LEAGUE OF WALES SATURDAY, 24th OCTOBER
NEWTOWN
Over the past few years, Newtown have been one of the most consistently good sides in the League of Wales, having finished second to Barry in two of the past three seasons.
Managed by former Celtic player, Brian Coyne, the Robins have been in the League of Wales since its inception in 1992, and, after an appalling first year, have been challenging or thereabouts for honours ever since. Last year is an obvious example of this, as Newtown finished second in the League of Wales and were semi-finalists in both the Welsh Cup and the F.A.W Invitation Cup.
The Robins ran Barry very close in both League of Wales matches last season. Our first meeting was pretty unforgettable from a neutral perspective, and probably even from someone supporting either side, even if they were watching it with their hands covering their faces.
The end result of that match was 5-5 on a stunningly beautiful Bank Holiday Monday in August. Barry had been 4-0 ahead in the first-half hour, only for Newtown to drag themselves back into the game. As injury-time approached, the game was at 4-4, when Darren Ryan was free in the Newtown penalty area. He scored, but before the terrace celebrations had finished, Kevin Morrison had scored at the other end to earn his side a point.
Our other League of Wales match was less dramatic, but equally nailbiting, with Barry not scoring their goals until the final minutes of the match. Late goals from Eifion Williams and Gareth Knott ensured the three points for Barry.
This season Newtown had an mixed start, drawing at home with Total Network Solutions, and crashing away at Haverfordwest County. Despite those results, though, Newtown have continued to climb the table, with results including a battling 3-2 win at Bangor City and a 4-0 thrashing of Holywell Town. In fact, prior to Saturday's match at Rhyl, they were in fifth spot.
Their European adventures against Wisla Krakow certainly won't have done them any harm, with Newtown achieving arguably the best result of a Welsh club this year with a 0-0 draw at home, winning Wales a point in the UEFA co-efficient system. Considering Krakow's later results against Trabzonspor, 5-1 and 2-1 in the Poles favour, that game at Latham Park gave them a lot of credit.
Steve Clifford is the club's top scorer with 2 in the LoW as well as a matchwinning goal in their League of Wales Cup victory over Holywell at Halkyn Road. However, as always, Newtown work as a unit, and there are other players who have also got on the scoresheet, Kevin Morrison, for example having scored twice in the opening day win at Rhayader.
Newtown again look set to be one of the top sides in the League of Wales, and, as 'pretenders to the throne', will want to be another side to take Barry's scalp. A side that play open, honest, attacking 'sexy' football, it's likely that this will be one of the most exciting matches of the season.
Just make sure that you're around for it.
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This page edited by the Yellow Dragon, 1998.
All material on this page first published in the Barry Town Matchday Magazine, v Caersws, League of Wales Cup First Round Replay, 06.10.1998
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