F.A.W PREMIER CUP GROUP B, 17th NOVEMBER, 1998. K.O 7:15P.M.
No-one here needs any reminding of our third FAW Premier Cup match of the season, yet another tie with an English Nationwide League side.
John Hollins's Swansea City side are having a very good year so far in the Premier Cup, in contrast to last season where they finished only third in Group A. Currently, they top Group B with ten points from four matches. Those include two victories over League of Wales side, Caernarfon Town, as well as a win away at Nationwide league Second Division side, Wrexham.
In recent years, our record against the Swans has been reasonably good. We met them twice last year in the Invitation Cup, going ahead through Eifion Williams at Jenner Park, before eventually going down 3-2. Meanwhile, at the Vetch, we recorded a 2-1 victory. As you probably know, we've already met the Swans once this season, that game ending in a 1-1 draw. Barry went ahead in the 4th minute, and it was only in injury time that the Swans recouped a point from the match.
The goalscorer was a familiar character, as well, Tony Bird, who was at Barry for eighteen months, winning two championship medals and playing in both the UEFA Cup and European Champions' League qualifiers for Barry before heading West on the eve of the 1997-98 season, alongside Dave O'Gorman. Both of these players may well be in the side next week, wanting to show Barry fans what they are missing and to show their current boss that they remain on top of their game at all times.
Prior to last Saturday's match, the Swans were in 17th spot in the English Nationwide League Third Division. Ironically, that is also the same number of points that they've accumulated this season, as well as the number of goals which they've scored!
However, the Swans do look vulnerable away from home, having lost 5 of their 8 league matches, and winning only once on their travels. Even that victory was back in the opening week of September, when they traveled to Carlisle, with former Wrexham player Steve Watkin scoring the winning goal. However, they have won their other two away matches in the FAW Premier Cup, and Swansea fans here will be expecting another victory.
Next week's match will be an important game for both sides, as we both strive to finish in the top two places of the group, thereby achieving automatic qualification to the quarter-finals and avoiding the lottery of finishing third, where only two of the third-placed sides reach the last eight.
For Barry to ensure qualification, the Dragons need eight out of the possible twelve points on offer from the last four games.
Be here next Tuesday to give your support to Barry, and see if the Town can add another English Nationwide League side to our list of scalps, as well as taking a large step to qualifcation from the 'Group of Death'.
the Yellow Dragon.
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This page edited by the Yellow Dragon, 1999.
This article first published in the Barry Town matchday magazine, v Haverfordwest County, 10.11.98, Gilbert LoW Cup Rd.2
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