Barry Town Matchday Magazine
v.Rhayader Town, League of Wales, 03.10.1998
LOOKING BACK AROUND THIS TIME
with the Yellow Dragon
01.10.1994 League of Wales
BARRY TOWN (1) 2 LLANSANTFFRAID (1) 2
J.Coates, W.Goodridge
Barry ended their worst run for fifteen years with a point at home against Llansantffraid - the first meeting between the two clubs. Barry took the lead early in the game, through Swansea City loan player Jonathan Coates, making his last appearance before moving back to the Vetch. However, before half-time, the mid-Walian side had equalised due to sloppy Barry defending. Barry came out fighting in the second half, and went into a deserved lead when Wayne Goodridge scored, making his debut for the club after transferring from Cwmbran Town. However, it didn't hold out, and sloppy defending again allowed Llansantffraid back into the game to score a second equaliser and return home with a point. Following on from a five-match losing streak, it was a good result for Barry, but it was still far from the 'Championship favourites' blling which the Dragons had pre-season.
30.09.1995 League of Wales
BARRY TOWN (1) 2 CEMAES BAY (0) 0
I.French 2
Barry's first meeting with the Anglesey side nearly went very wrong for the Dragons, as Barry gave away a penalty in the very first minute. However, that was poorly struck, and Mark Ovendale saved with ease. The Island side defended well, and Barry never really broke their defence down. In the end, it came to two set pieces late in the match. A corner from the left floated in, and was headed back across the face of goal for Ian French to power home his header. Essentially, the same move again rewarded the club captain, as a free-kick went behind the defence and was knocked back into the centre, where French again headed into the Cemaes net. Although the Dragons had picked up three points, it wasn't with any sort of fluency. With Barry facing the tough task of an unbeaten Conwy the following week, the season was about to get interesting.
28.09.1996 League of Wales
WELSHPOOL TOWN (0) 1 BARRY TOWN (0) 2
I.French, P.Johnson
Barry suffered from the post-Europe hangover for much of this match, the club's first visit to Maes-y-Dref in Welshpool. The home side defended in depth, but broke in numbers, while Barry spent much of the game treading water. It actually took Welshpool going into the lead to spur on the Barry players into getting a result. The Lilywhites netted in the 75th minute as a result of a Barry defensive error. From the kick-off, Barry went straight down the pitch, earning a corner. The cross came in, and Ian French was on hand to head in the equaliser. The celebreations hadn't even subsided by the time Barry had taken the lead. Welshpool were disposessed at kick-off, and the ball taken down the Barry right. The play cut back into the middle, where Phil Johnson lobbed the keeper from all of 30 yards, shooting down the slope. Welshpool were unable to raise their game to force an equaliser, and Barry were happy enough to have rallied and taken all three points.
27.09.1997 League of Wales
BANGOR CITY (0) 1 BARRY TOWN (1) 4
M.Lloyd-Williams E.Williams 3, D.Ryan
Billed by the home side's programme as a potential championship decider, the visiting Barry side established their credentials beyond all doubt. Bangor were unbeaten at this point of the season, with maximum points after their first seven matches, while Barry had seven wins from eight, and a drawn home game. The game attracted a crowd of 1319 people, who saw Barry turn on an exhibition of fine football. Eifion Williams was Tormentor-in-Chief, relishing the opportunity of playing against his old club's local rivals. He scored a hat-trick in the match, opening his account after only 9 minutes. As Bangor had no real answer to Barry's probing attacks, there was little that they could do to prevent Eifion Williams from scoring again after 48 minutes and then making it a hat-trick with ten minutes still to play. Only minutes prior to that, Darren Ryan had scored himself, ensuring that the points were going South. Bangor's consolation goal came in injury time, when Marc Lloyd-Williams shot came off the inside of the post and trickled over the line. A wonderful win for Barry which took the side clear at the top of the table.
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All material on this page was first published in the Barry Town Matchday Magazine v Rhayader Town, League of Wales, 03.10.1998
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