Our victory at Rhyl last week took Barry three points clear at the top of the League of Wales. Two goals each from Eifion Williams and Gary Lloyd, as well as a goal apiece from Danny Carter and Richard Jones saw us notch up a 6-0 win over the struggling Belle Vue side.
Aber thrashed their mid-Walian rivals 5-0, with the Williams brothers being the architects of the Robins' downfall. Jonathan scored twice in the second half, after setting up his brother, Steve, for another goal. A first half-goal from Andy Evans had set Aber on their way, while former Barry player, Gareth Knott, celebrated his Park Avenue debut with a goal, sliding his shot past Newtown keeper, Robert Plant, into the corner of the net at the Crosville End.
They continued their vein of form the following weekend, when they visited Bangor City's Farrar Road. Bangor had also thumped Newtown 5-0 in the previous week's Gilbert Cup matches, and the home side went ahead after only a minutes play. However, Aber pulled their way back into the game, with a thirteenth minute strike from Andy Evans drawing them level. Martin Griffiths clinched the winner in the 30th minute, Aberystwyth winning 2-1.
The Crows remain unbeaten away from the Cwmbran Stadium ,and maintained that record a fortnight ago, when they travelled to Caersws' Recreation Ground, and came away with a 3-1 victory. Three second half goals earnt the points for Cwmbran. Jimmy Blackie netted the first after 61 minutes, with late goals from Powell and Wigley securing the points. Caersws scored their consolation goal in injury-time.
Last Friday, though, Cwmbran lost their place after a disastrous home defeat to then-bottom of the table, Rhayader Town. The mid-Walian side went two goals ahead in the first half of the match, only to see Cwabran come back into contention. Chris Summers scored the Crows opening goal after 29 minutes and Mattie Davies levelled five minutes later. When Rhayader 'keeper, Mike Barton, ounched the ball into his own net, it appeared as if it was business as usual for the Gwent outfit. However, in the second half, Rhayader came out and scored four goals without reply, making it 6-3 to the mid-Walian village club. They join Barry and Aberystwyth as the only sides to defeat Cwmbran this season. To make it even more remarkable, it was only Rhayader's second victory of the season.
The mid-Walians were at home to Afan Lido last Saturday, and the Robins' cruised to an easy victory over a side who haven't won since the second week of September. Jason Yates opened the gates with a fifth minute goal, and added to it after 21 minutes. Huw Griffiths scored on the half-hour, making it 3-0 at half-time. The final touch was added in the 55th minute, when Nicky Ward scored the final goal to make it 4-0.
The Bluebirds are currently in fifth spot in the LoW. Their away match at Connah's Quay Nomads a fortnight ago was postponed due to surface water on the Deestide Stadium, while they were the 'free' side in last Saturday's League of Wales programme.
Despite going a goal down to the home-side, Connah's Quay equalised in the middle of the second half, through Jamie Hughes' 60th minute strike. Despite the loss of Craig Hutchinson, who was red-carded in the 71st minute, the Nomads hung on for a point which keeps them a place ahead of those opponents.
It had been the same story a fortnight earlier, when they entertained Conwy at the Oval. The Canaries had scored through Hunt after 53 minutes, only for Conwy to equalise during injury-time to take a point back up the A55.
Last weekend, TNS traveled to South Wales, visiting Inter Cabletel. TNS again took the lead, through a 65th minute penalty from Mike Gallagher. However, they again failed to hold onto their lead, with Inter equalising in the final minutes of the match.
Inter had exorcised some demons the previous week, when they thrashed Rhayader 5-0 at the Weirglodd. Inter had lost 1-0 the season before, but showed no sign of losing again. Simon Dyer opened the scoring in the 32nd minute, with Paul Evans, David and Wharton all scoring before Dyer added a second goal to make it 5-0.
Back at the Athletic Stadium a week later, Sean Wharton scored Inter's crucial 80th minute goal, netting from six yards, and earning his side a point.
At Richmond Park the previous week, they had been unlucky not to win a point at home to Bangor City. The North Walians had gone a goal clear before Paul Burrows equalised after 16 minutes. Bangor scored the winning goal with 25 minutes still to play, and Carmarthen were forced to accept defeat after the sending off of Steve Williams for a two-footed tackle on Bangor forward, Steve Jones.
Conwy took a point from the Oval in Caernarfon, when John Toner scored in injury time to equalise at 1-1, while, back at the Morfa, Conwy defeated Caersws 2-1. Conwy took the lead in the opening minute, when James McIlvogue scored. The mid-Walian side equalised a few minutes later, but Conwy finished the scoring before half-time, when John Toner scored in the 38th minute. Despite the second half sending off of Kelsey, Conwy held on for the 2-1 win which takes them up to eleventh.
At Carmarthen, an 8th minute goal from former Conwy player, Robbie Williams, put the Blues in the lead, while former Flint forward, Steve Jones scored Bangor's winner after 66 minutes, to make it 2-1.
Back at Bangor the following Saturday, Steve Jones scored in the first minute, but Aberystwyth scored twice in the first-half to win 2-1.
The first game of the fortnight was their journey here, to Jenner Park. That was a 4-0 loss to Barry, with the Dragons scoring two goals either side of half-time. Last Saturday, they entertained Carmarthen Town in North Wales. Top scorer, Peter Hughes, put the home side in the lead with a 39th minute goal. However, Carmarthen hit back late in the game, to equalise at 1-1.
At the Morfa in Conwy, Caersws got off to a far worse start, conceeding a first minute goal to the North Walian side. However, Rob Hamer hit back with an equaliser after 5 minutes. Despite that, Caersws lost 2-1, even though their opponents finished with ten men.
They took a point at Total Network Solutions, when Mitch Patton converted an 86th minute penalty to level the scores at 1-1. However, at Newtown the following week it was a different story, as the Robins cruised to a 4-0 win, having been 3 ahead at half-time.
The previous week, Rhayader had taken a thumping at home to Inter Cabletel, with the Cardiff side taking all the plaudits in a 5-0 win. However, at Cwmbran, that result was turned on its head by the Weirglodd side.
Rhayader took the lead through first half goals from Richard Jones and Morris, but Cwmbran pulled level and then clear, leading 3-2 at half-time. However, the second half saw Rhayader come into their own. Richard Jones scored an equaliser, while Richard Parker scored twice and Bedwood hit the sixth in a remarkable 6-3 win over the South Walians.
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 Haverfordwest County, 21.11.98, Welsh Cup Rd.3
Get your own Free Home Page