Despite dropping two points at Rhayader a fortnight ago, Barry remain nine points clear at the top of the League of Wales table, thanks to our 5-2 victory over Caersws the week before and the inability of any other top club to put together a consistent set of winning results.
Inter are our closest challengers, but despite closing the gap back to nine points, we have two games in hand over our city-slicker neighbours. Three weeks ago, Inter visited Cwmbran Stadium for their sixth match this season, and, as could be expected from two of the LoW's meanest defences, the match ended in a stalemate at 0-0, with neither side looking like scoring. Inter did improve on that a week later, though, beating Conwy 3-0 at home in the Cardiff Ahletic Stadium. Thie North Walian had had some good results, but they were flattered by the Inter steamroller, who were celebrating manager George Wood receiving the Loosemore's Manager of the Month Award for January. Dean Philpott scored the opening goal after 15 minutes, blasting home from the edge of the box after Conwy failed to clear a corner. Inter added their second in a similar fashion, this time though it was Lee Dyson who outjumped his opponent to head home from six yards. The score remained at 2-0 until the second half. Paul Evans hit the post for the capital side, but Simon Dyer was on hand to hit home as Conwy keeper, Ian Bamford, lay on the floor.
The Robins haven't set the League of Wales alight this season, but have been consistent, and are beginning to reap the rewards of that. The introduction of Nicky Ward up front has been the key factor, and he has troubled a good number of LoW defences. He certainly tore the Holywell defence apart three weeks ago at Halkyn Road. Ward scored Newtown's opener after 13 minutes giving the Robins a 1-0 half-time lead. Justin Wickham added the second after 56 minutes with Ward scoring again to make it 3-0. A fortnight ago they were at home to Rhyl, where Scott Ruscoe scored Newtown's opener after 35 minutes. The visitors hit back to level before half-time, but Taylor clinched the winner on the hour to give Newtown a 2-1 victory over the North Walians.
Cwmbran appear to be beginning to fall from grace, mirroring their slide of last season when they fell from title challengers to outside the European spots. Three weeks ago, they failed to hit the target at home to Inter Cabletel, despite having the better chances through substitute Chris Pike, while the Crows lost their unbeaten record away from home a fortnight ago. Ironically, that will have increased the feeling of deja vu at the Cwmbran Stadium as they slumped 2-1 to a last minute goal at Haverfordwest - the same place, time and scoreline as they began to lose their grip on the LoW last year. Cwmbran took the lead in the match, with Mattie Davies returning to fitness and netting in the 58th minute. However, as the celebrations took place, the home side hit back and then scored a winner in the final minute. As Cwmbran protested vigorously, former Wales international, Mark Aizlewood, received a red card for dissent.
Our visitors today, Total Network Solutions, are in sixth place, despite having no match a fortnight ago. Three weeks ago, though, Dr.Andy Cale made a happy return to his former stomping ground of Rhyl's Belle Vue, and Total Network Solutions came away with a 3-0 victory to keep up the pressure on the top sides. The scoring opened in the first half with a goal from Powell in the 36th minute. Jones added to that goal in the 56th minute with Whelan finishing off with a 70th minute strike. That result leaves them level with Cwmbran Town in the table.
Their local rivals, Bangor City, are a place below them in eighth. The Citizens have been undergoing a quiet revolution in recent weeks, and have begun to climb the table. At home to Haverfordwest County, Bangor had a comfortable 3-0 win, with Paul Mooney scoring the opening goal after 44 minutes. Three minutes into the new half, Bangor went further ahead, with former Porthmadog player, Paul Roberts, scoring his first goal for his new club. The game was finished as a contest a few minutes later, with Tommy Mutton scoring the third. The Bangor bandwagon continued a week later when Holywell traveled down the A55 to Farrar Road. City took the lead through Nigerian international, Sammy Ayorinde, after 15 minutes, but Holywell struck back twice to lead 2-1. Bangor equalised before half-time, though, when Holywell's Phil Hinchcliff hit the ball into his own net. Bangor took the lead again in the second half, when Ayorinde netted after 46 minutes, and Thomas went on to score in the 65th and 86th minutes to give Bangor a comfortable 5-2 victory.
Another North Wales coast team are beneath them, Conwy United. The Musselmen replayed their postponed Boxing Day match with Rhyl, earning three point in a 2-1 win. John Toner scored for Conwy in the 15th and 31st minutes, with Rhyl scoring a consolation in injury time. Conwy then took on the trip to Afan Lido, where only a 63rd minutes goal from Matt Corcoran gave them the win. Again traveling South a week later, Conwy came undone on the trip to the Cardiff Athletic Stadium, their hosts winning 3-0.
