning goal.
Haverfordwest were at Jenner Park again, and suffered, again, a 2-0 defeat to Barry. Eifion Williams scored both goals.
Barry then made the trip Westwards to Carmarthen, again facing Tomi Morgan in his first game in charge of a new club. This time, Morgan's side came out on top, taking the lead after 20 minutes and then securing victory with ten minutes remaining. That was despite a Lee Barrow header after 53 mintes bringing Barry level.
Nevertheless, Barry finished top of their FAW Premier Cup group with a 3-1 victory over Caernarfon Town at Jenner Park. The North Walians had opened the scoring, but a brace from their old boy, Eifion Williams, alongside an own goal from their player/manager, Paul Rowlands, ensured Barry won and topped the group.
Following that came Barry's demolition of third-placed Aberystwyth Town. Aber had been unbeaten until the week before their visit to Jenner Park, but despite taking the lead, they were unable to match Barry in the second half, with the Dragons scoring three late goals. Richard Jones opened the scoring, with Gary Barnett firing home to give Barry a 2-1 half-time lead. Late in the second half, Richard Jones scored with a quick turn and chip, while Justin Perry twice put the ball in the net for a 5-1 victory.
Unfortunately, that wasn't followed by victory in the Boxing Day derby with much-improved Inter Cabletel. Incredibly, every single derby has ended in a draw. Eifion Williams scored Barry's goal in the 44th minute, but Inter equalised ten minutes into the second half, when John Wills curling corner kick caught Dave Wells by surprise, and he could do little more than knock into his own net.
Barry therefore ended 1998 in a strong position, top of the League of Wales, in the semi-finals of the Gilbert Cup, the fourth round of the Welsh Cup (facing Connah's Quay Nomads) and the quarter-finals of the FAW Premier Cup. A happy year all round!
Links to other sites on the Web
Barry Town homepage
Barry Town Matchday Magazine index
This page edited by the Yellow Dragon, 1999.
This article first published in the Barry Town Matchday Magazine, v Carmarthen Town, League of Wales, 30.03.1999
Get your own Free Home Page