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26th September, 1998
League of Wales
Caersws 2 Barry Town 4
G.Lloyd (og) 28', S.Jehu 85' G.Lloyd 2', E.Williams 18', P.Mitchell 48', M.Dempsey 70'
Att: 375
Following the midweek cup draw, Barry returned to form, playing a much stronger side than the squad run-out which the League Cup was used for. The return of Eifion Williams, Mark Dempsey, Danny Carter and Terry Evans added some much needed experience to the side.
Barry had their grip on the game right from the start, when Gary Lloyd scored after only 2 minutes. Eifion Williams made it 2 in the first twenty minutes, so that when Lloyd put the ball in his own net, it wasn't too hurtful. Barry again took control of the match, with Paul Mitchell scoring three minutes into the second half and Mark Dempsey adding Barry's fourth after 70 minutes. Sean Jehu's 85th minute goal was nothing more than a consolation effort for the mid-Walian side.
The victory keeps Barry in 2nd place, a point behind Aberystwyth Town, who could only draw at Connah's Quay Nomads. The victory over Caersws will give Barry an extra boost prior to next Tuesday's League Cup replay.
Barry Town results 1998-99
League of Wales results and table 1998-99
Wales on Sunday match report
Romanians on trial at Jenner Park
According to the South Wales Echo, Barry are running their eyes over four Romanian second division players. The players from FC Uta will be on trial at Barry in a match played behind closed doors before moving onto English side Middlesborough. Apparently, the players see being with Barry in the League of Wales as a good shop front window for an English League club to sign them.
Eifion tops goalscoring charts
Eifion Williams is currently top of the League of Wales goalscoring charts - despite his early season injury!Eifion has so far scored seven League of Wales goals, having started four matches and has also scored in the League of Wales Cup, where he came on as substitute.
Barry joint top of Fair Play Table
After six matches of the LoW season, Barry are joint top of the League of Wales Fair Play Table (sponsored by the Association of Football Badge Collectors). The club have so far picked up 7 bookings and no sendings-off of any sort.
Barry are joint top with Afan Lido. Rhayader, who Barry play on Saturday, are third with 8 bookings.
See the LoW goalscoring charts and Fair Play table
23rd September, 1998
League of Wales Cup, Round One
Caersws 2 Barry Town 2
D.Russell 3', G.Lewis 35' Eif.Williams 80', J.Perry 83' Att: 412
Despite being holders of the League of Wales Cup, Barry were lucky to remain in the competition, scoring twice in the last ten minutes to force a replay.
Eifion Williams scored in the 80th minute, with Justin Perry scoring the equaliser three minutes later, his first goal since joining the club last month.
This is the first season in which the competition has been played over one leg, an irony which hasn't gone unnoticed, with four of the five ties having gone to a replay.
Caersws scored after just three minutes, their first goal against Barry at the Recreation Ground since 1990. They followed that later in the game, before Barry's two late equalising goals.
The replay will take place at Jenner Park on Tuesday, 6th October.
21st September, 1998
Barry Town 3 Caernarfon Town 0
Eifion Williams 11, 73, R.Jones 5'. Att: 418
Eifion Williams scored twice for Barry, as the Town defeated his former club, Caernarfon, 3-0. Richard Jones scored Barry's first goal after 5 minutes, with Eifion putting the game beyond doubt as early as the 11th minute. He added his second after 73 minutes, while Caernarfon's Paul McAndrew was sent off to complete a miserable day for the visitors.
Barry now find themselves in second place, behind the unbeaten Aberystwyth Town. Aber have 13 points from 5 games, while Barry have accrued 10 points from the same number of matches.
Eifion Williams has scored 6 League of Wales goals in his 3 matches this year, while club coach Richard Jones has scored four times for the club so far, 3 in the LoW, as well as a goal in the FAW Premier Cup.
Barry Town v Caernarfon Town match report, Wales on Sunday, 20.09.1998
Lee Matthews to leave
After a 15 month spell, Lee Matthews has left Barry Town. Lee had been consistently unable to break into the first team, and played only to bolster an often ijnury-hit squad. Although a useful substitute, Lee never really made the grade at Barry, despite playing regularly in the League Cup matches which the team went on to win. Lee, who was signed from Blaenrhondda, started 4 LoW matches, scoring once in the 12-0 win over Cemaes Ynys Mon.
Football in the Community officer sacked
Barry Town's Football in the Community officer, Sandra Whittaker, was sacked last week in a behind-the-scenes dispute. Whittaker, a well-known figure in Barry football, had joined the club at the beginning of the 1995-96 season, when the club went full-time, partly as a result of the 'Football in the Community' scheme, where players train children at local schools in Barry.
Neither club nor family were willing to comment on Whittaker's dismissal, who was later admitted to hospital.
