A look at Total Network Solutions' season 1998-99
Results: Date Competition Opponents Venue Result Scorers 22.08 LoW Haverfordwest County A 3-1 McKenna , O'Shaugnessy , Rickard (og) 29.08 LoW Newtown A 0-0 09.09 LoW Caersws H 2-1 G.Evans, Ryan 12.09 LoW Bangor City H 1-2 Wilson 19.09 LoW Holywell Town A 3-3 McKenna, Edwards, O'Shaughnessy 23.09 GLC1 Connah's Quay N. H 1-1 26.09 LoW Rhyl H 6-0 G.Evans, Edwards, Powell, Currier, Barton, Whelan 10.10 LoW Barry Town H 1-2 McKenna 13.10 GLC1r Connah's Quay N. A 3-1 16.10 WC2 Aberystwyth Town H 2-2 21.10 WC2r Aberystwyth Town A 3-2 31.10 LoW Aberystwyth Town H 0-0 07.11 LoW Afan Lido H 1-1 Wilson 11.11 GLC2 Caernarfon Town A 1-2 14.11 LoW Inter Cabletel A 1-1 Gallagher 21.11 WC3 Afan Lido H 2-0 28.11 LoW Cwmbran Town H 2-2 McKenna, Marsh 05.12 LoW Conwy United A 3-3 McKenna 2, Powell 12.12 LoW Connah's Quay N. H 2-0 Ryan, Powell 19.12 LoW Caernarfon Town A 1-2 Ryan 26.12 LoW Rhayader Town H 1-0 Barton 02.01 LoW Haverfordwest County H 4-2 R.Evans 2, McKenna 2 09.01 LoW Newtown H 1-1 Powell 16.01 LoW Bangor City A 1-2 G.Evans 23.01 LoW Holywell Town H 2-0 Wilson, Ryan 30.01 LoW Rhyl A 3-0 Powell, Jones, Whelan 13.02 WC4 Rhayader Town H 2-1 Ryan, Coates
Under the stewardship of Dr.Andy Cale, Total Network Solutions FC have proven themselves to be shrewd operators this season. Consistent results, and a refusal to lie down and lose matches means that the Llansantffraid based club remain in contention for a European place, lying just four points behinf third placed Aberystwyth Town.
Their season started with a bang back in August, with a successful 3-1 away victory at Haverfordwest County. In that game, new signing from Bangor City, Ken McKenna, opened his account for the club, with other goals coming from former Barry player, Steve O'Shaughnessy, and an own goal from Haverfordwest's Jamie Rickard.
Unfortunately, the Saints tasted defeat a week later, when despite a Gareth Wilson goal giving them a 7th minute lead, Bangor City equalised and then scored a winner in injury time to win 2-1 at the Saints' Recreation Ground.
Another draw followed a week later, 3-3 against Holywell Town. Ken McKenna scored T.N.S's first goal, but it took two late strikes from Tim Edwards and O'Shaughnessy to earn a point.
At home to Connah's Quay in the Gilbert League Cup first round, Ken McKenna put the Saints ahead, only for the Nomads to equalise two minutes later and take the game to a replay.
However, despite their good record against the Dragons in years gone by, the Saints lost to Barry Town at the Treflan. Barry went into a two-goal lead before Ken McKenna set up a tense finish in the 2-1 defeat.
Playing Aberystwyth again in the League of Wales, the game ended in a goalless stalemate. T.N.S drew a further four matches in succession after that game.
The first was at home to Afan Lido, where Gareth Wilson earnt the home side a point, while a Mick Gallagher penalty gave T.N.S a point in a 1-1 draw in Cardiff with Inter Cabletel.
Gallagher scored from the penalty spot in T.N.S' away game at Caernarfon in the second round of the Gilbert League Cup, but two late goals from the home side put them out. Nevertheless, T.N.S continued their Welsh Cup run with a 2-0 home victory over Afan Lido in the third round.
T.N.S won their first home league game since September, when they beat Connah's Quay Nomads 2-0 in the middle of December. Second half goals from Darren Ryan and Gary Powell gave the Saints the points. However, on their travels, the Saints lost at the Oval for a second time, with only Darren Ryan's 6th minute goal as a consolation in a 2-1 defeat.
The Christmas holiday was a better time, though, with a Danny Barton goal earning victory over Rhayader Town on Boxing Day, and two goals apiece from Marsh and McKenna taking all three points against Haverfordwest County in a 4-2 win.
Against fellow high-flying mid-Walians, Newtown, the Saints again fought out a draw, this time it being one-apiece at the Treflan. Gary Powell scored T.N.S's goal.
Last Saturday, T.N.S entertained Rhayader in a Welsh Cup fourth round match, and came through with a 2-1 victory over their fellow mid-Walians. Darren Ryan scored in the first half with Mark Coates scoring in the second half to kill off the tie. They meet Cwmbran Town in the quarter-final.
TOTAL NETWORK SOLUTIONS APPEARANCES
(League of Wales only - maximum 20)
player full apps sub apps goals Danny BARTON 5 5 2 Neil BREEZE 0 1 0 Damien CURRIER 4 5 1 Tim EDWARDS 20 0 2 Gary EVANS 15 3 3 Ricky EVANS 7 1 2 Jamie FAIRHURST 10 6 0 Mick GALLAGHER 8 0 1 Arwel JONES 11 0 1 Ian LANCASTER 0 3 0 Neil MARSH 15 2 1 Ken McKENNA 16 0 8 Rob MORRIS 9 6 0 Andy MULLINER 20 0 0 Steve O'SHAUGHNESSY 6 1 2 Dewi PARRY 15 3 0 Gary POWELL 11 6 5 Darren RYAN 18 1 4 James WATKINS 8 4 0 John WHELAN 10 5 2 Gareth WILSON 12 8 3
Links to other sites on the Web
Barry Town homepage
Barry Town Matchday Magazine index
This page edited by the Yellow Dragon, 1999
This article first published in the Barry Town Matchday Magazine, v Total Network Solutions, League of Wales, 20.02.1999
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