Only one round of fixtures has been played since the last occasion on which we had a home match, and Barry didn't play on that weekend, as we were the odd side out of the seventeen League of Wales clubs.
Nevertheless, despite not playing last Saturday, we maintained our lead at the top of the League of Wales, and are now two points clear with a game in hand on our nearest rivals, Aberystwyth Town, who play here at Jenner Park in a fortnight's time.
Aberystwyth played at home to Holywell Town last Saturday, and, after a glitch in the reports, were described as to have lost 3-0 to the North Walian side, which would have been Aber's first League of Wales defeat this season. However, as was quickly noted, the match was in fact a goalless draw, Aber's fifth in twelve matches. Should they win or draw away at Rhyl today, then they'll remain unbeaten prior to our game with the Seasiders.
That match at Park Avenue last Saturday attracted a crowd of 475 people, and 2 bookings for either side, but no goals to liven the game.
Cwmbran were another of the leading sides to drop points last Saturday, although, no doubt, they'll see it as a point gained after going two goals behind to Total Network Solutions. They were away at the Llansantffraid based club, and found themselves losing after only only eleven minutes, and further behind two minutes later. However, the Crows dug their heels in, and Chris Summers pulled a goal back before the break. Soon after half time, Cwmbran equalised when Morris put the ball into his own net. Unfortunately, the game was littered with small, niggling matters leading to seven bookings between the two clubs, who both feature highly in the League of Wales Fair Play table.
That results leaves Cwmbran in third spot in the LoW, having played twelve games and earned 25 points.. They are currently three points behind Barry.
Newtown suffered a 3-1 reversal at Latham Park last weekend, when they entertained the revived Inter Cabletel. The Robins have not had the best of seasons, but their league form has kept them in the running, albeit a few points beind the leaders. Inter took an early lead, but Roberts equalised for the mid-Walian side in the tenth minute. That wasn't enough, with Inter hitting back minutes later, and then sealing the match in the second half.
Caernarfon moved up to fifth place following an away win at sixth placed Haverfordwest County. A goal either side of half-time gave the Canaries the points after the long trip from North-West to South-West Wales. The first goal came from Horrigan after 37 minutes, and Tony Ungi finished the game off with a 68th minute strike. Unfortunately, the game was spoilt by the sending off of Caernarfon player-manager, Paul Rowlands, sent off in the 47th minute for a second bookable offence. Two other Caernarfon players had also been cautioned early in the first half of the game.
Inter Cabletel pushed up to seventh place after their win in mid-Wales last Saturday. Following a slow start to the season, the Cardiff club have quickly moved up the table, punishing teams for their slack defending. Inter were a goal ahead after only two minutes last weekend, when R.Williams scored. Newtown equalised after ten minutes, but a fifteenth minute strike from Davies restored Inter's lead. Ten minutes into the second half, Davies scored again, ensuring Inter's three points.
Inter are above Connah's Quay on goal difference, both sides having sixteen points. The Nomads now have a negative goal difference after losing 2-0 to Caersws on Friday evening last week. The Nomads had a good start to the season, but conceeded two early goals to the mid-Walian village club. A healthy crowd of 302 were at the Recreation Ground for the game and saw the home side win comfortably.
Total Network Solutions threw away two points against Cwmbran Town at the Treflan. Ken McKenna had scored after 11 minutes and Mike Marsh strengthened their position just two minutes later. However, the Saints couldn't keep up their performance and slipped to a 2-2 draw.
Bangor City brought back three points from their trip to Afan Lido in South Wales. Player-manager and goalkeeper, Leigh Williams, maintained his good goalscoring record with a 26th minute converted penalty past Thomas in the Lido goal. It remained at 1-0 until half-time, and Steve Williams scored a 52nd minute killer goal for the North Walian side. Bangor moved up to tenth spot.
Below them in eleventh are Caersws, recipients of a 2-0 home win on a Friday evening. Damon Russell was the goalscorer on both occasions. His first goal was in the 25th minute and he added to it on the half-hour with a penalty kick past Phil Collister. Those goals lift the mid-Walian up the table, having been dangerously close to the dogfight at the bottom.
Conwy United were lucky to get a point at Rhayader's Weirglodd, with the Musselmen coming from behind on two occasions to earn a 2-2 draw. John Toner scored the first equaliser after 24 minutes, but Conwy went in 2-1 down at half-time. It wasn't until C.Smith's goal on the hour that they were able to relax against the club now at the bottom of the LoW.
Holywell did well to earn a point away against unbeaten Aberystwyth, as the Wellmen had suffered a number of embarassing defeats, including 5-1 at near neighbours, Rhyl, and 7-2 at Haverfordwest. However, they were able to keep a clean sheet at Park Avenue, and will be looking to build on that scoreline in future away games.
Carmarthen Town lost the services of John Mahoney after last Saturday's 2-1 home defeat to Rhyl. Mahoney, who had been in charge for 2 years, believed that he could take the club no further, and watched his side throw away a first minute lead, and then lose the game in injury time. Tony Rees scored the West Walians goal in the opening minute of the match, but the crowd just under 300 saw the North Walians equalise before snatching a winner. The new manager will have an extra week to arrange things before Barry visit their next Saturday.
In contrast, Rhyl manager Adrian Jones was a happy man as his side climbed off the bottom of the table to fifteenth spot. He scored the last minute winner for the Lilywhites, and will be very happy with the first win since he was officially put in charge of the club, the intervening games being a 5-1 defeat to Barry, and an embarrassing Welsh Cup defeat to Cymru Alliance side, Flint Town United. Urqhuart had put Rhyl level after 20 minutes, before Jones won the game for his side.
Meanwhile, poor Afan Lido have not won a league match since September, and haven't won a home LoW game since their return to the top flight this season. They failed again last weekend, losing 2-0 to Bangor City at the Afan Lido Sports Ground. The only point which the Lido can take very positively is that they are second in terms of yellow cards in the Fair Play table, and that their goal difference is slightly better than Rhayader Town, who are bottom.
Tomi Morgan's side took the lead twice last weekend, and look capable of repeating their miracle escape of last sesason. Richard Jones' first minute goal against Conwy put them ahead, and, despite an equaliser, Rhayader went in with a 2-1 advantage, following Dylan McPhee's 32nd minute goal. However, Conwy got an equaliser, and with Rhyl winning, Rhayader slipped back to the bottom spot, with 8 points and a goal difference of minus sixteen as opposed to Afan Lido's minus fourteen.
Links to other sites on the Web
Barry Town homepage
Barry Town matchday magazine
This page is edited by the Yellow Dragon, 1999.
This article was first published in the Barry Town matchday magazine, v Haverfordwest County, 05.12.1998, League of Wales
Get your own Free Home Page