The King is dead. Who cares any more?
Bangor manager, John King, became the second League of Wales boss to leave his club, quitting after their 3-2 defeat at home to Newtown last Saturday.
Ironically, it follows shortly after his one win in charge at Farrar Road, in which they defeated Cardiff City in an FAW Premier Cup match last week. King joined the club in the Summer, after former boss, Graeme Sharp, had disagreements with the Bangor City Board of Directors. In the now-typical, expected and embarassing set of affairs at Farrar Road, King brought almost the entirety of his side from Unibond League, Vauxhall Motors, promptly flopping in the European Cup Winners Cup and the following League of Wales matches, losing to Caersws and Connah's Quay.
It is thought that his resignation again has to do with disagreements with City's Board of Directors, although it appears clear that King massively underestimated the standard of the League of Wales. A successor is likely to be appointed shortly, and, according to cynics, won't be around for Christmas dinner.
Other League of Wales news
Aberystwyth Town stayed top of the League of Wales, defeating Conwy United 3-1 at Park Avenue. Inter Cable-tel got off to their first win of the season, beating Haverfordwest 1-0 at Bridge Meadow. Holywell have marked themselves out as draw specialists this year, drawing again at home to Total Network Solutions 3-3.
Meanwhile, Rhyl beat Rhayader 3-1 at Belle Vue. Rhayader are apparently still awaiting the appointment of a new manager. However, the real goals were going in at Carmarthen's Richmond Park, where the home side beat Connah's Quay Nomads 6-2. Bangor lost 3-2 at home to Newtown, while Cwmbran were in impressive form with a 4-0 away victory at Afan Lido on Friday evening.
12th September
First half blitz as Barry beat early-season leaders
Connah's Quay Nomads (0) 0 Barry Town (3) 3 Att:591
E.Williams 25, 28, R.Jones 43
Having slipped to eighth place in the League of Wales table, and lost their first home League of Wales match for three years, Barry returned to their regular form, as the Dragons comfortably hammered early season LoW leaders, Connah's Quay Nomads.
The return of Eifion Williams was a clear boost for Barry, as it was he who finished off the first two chances, one of which came from a near-perfect cross from Mark Dempsey, himself making only his third appearance in a Barry shirt.
The third goal was something to treasure, as a series of one touch passes eventually reached Terry Evans on the edge of the Nomads' penalty area. He exchanged a one-two with Danny Carter, before firing a low cross into the box for Richard Jones to fire home from close range.
Although the end of scoring, Barry continued to play beautiful football throughout the second half, running the home side ragged. Following the club's defeat on Tuesday at home to Afan Lido, it was wonderful to watch them bounce back so quickly and with such vigour.
Lack of Scope doesn't hamper Barry
On a different note, on-loan goalkeeper, Tynan Scope, has left the club to return to Coventry City. David Wells, a Northern Ireland under-21 international, took his place between the sticks for the match this afternoon, and acquitted himself well.
Barry face Bluebirds twice in four days
Barry have been drawn to face Caersws in the first round of the League of Wales Cup. That match will take place at Caersws Recreation Ground on the evening of the 22nd of September. That game is only four days before the two clubs also meet in the League of Wales.
The Supporters' Coaches for the two matches will be leaving at 4 pm. and 10.15am respectively.
3rd September
Injuries hurt Dragons in home draw
Barry Town (1) 1 Conwy United (0) 1 Att:323
A.York (26) P.Toner (76)
Following their magnificent performance against Wrexham, Barry were brought down to earth with a bump against Conwy United last Saturday in the first National League match to take place at Jenner Park this season.
Barry were missing more than several key players, including LoW top scorer, Eifion Williams, his strike partner, Justin Perry, and the club's two experienced midfielders, Danny Carter and Mark Dempsey. It was therefore a very youthful Barry side who took the field, including Jody Jenkins, who recently signed from AFC Bournemouth, Darren Davies, who had come on as substitute against Wrexham, and also Lee Matthews, starting only his third LoW game at the club.
Barry did continue to play their normal fluid passing game, but without any presence up front, it was difficult for Barry to convert possession into goals. However, it was the Dragons who took the lead in the match, captain and central-defender, Andrew York, stabbing the ball home in a goalmouth melee in the 26th minute.
With Conwy defending in depth, it appeared that they were content with losing by just a goal. However, Barry gifted them a point in the 76th minute. A long 'route-one' clearance by Conwy keeper, Ian Bamford, was mis-headed by Barry defender, Paul Mitchell, who was attempting to give the ball back to Barry goalkeeper, Tynan Scope. However, Conwy striker, Paul Toner, intercepted and took a fierce shot to beat Scope from close range.
