The game was best summed up by Inter keeper, Gary Wager, in the game's dying moments. Holding the ball for as long as possible, Wager looked for the largest space between ball-boys around Jenner Park, and promptly hoofed it there.
Barry played with a sub-standard squad, suffering the worst of a severe bout of flu which appears to be hitting the town. The major losses to the side were Paul Mitchell and Justin Perry, who were out alongside more long-term injuries such as Danny Carter, who recently had cartilage surgery, and Gary Lloyd. Also suffering from flu were club general manager, Chris Aust, and commercial manager, Shaun Stringer.
The Barry side which took the field was very different from the side which played against Aberystwyth last week. club captain, Andrew York, was in the centre of midfield, while Gary Barnett played in the centre forward role alongside Eifion Williams. At the back, Terry Evans played as centre-half, with squad players, Chris Pridham and Jodie Jenkins playing along the right of the Barry side.
Played in conditions of torrential rain, which included surface water in the second half, Barry never played to their full potential, but nevertheless looked a potent side in the first half. Gary Barnett found himself clear but his shot was saved by Wager and was blocked before Eifion Williams could shoot. Another Barry opportunity was missed when Williams's flick went wide of Wager's far post.
However, Barry finally scored just before half-time. The ball came out to Darren Davies on the left, who beat his marker, sending a powerful cross into the middle, which was met by Williams, who scored his 18th League of Wales goal of the season.
Barry could have scored again minutes later, when a move of more than 50 passes reached the Inter penalty area only for Williams to scuff his shot.
However, Barry seemed less sure of themselves after the break, and Inter were rewarded when a corner took a sharp swing towards the Barry goal. Dave Wells misjudged the flight of the ball, and despite backpedalling, could only push the ball upwards into his own net.
Inter could have taken the game to Barry at this point, but seemed happier with a point, and keeping the Dragons at bay.
The game became nastier in the last ten minutes with the sending off of Inter's Sean Wharton, his third sending off of the season. Wharton had been booked in the opening minutes of the game, and after an altercation with Barry's Richard Jones he received a second yellow and left the pitch. Inter's Steve Mardenborough was also yellow-carded for arguing with the decision.
Sensing that they could still win the game, Barry pushed forward, and Wager pulled off three goalbound saves in the final minutes, as Barry pressed for the goal.
However, it wasn't to be, and Inter were satisfied with a point at Jenner Park. Barry are now five points clear of second placed Cwmbran Town, who don't play today, but are visiting Jenner Park next Saturday for the first match of the New Year.
Barry Town results 1998-99
League of Wales results and table
Elsewhere, Bangor City drew 1-1 with Caernarfon Town at Farrar Road, while Newtown turned in an impressive performance in the mid-Wales derby, beating Caersws 4-0.
Total Network Solutions beat Rhayader 1-0, while Aber beat Haverfordwest 1-0 and Holywell and Connah's Quay drew 0-0 in teh Deeside derby.
Aber took the lead in the 13th minute, when Glyndwr Hughes scored an angled header past Dave Wells.However, Barry were back on level terms seven minutes later, when a clearance fell to Barry manager, Gary Barnett, whose first time volley into the top corner gave Aber keeper, Martin Jones, no opportunity to save.
Barry took the lead shortly before the break, when Justin Perry fired home from inside the box.
As time ticked by, it looked increasingly unlikely that Aber would pull the goal back, and Barry began to exploit the spaces left by the tiring visiting defence. It took a spectacular turn and shot from Richard Jones to increase the scoring, though, deftly chipping into the top corner in the 79th minute.
As thoughts of conquering Barry disappeared, Aber players lost heart, and Barry routed them in the final minutes. Justin Perry scored his second of the game, as did Richard Jones.
In some ways, the 5-1 scoreline flattered Barry, but the Dragons kept their heads, played to their strengths and bided their time before striking.
An excellent game of football and advert for the League of Wales, Barry now look forward to entertaining Inter Cabletel on Boxing Day, the Cardiff side having moved to fourth in the table.
The mid-Wales derby between Caersws and Rhayader Town was a goalless draw, while Caernarfon beat Total Network Solutions 2-1, all three goals being scored in the first half.
The West-Wales derby in Haverfordwest ended in a 2-1 win for Carmarthen Town, with ex-Haverfordwest striker, Paul Burrows, scoring the winning goal.
In torrential rain, Conwy defeated Bangor City 3-1 last night, while the match between Connah's Quay Nomads and Newtown was postponed.
League of Wales results and table
Dibble was taken to Morriston Hospital where he receieved skin graft surgery. Both the League of Wales and Carmarthenshire Council are overseeing an investigation into the incident, and Carmarthen will not be playing there until its conclusion.
Caernarfon took the lead with a 30-yard free kick from Ian Horrigan, but Barry quickly struck back through Eifion Williams. Barry took the lead just after the restart, when Justin Perry's knock-down was put into the net by Caernarfon player/manager, Paul Rowlands, under pressure from Williams. However, in a similar move, Williams scored again to conclude the group on a high point.
Eifion is currently joint third in the competition rankings of top scorer, having scored three goals.
