Inter have had nothing short of a miraculous season, turning a hesitant start into what in other circumstances would have been a very serious title challenge. As it is, Inter remain on course to finish in a European qualification position and find themselves still in with a shout for silverware in three different cup competitions.
Of course, those shouts may be muted as Inter will be meeting us in two of those, the Gilbert League of Wales Cup and the F.A.W Premier Cup, while they meet Cwmbran Town in the semi-final of the Welsh Cup (remarkably, the EIGHTH meeting of the two sides this season).
However, as those who've watched the local derbies since our entry to the League of Wales will testify, there's no other club with the ability to produce a result against Barry on such a regular basis.
Every one of our League of Wales Christmas and New Year derbies has ended with the scoreline level, while Inter have won no fewer than half of our League Cup matches. People may talk about certain clubs as being 'bogey sides', but there's no club with the sheer consistency of Inter.
This can be reflected in their League of Wales standings, having finished in second place on three occasions in the LoW's six years, and twice qualifying for the UEFA Cup as a result, entertaining GKS Katowice of Poland in 1994 and Celtic in 1997. Inter have also previously reached the semi-finals of both Gilbert Cup and Welsh Cup, being knocked out of the Gilbert Cup by Ton Pentre after extra-time in 1995 and losing to Llansantffraid in the Welsh Cup semi-finals a year later.
In both of this year's competitions, Inter forced their way past Cwmbran Town. In the Gilbert League of Wales Cup, the game at Cwmbran Stadium ended as a goalless draw, with the replay in Cardiff being won 2-1 by Inter, while the Premier Cup quarter-final saw Inter cruise past the Crows with three second-half goals in the 4-0 win.
We also have to meet Inter in Cardiff twice in the next month, with the League of Wales game next week, and the second leg of the F.A.W Premier Cup being played at the Cardiff Athletic Stadium.
All four look set to be very difficult and very important matches in one form or another.
See you there,
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 Carmarthen Town, League of Wales, 30.03.1999
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