On Tuesday, we get another bite at the cherry, and a chance to join Cardiff City, Inter Cabletel and Wrexham in the semi-finals of the competition.
Both Barry and Merthyr have performed very well in group matches, Barry having won group B and having home advantage, while Merthyr finished runners-up in group A, but, and this may be crucial, remained unbeaten in their six matches, a far cry to last year when they didn't win a single game in normal time.
This year, they held Cardiff City to a draw twice, with former Barry players, Cohen Griffith and Eston Chiverton, scoring the goals in their 2-2 draw at Ninian Park, before drawing 0-0 at home. Home victories over Bangor City and Rhyl, both 2-1, ensured qualification for the quarter-final, while the two away matches ended in draws.
It would hardly be a fair summary of Merthyr's season not to mention their behind-the-scene difficulties. This has seen several different legal wrangles over ownership of the club, including the club (only officially formed in 1997) going into receivership in January. There has been an obvious knock-on effect, with John Lewis and Eddie May (the choices of different groups of owners) both having managed the club on two occasions this season, and results being inconsistent, often depending on the finances and the ability to bring players into Penydarren Park.
On the other hand, though, backroom circumstances are irrelevant where both pride and cash are at stake. Barry and Merthyr have been local rivals since our first meeting back before the first world war, and nothing much seems to have changed in the 80 years since. Certainly, the Martyrs fans were overjoyed at defeating us in extra-time last season, just as Barry fans were back in the 1980's, where we beat them on penalties two years running.
As normal, the Merthyr side may look slightly familiar to Jenner Park regulars, with Cohen Griffith remaining one of their top scorers this season and Craig Evans also looking good at Penydarren Park. Keeper Neil Thomas will also be remembered at Jenner Park, not for playing for Barry, but for getting sent off twice for Ton Pentre down here in the 1996-97 season!
Hopefully, Tuesday will again see a bumper crowd at Jenner Park for a feast of football and the continuation of our long-standing rivalry with Merthyr. Give the Town a shout.
See you Tuesday,
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 Newtown, League of Wales, 13.03.1999
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