F.A.W Premier Cup and results
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Barry v Caernarfon Town match report Barry and District News
The West-Walian side, placed fifteenth in the League of Wales prior to the match, took the points and plaudits as their players set out to impress new manager, Tomi Morgan, who moved there from Rhayader Town a fortnight ago.
Carmarthen took the lead through a blistering 35th minute strike from Dean Rossiter, which burst through a crowd of players, and surprised Barry keeper, Andy Dibble.
Barry hit back early into the second half, when Lee Barrow headed home a 52nd minute corner, but with only nine minutes left, Richard Adams capitalised upon a defensive error to score Carmarthen's winning goal.
Barry rested several players in deference to Tuesday night's position-deciding F.A.W Premier Cup match with Caernarfon Town, where Barry earn £24,000 for winning and finishing top of Group B, but defeat to Carmarthen remained a surprise. That win moves the West-Walians several places up the table. Barry remain four points clear at the top.
Elsewhere, Caersws and Haverfordwest fought out a 4-4 draw, with Jamie Rickard earning Haverfordwest a point with a late equaliser. Bangor, too, earnt a point late on in a 2-2 draw with Cwmbran. Conwy United surprised Newtown with a 1-0 win, while Inter Cabletel moved to fifth spot in the LoW after a 2-1 win away at Holywell Town. Total Network Solutions follow them up the table after a 2-0 home win over Connah's Quay Nomads. Despite the loss of manager, Tomi Morgan, to Carmarthen Town, Rhayader won 2-0 at home against Caernarfon Town.
League of Wales results and table
FAW Premier Cup results and tables
Eifion has scored five of Barry's six goals against the West Walian Bluebirds, whose Director of Football, Eddie May, sensationally left the club for ailing English non-league club, Merthyr Tydfil last week.
Last Saturday's goals were again late in the match, coming in the 70th and 79th minutes, proving that Haverfordwest's primarily defensive tactics were able to contain Barry.
Gary Lloyd, who was rumoured to have moved to English League side, Crewe Alexandra, made the Barry first team on Saturday.
Aberystwyth lost their unbeaten record on the weekend, away at fifteenth placed Rhyl. Rhyl, under new manager, Adrian Jones, scored the only goal of the game through Phil Clench.
Cwmbran drew away at fourth placed Newtown, and moved up the table. Holywell drew at home to Afan Lido in a meeting of the two promoted sides. At the Oval, Caernarfon drew 2-2 with Caersws, while along the North Wales coast, Conwy were drawing 3-3 with Total Network Solutions. In a rearranged match at Bangor City, the home side beat Inter Cabletel 1-0, and moved up to seventh place in the League of Wales.
League of Wales results and table
The Supporters' Club awards are based on votes received from supporters after every match, where they vote for a 'Man of the Match'. At the end of the month and the season, an award is presented to the player who has received most votes.
John Mahoney resigned from Carmarthen Town last Saturday and has been replaced by Rhayader manager, Tomi Morgan. Tomi, who used to manager Aberystwyth, and has a Welsh Cup Winners medal from his time at Llansantffraid, faces a baptism of fire next week, when his new side meet Barry at home. Ironically, when Tomi joined Rhayader at the end of September, his first match was Barry away at Jenner Park. Barry won 7-1. Tomi leaves Rhayader in the same place he found them - bottom of the Leaghue of Wales.
Meanwhile, Haverfordwest County Director of Football, Eddie May, a former Barry manager, was manager of Merthyr Tydfil for 24 hours this week. With characteristic hyperbole, May claimed that the English sixth division side were the "Fourth biggest club in Wales", and left the job 24 hours later, when it was revealed that club owner, Eugene Capaross, hadn't actually paid for Merthyr and was replaced by previous owners, Charles Stanley and friends. May was replaced by former boss, John Lewis, another ex-Barry manager, who had argued with Capaross in the past fortnight. It is unknown whether Eddie May will be at Jenner Park for Haverfordwest's third visit to Barry in the past month.
The young left back made his debut against Wrexham in August, when he scored after coming on as substitute.
Barry, Swansea City, Wrexham and Inter CableTel are all through to the final eight, with the other four clubs to be decided in the coming weeks.
Their 1-0 victory away at Caernarfon takes Barry into second place in Group B, the so-called 'Group of Death', from which all three leading participants look likely to qualify.
Swansea City remain on top of the group with 11 points from their 6 matches, with Wrexham third with 10 points and an equal goal difference, again after six matches. Barry are in second with 10 points, a +3 goal difference and a game still to play against group whipping-boys, Caernarfon Town, who have no points from their five matches thus far.
Swansea City have already booked their place in the next round, while, even if Barry were to lose by four goals against Caernarfon, the Dragons would still qualify as a 'best 3rd-placed side' from the three groups.
Inter Cabletel's 3-1 victory at Cwmbran means that they also booked their place in the last eight.
F.A.W Premier Cup results and tables
Links to other sites on the Web
Barry Town homepage
Barry Town results 1998-99
League of Wales results 1998-99
November News
This page edited by the Yellow Dragon, 1998.