Caersws have had a pointless two weeks in the League of Wales, but last week's victory over Afan Lido has lifted them up two spots in the League.Firstly, they traveled here to Jenner Park to face Barry, and, despite a good performance, they left with a 5-2 defeat. After Barry had taken the lead, a 20-yard run and shot from Hugh Clarke levelled at 1-1. However, Barry scored twice more before Sean Jehu pulled a goal back from the penalty spot, and then Barry scored twice more afterwards. At home to Carmarthen, it could have been different with Andy Thomas scoring after 12 minutes. However, the visitors pulled their way back into the game, scoring five minutes before the break and then five minutes before the end, leaving Caersws with nothing. Last Saturday was a different story, though, with Tim Steel scoring after just one minute as the Bluebirds entertained Afan Lido. Lido equalised soon after, but Caersws weren't to be denied with Mark Howells scoring the winner after half-an-hour.
Following drainage work on Richmond Park last Summer, Carmarthen Town have had fewer problems with their pitch than usual and that led to them being able to play their home match with Caernarfon Town a few weeks ago. However, the end result was goalless. Away from home, they did slightly better, though with a 2-1 win away at Caersws. Their mid-Walian hosts took the lead in the first 15 minutes, but Paul Burrows added to his goal tally with a 40th minute goal. He scored again with five minutes remaining, keeping Carmarthen ahead of their West Walian rivals, Haverfordwest County.
The Blues have had a topsy-turvy season, having been as high as fourth back in November but now hovering in lower mid-table. At Bangor, they took a heavy 3-0 beating, but back at home at Bridge Meadow they defeated Cwmbran Town a fortnight ago. The visitors had taken the lead in the 58th minute, but a minute after Cwmbran scored, Jamie Harris nipped in to equalise at 1-1. Harris, signed from Swansea, has been finding the net with regularity in recent weeks, but it was club top scorer, Richard Gay, who grabbed the headlines with his controversial 89th minute winner, beating the offside trap to score past Pat O'Hagan in the Cwmbran goal.
Connah's Quay's mixed season has also continued. Away to Aberystwyth a few weeks ago, they broke their League of Wales scoring duck after three months, with Jamie Hughes scoring after 53 minutes. However, Aber had scored once already, and did so again with five minutes remaining, leaving the Nomads pointless. They did better at Aberafan Beach, though, with a 3-1 win over Afan Lido. Stuart Raine scored his first goal of the season, firing home from 15 yards in the 17th minute. Lido equalised midway through the second half, but two late goals from Jamie Hughes, including one from an acute angle, gave them the points.
Afan Lido are also struggling to come by points. Having won only once at home this season, they lost their two most recent home games. At home to Conwy, a second half goal gave the away side a 1-0 victory, while at home to another North Walian side, Connah's Quay Nomads, they lost 3-1. The Nomads had taken the lead, but Mitch Patton equalised with a 59th minute penalty kick. The Nomads scored twice late in the game, and the Lido were left pointless. The same occurred last week in Caersws, where despite Mitch Patton firing Lido level, they lost 2-1 to the mid-Wales side.
Holywell Town have also gained little in the last fortnight of LoW action. At Halkyn Road, they entertained Newtown, but came unstuck with a 3-0 defeat to the mid-Walians. The following week, they traveled to Bangor City, but lost 5-2 after a promising start. Bangor took the lead but Craig Dulson scored for Holywell against his old side, and then a cracking half-volley from Jones put the Wellmen 2-1 ahead. However, Bangor turned up the heat, and scored four without reply from the Wellmen.
Rhayader remain at the bottom of the table, but only by a single point and with matches in hand. Under John Lewis, the mid-Walians seem to have a harder edge. A few weeks ago, they were unlucky to lose to Aberystwyth after ex-Barry player, Dean Threlfall, put Rhayader ahead. They lost 2-1 to two quick second half goals. They then had a week off as the LoW's seventeenth club, but that left them fresh for Barry's visit to the Weirglodd, where a hard fought game left Rhayader with an unexpected point.
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This page edited by the Yellow Dragon, 1999.
This article first published in the Barry Town Matchday Magazine, v Total Network Solutions, League of Wales, 20.02.99
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