Despite our defeat at Richmond Park to Carmarthen last week, Barry are still on top of the League of Wales, four points clear of nearest rivals, Cwmbran Town, and a further points ahead of todays opponents, Aberystwyth Town.
Away at Newtown two weeks ago, Cwmbran settled for a goalless draw with the Robins. However, they must have thought that they would take all three points from their visit to Farrar Road last week, as they raced into a two-goal lead. An 8th minute goal from Wayne Hewitt gave them the lead, while Watkins's 44th minute strike put them two ahead before half-time. In the second half, though, it went downhill for the South Walians, as Bangor pulled a goal back, before snatching a point with only minutes remaining. Had Cwmbran won both matches, they would be level on point with Barry.
Having only lost twice this season, Total Network Solutions find themselves in fifth place in the LoW. T.N.S have drawn 7 of their 13 matches, undermining their otherwise good record. A fortnight ago, they went to the Morfa, Conwy, and returned with a point from a 3-3 draw. Ken McKenna was T.N.S's hero, scoring in the 3rd and 90th minutes. Powell scored the other goal for the Llansantffraid side, finding the net after 24 minutes. Last weekend, though, they won in front of their own support, beating Connah's Quay Nomads 2-0. Two second half goals clinched the points, with ex-Barry player, Darren Ryan, scoring after 68 minutes and Powell adding the final touches with an 83rd minute goal to seal the points.
Inter Cabletel have risen rapidly through the ranks, moving from lower table side to sixth place in a matter of weeks. Two weeks ago, Bangor City inflicted Inter's first league defeat for two months, scoring from the penalty spot. However, on another trip to North Wales, the Cardiff side were able to turn it around, defeating Holywell Town 2-1 last Saturday. An own goal from the home side's Phil Hinchcliffe gave Inter a first half advantage, while former Barry forward, Paul Evans, scored the second in 52nd minute. A late goal for Holywell was nothin more than a consolation for the Wellmen.
Although they have the same number of points as both T.N.S and Inter, Caernarfon have an inferior goal difference, and so are in seventh place. They haven't had the best of weeks, culminating in their F.A.W Premier Cup defeat here last Tuesday. A fortnight ago, they entertained Caersws at the Oval, Caernarfon with the home side storming into a 2-0 lead through first half goals from Tony Ungi and Phil Daley. However, even before half-time, Caersws began to peg them back, and the match ended as a 2-2 draw. Away at bottom of the table, Rhayader Town, Caernarfon were favourites to take all three points, but left with nothing. In a 2-0 defeat to the mid-Walians, Caernarfon had Edwards sent off after 54 minutes, following a second bookable offence, in addition to receiving three other cautions.
Haverfordwest County are in eighth place, following their three visits to Jenner Park. A fortnight ago, they were here again for a League of Wales match, which Barry won 2-0 with two late goals. Last weekend, they were involved in an incredible 4-4 draw with Caersws in an away game with the mid-Wales club. The home side had taken an early lead, and were 2-0 ahead by half-time. Caersws looked to be sailing until Griffiths scored an own goal for Haverfordwest after 58 minutes. Caersws re-established their 3-1 lead, but LoW second top scorer, Richard Gay, brough it back to 3-2. Caersws extended their lead again, but an 83rd minute striker from David Burrows made it 4-3, before Jamie Rickard's injury-time goal earnt Haverfordwest a point, after scoring four goals in the last 35 minutes!
Fellow North Walians, Connah's Quay Nomads are in tenth place in the League of Wales, having only played once in the past fortnight. Their match at home to Rhayader Town was played at the beginning of the season, and so they had a free weekend a fortnight ago. That week off didn't seem to help them last week, though, when they visited Llansantffraid to play T.N.S and lost 2-0 to two second half goals.
Conwy United, on the other had, have picked up four points in the last two weeks. At home to Total Network Solutions, thy were unlucky not to take all three points. They went 1-0 down early on, but hit back with a 14th minute goal from Ellison. Again going behind to the mid-Walians, quick goals from John Toner and a penalty from Matt Corcoran looked as if it would give Conwy the win, only for T.N.S to get an injury time equaliser. They had better luck the following week, though, as they entertained Newtown at the Morfa. The only goal of the game was by John Toner, who scored in the 48th minute.
Meanwhile, Caersws have simply had a bizarre few weeks. Away at Caernarfon Town, they were 2-0 down before Sean Jehu snatched a goal back before half-time. Then in the second half, Hugh Clarke scored the equalising goal so that they could take a point back to mid-Wales. However, having pulled back from being down and out, it was Caersws's turn to see the points slip away from them a week later at home to Haverfordwest. Kevin Lloyd's 2nd minute goal looked good for the Bluebirds. Steve Edwards put them further ahead after 36 minutes. Haverfordwest made a mini-comeback, but Lewis made it 3-1. It was 3-2 soon after, but Caersws felt comfortable of the points after going 4-2 ahead through Hugh Clarke. It all fell apart though, as the visitors scored twice in the last ten minutes to draw the match at 4-4.
Thirteenth placed Carmarthen Town will still be smiling after last week's victory over Barry, and new manager Tomi Morgan will certainly be enjoying his honeymoon period! Having not played a fortnight ago, with a week off and following the resignation of John Mahoney, our meeting last weekend was Tomi's first game in his new job. Dean Rossiter's 21st minute goal gave Carmarthen the lead, but we struck back through Lee Barrow. However, with only ten minutes left, Richard Adams found the net to give Carmarthen Town a 2-1 victory.
Rhyl are fifteenth in the League of Wales, although the flush of taking Aberystwyth's unbeaten record will have been lost by defeat at Afan Lido last weekend. At home to Aberystwyth, Phil Clench's 71st minute goal earnt them all three points. However, away in Aberafan, it was a different story. The home side took the lead, only for Rhyl to hit back when Stuart Pickthall converted a 27th minute penalty. Afan Lido quickly re-established their lead, and continued to win the game 2-1. A game in which 10 players were booked, Rhyl had insult added to injury when centre-forward, Damien Currier, was booked twice in the final five minutes, and sent off.
Afan Lido, though, can at least smile, having finally won their first home match in the League of Wales. Parry's 22nd minute goal gave them the lead, before Rhyl equalised and Evans scored what was to be the winner after 33 minutes. Although still in sixteenth, Afan Lido also earnt a point away from home with a goalless draw at Holywell Town.
Rhayader Town are still bottom of the League of Wales, but their situation looks healthier than previously. Losing their manager to Carmarthen Town may have appeared negative, but Rhayader bounced back well last week with a 2-0 win over Caernarfon Town at the Weirglodd. Richard Parker sent the mid-Walians on their way with a 5th minute goal, only to be sent off ten minutes into the second half. Despite that, substitute, Willis, scored in the 65th minute to give them their second home victory of the season. Their first? That was over the side their ex-manager is now with!
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League of Wales results - Autumn 1998
This page edited by the Yellow Dragon, 1999.
This article first published in the Barry Town matchday magazine, v Aberystwyth Town, 19.12.1998, League of Wales
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