Conwy entered the game with only one point from their previous five matches in the group, while Barry had only dropped points in a home defeat with Swansea City. The earlier group match at the Morfa between the Musselmen and the Dragons had led to a convincing victory for Barry, with Chris Pike a hat-trick hero in a 6-0 win. That score, the record victory in the fledgling competition, was to look respectable in comparison with the events of the return here at Jenner Park.
Conwy were only at half-strength for the match, due to a car break-down which ensured that several of their first choice players were not at Jenner Park in time for the game. However, it's hardly likely that even having a full squad to choose from would have made a difference to the final destination of the points.
In reality, this was an absolute mis-match, with Eifion Williams scoring four times and Darren Ryan equalling that, on his way to becoming the top scorer in the 1997-98 competition. Gary Lloyd hit the final, ninth goal of the game.
The first goal came in the 11th minute, when Ryan was tripped in the penalty area, and scored from the resulting penalty.
Barry continued to threaten, with Richard Jones firing past the post, and Eifion Williams twice going close, having ghosted past his marker in tangerine.
However, it took until the 40th minute for Barry to score their second goal - Danny Carter crossing for Ryan to score from close range.
Barry then dominated the second half of the match, scoring within the first minute of the restart when Phil Johnson's shot was spilled at the feet of Eifion Williams. Eifion scored again a minute later, cheekily lobbing the 'keeper, before beating a defender to the ball, which had rebounded off the post.
The fifth goal came soon after, as Ryan rounded the hapless Conwy goalkeeper, and he added another a few minutes later. Williams got back in on the act, scoring a further two goals to take the tally up to eight.
A Gary Lloyd header saw Barry 9-0 ahead, and the scoreline was only prevented from reaching double figures by the referee's whistle, meaning that Phil Johnson's long range effort was disallowed, as it was still en route to the goal.
A successful night for the Barry Town strikeforce, but not for football. Let's hope that Conwy will be back to their old selves and push Barry all the way this afternoon.
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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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