The Yellow Dragon takes a look back at a previous match against Conwy.
Conwy, the previous week, came back from a 3-0 deficit to draw 4-4 at Bangor, thereby keeping their unbeaten league record intact.
Meanwhile, Barry had begun to show the class which had placed them as most people's tip for the league, defeating Afan Lido and Cemaes Bay.
Unlike many matches between front runners, the match became a memorable one, for all the right reasons. Conwy quickly moved into their stride, with league top scorer, Ken McKenna, forcing a save from Mark Ovendale in the fourth minute. Then, two minutes later, Neil Young's chip left Ovendale stranded - only for him to turn around and see the ball rebound from the crossbar, into his arms!
As has become the custom, Holtham's out-swinging corner came to Ian French, whose half-volley was going wide until Cohen Griffith diverted it into the Conwy net.
A further ten minutes later and Barry again opened up the Conwy defence. Paul Giles crossed from the left, Chris Pike knocked it back for Gary Barnett to shoot, and his effort reached Cohen Griffith, who forced the ball in at the second attempt. Barry were leading 2-0 from just two shots on goal. The game continued in an open fashion with both teams creating real scoring chances. Chris Pike, playing his first full match after injury, found nothing going right for him in front of goal, while Cohen Griffith was robbed of his hat-trick when his second half shot came back off the post.
Meanwhile, Conwy quickly realized that it wasn't going to be their day - on the few occasions on which they able to beat Ovendale, they found the crossbar, or a defender blocking their path to goal.
Ultimately, Barry were well worth their win. A defence, superbly marshalled by French and Willie Batchelor, stopped Conwy shooting from inside the box, while the inventive play of the three smallest players on the pitch - defender Gary Lloyd and midfielders, Paul Giles and Gary Barnett - made the game entertaining beyond belief, creating chance after chance for Barry to increase their lead. In the end, though, the score stayed at 2-0. Barry leapfrog Fflint, who earlier in the season beat Barry 5-1, into third place behind Conwy and Ebbw Vale.
This report was originally published in the Barry Gem of Thursday, October 12th, 1995.
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This page edited by the Yellow Dragon, 1999.
This article first published in the Barry Town Matchday Magazine, v Conwy United, League of Wales, 29.08.1998.
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