The score ended at 1-1, despite Barry hitting the bar in the final minute of the match. Barry lie in second place in the League of Wales, behind Connah's Quay Nomads, whom they play on the 12th September.
Next match: Afan Lido (home), Tuesday, 8th September
Three year unbeaten run
Barry are now celebrating the fact that it is more than three years since the club last lost a home match in the League of Wales. That defeat came just three weeks into the season 1995/96, when the club entertained then-League of Wales champions, Bangor City, at Jenner Park. City left Barry with all three point after a 1-0 victory, Frank Mottram scoring their goal. It is now 57 matches since they were last beaten at Jenner Park in an LoW clash, and only once in that time has an LoW side beaten Barry in the Vale of Glamorgan - that being the League of Wales Cup match between Barry and Inter Cabletel last season.
The Barry manager at the time of that defeat was Eddie May, who is now coaching Finnish side, FinnPa, and LoW side, Haverfordwest County. He left soon after, while current player-manager, Gary Barnett, has yet to experience a league loss at Jenner Park - and long may that continue!
27th August, 1998
Barry off to successful start of new season
Barry's competitive domestic season began in earnest last weekend when the Dragons visited Cwmbran Stadium to begin the defence of the League of Wales Championship. Heavily tipped as one of the Dragons' most serious challengers, Cwmbran played well in the first half, but buckled under Barry pressure in the second half.
Cwmbran, managed by former Barry boss, Tony Wilcox, have made a number of big-name signings over the Summer, including Barry player, Chris Pike, who teams up with a number of other ex-Barry players, such as Chris Summers and Russell Wigley, who have recently been plying their trade in the lower reaches of the English pyramid system while with Merthyr Tydfil.
The rumour-machine over the Summer told everyone that Barry were likely to struggle to maintain their grip on the title, but the players responded admirably, turning in a professional performance at Cwmbran, winning 4-0 against the fancied Gwent side.
Barry's first goal came from Summer signing, Mark Dempsey, who cut inside Cwmbran defender, Mark Parfitt, and rifled his shot home from 25 yards. Holding just that single goal lead, Barry came out after the break, and dismantled the Cwmbran defence. Dempsey's 56th minute cross was headed home by Eifion Williams, who repeated the feat twenty minutes later, when Terry Evans provided the inswinging ball. The rout was completed eight minutes from time, when Danny Carter's corner was met by the unmarked Richard Jones, whose diving header finished off the scoring.
Former Welsh international and tv pundit Mark Aizlewood was reportedly "sick as a parrot".
Dragons scorch Rockin' Robins
That form was continued on Tuesday evening, as a Barry side without a forward line defeated English League side Wrexham in the opening match of the new F.A.W Premier Cup. Barry were missing Eifion Williams, who had a hamstring injury from the previous Saturday's match, and efforts were further hampered by the loss of new signing, Justin Perry, who left the pitch after quarter of an hour's play. Barry, playing their customary tight, controlled passing game, reorganised the side, which featured Danny Carter and manager, Gary Barnett in the forward line.
Barry took the lead in the 43rd minute, when Danny Carter's inswinging corner was met by Wrexham defender, Dave Ridler, who headed into his own net under pressure from Lee Barrow.
Wrexham equalised in the 56th minute, when Neil Roberts blasted his shot past Barry's new goalkeeper, former Coventry City trainee, Tynan Scope. However, Barry reasserted themselves, and in the 63rd minute, Danny Carter's through ball was met by Richard Jones who slid the ball past Mark Cartwright in the Wrexham goal. 2-1 became 3-1 a few minutes later, when an incoming cross was mis-hit by Barnett. Substitute Darren Davies, newly signed from Spurs, kept the ball in flight with his left foot, before hammering a dipping shot with his right. Excellently flighted over the diving keeper, the net billowed as Barry proved that they were every bit as good as the North Walians.
However, the game was far from over, and Wrexham hit back with a second goal in the 76th minute. Karl Connolly made up for a poor free-kick by side-footing his second attempt through the forest of players and past Scope. They nearly scored an equaliser in injury-time, when Dean Spink headed into an empty net. However, referee, Ceri Richards, of Llanelli, had already blown his whistle for a foul by Spink on Lee Barrow.
Barry held on for a 3-2 victory in a match which was shown live to the Welsh nation on BBC Wales television, and sees them topping Group B of the Cup, having beaten the holders and favourites. Odds on Barry winning the competition have since slipped from 16/1 to 10/1.
F.A.W Premier Cup 1998-99, fixtures and results
'Cosmetic' squad changes
Over the Summer, Barry have made a number of changes to their squad, although these have largely been cosmetic, with the 'first XI' being largely the same as the side which finished last season.
