A GOAL-LESS draw at Bridge Meadow was typical end of season stuff, with nothing really at stake for either side.
The game did Barry no favours at all, with a catalogue of injuries from the game, which is going to make Terry Moore the busiest physio in Wales.
Chris Sloan challenged for a high ball in the 20th minute and damaged his collarbone, then in the 28th minute Andrew York was stretchered off with a thigh injury with the Barry captain unable to put any weight on his leg at the end of the game, once showered and dressed. Mark Dempsey was also suffering with three leg injuries and Justin Perry limped away as well. Several other players were also carrying knocks.
Not a happy start to the three cup semi-final matches against Inter Cable-Tel and much is down to the magic fingers of Mr Moore on the physio table.
Barry began the match by knocking the ball around at will and Sloan had an early goal attempt which lacked power but on target.
A lively Jodie Jenkins hit a cross from the left which Sloan headed for the top corner but the goalkeeper tipped over. Again the goalkeeper saved Chris Pridham's powerful shot and then Sloan suffered his injury, being replaced by Perry.
When the Bluebirds produced a rare attack, Timothy dragged his shot wide. Soon after York was stretchered off to be replaced by Danny Carter with Paul Mitchell dropping back into central defence.
Jenkins had a couple of angled shots just wide, but the half closed with no further events.
Perry missed a good early chance from a cross by John Jones when Jenkins was probably better placed. Perry, who had been limping for a while, was replaced by Gary Barnett. Dempsey fired a shot just wide and was then injured. He soldiered on, but some of the challenges had been outside of the rules of the game, referee Parry taking a lenient view.
The sign of a good referee is when they pass through the game almost unnoticed but not for the first time Parry has upset the Barry camp. He booked several players and sent off Andy John for the home team.
Often referees become second half bookers rather than stamping their authority early on. Unfortunately for Mr.Parry, his bookings are inconsistent and unevenly distributed, many illegal challenges going seemingly unnoticed. Richard Jones, who had a break on goal, beating the offside trap, unfortunately hit wide in the closing minutes with an angled shot. Just before, Jones had gone down clutching his head with the referee calling on the trainer, signalling a head injury, but failing to acknowledge that an elbow had been used on Jones.
Not the best game of the season for Barry, especially with the injury problems but they will hope to find 12 or 13 fit players for the Gilbert Cup semi-final against Inter.
On the positive side, congratulations to Barnett for becoming manager of the month for March. Despite Barry's successful season, it is only his second award of the present season.
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This page edited by the Yellow Dragon, 1999.
This article first published in the Barry & District News, 15.04.1999
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