Following the departure of Mark Ovendale to Bournemouth, he has been replaced by several new faces in the goal. David Nurse wore the goalkeeper's shirt in the opening leg of Barry's European Champions League in Dynamo Kiev, but soon left the club. Former Welsh U-21 international, Pat Mountain, stood between the sticks in the second leg, but has since left to move to Yeovil Town. David Welsh is currently on loan from AFC Bournemouth, but Tynan Scope has opened both matches in the domestic season.
Other new signings for the club include Chris Pridham (Manchester City), Darren Davies (Tottenham Hotspur), Jodie Jenkins (AFC Bournemouth), Justin Perry (Ebbw Vale) as well as Gareth Shone, formerly of Wrexham, and Mark Dempsey, formerly of Shrewsbury.
Leaving Jenner Park for pastures new are Phil Johnson (Aberystwyth Town), Darren Ryan (Total Network Solutions), Craig Evans (Merthyr Tydfil), Gareth Knott (Yeovil Town), Pat Mountain (Yeovil Town), Chris Pike (Cwmbran Town)
23rd May, 1998
New signings
Barry have begun team strengthening measures in preparation for the 1998-99 season, and the European Cup matches which are in just eight weeks.
Following the release of two defenders, Phil Johnson and Gareth Knott, Barry have quickly plugged the gap, signing Gareth Shone from Wrexham and Mark Dempsey from Shrewsbury. 25 year old Dempsey is a former Republic of Ireland under-21 international, who made his English League debut for Gillingham at 17. He spent several years there, before moving to Leyton Orient. In June, 1995, Shrewsbury Town signed Mark for £25,000. Mark has made more than 150 English League appearances in his career.
Second highest goalscorer in Europe
Eifion Williams was the second highest goalscorer in Europe in the 1997-98 season. Williams, who Barry signed for £25,000 from Caernarfon Town on the eve of the season, scored 40 goals in the League of Wales last season. Europe's highest scoring marksmen was the Omonia Nicosia stiker, who scored 42 goals last year.
In the European Golden Boot standings, Eifion Williams finished twelfth, level with Gabriel Batistuta. The discrepancy is because of the weighting system employed. Goalscorers from higher-ranking European leagues (as per the UEFA co-efficient) receive 2 'points' per goal, while Welsh goalscorers only recieve one point. Batistuta, for example, scored 20 goals last season, yet finishes level with Williams.
Ryan wins top scorer award
Barry's Darren Ryan won the award for highest goalscorer in the FAW Invitation Cup. The prize, £10,000, was given to Ryan, who scored nine goals in the group phase of the tournament.
In brief
The winner of the tie between the League of Wales representative and Norway's Konigsvanger will meet the Dutch side, Twente Enschede, in the second round of the Inter Toto Cup. The Welsh side has not yet been confirmed by the Welsh FA, who are awaiting financial reports from Ebbw Vale, the club who finished third in the League of Wales last season.
Bangor City have parted company with Graeme Sharp and John Hulse, the men who masterminded their Welsh Cup success last season. Sharp, who joined the club in the close season in 1997, was reportedly unhappy with the structure of the club, and its few opportunities for youth development of players.
Dinas Powys are hoping to become the third Vale of Glamorgan County side to reach the upper reaches of the Welsh pyramid. The village side, two miles from Barry, are hoping to achieve promotion to the CC Sports Third Division. Having recently built a new stand at their Murch home in the village, they fulfill the necessary criterion for promotion. Standing in their way is a play-off against Les Croupiers (Caerau). Les Croupiers have play-off experience, beaten 3-0 last year by Ely Rangers. The winning side is promoted. Promotion for Dinas would mean the prospect of a local derby with the Wenvoe-based Ely Rangers.
17th May, 1998
The draw for next season's FAW Premier Cup (formerly the Invitation Cup) was made on BBC television today. Barry have been drawn in the very harsh second group, which features three of Wales' four professional clubs. The group features Wrexham, Swansea City and Caernarfon Town. The other groups and updated scorelines will be available on the FAW Premier Cup 1998-99 page.
Meanwhile, the inaugural 1997-98 competition was won by Wrexham, who scored three minutes from the end of extra time to win the tie against Cardiff City at the Racecourse today.
Barry have continued their Summer plans by offloading some of the club's fringe players. Chris Pike, who made his first appearance for Barry back in 1985, is one of the players to be leaving the club, as is former Tottenham Hotspurs and Wales u-21 player, Gareth Knott, and former Tranmere Rovers player, Phil Johnson.
Back to Barry Town A.F.C homepage
Barry Town results 1998-99
League of Wales results 1998-99
Welsh Cup results 1998-99
League of Wales Cup results 1998-99
FAW Premier Cup results and tables 1998-99
Barry Town news: season 1997-98
This page maintained by the Yellow Dragon, 1998