Blast from the Past Barry Town v Caersws A match report from the League of Wales tussle between the two sides at Jenner Park, on March 31st, 1996
Barry must consider themselves lucky to have kept their 38-match unbeaten run, as the fighting performance of Caersws pegged the League of Wales leaders to a 1-1 draw.
It was Tony Bird's 47th minute penalty that secured a vital point for Barry, pushing the club 14 points clear of their nearest rivals, all of whom faltered on the weekend. No side in the top ten took maximum points, with second placed Conwy falling at home to Cwmbran, and third placed Newtown coming from behind to take a point at Inter Cardiff.
Throughout the game, the problem facing Barry was how to turn possession into goals. This was seen in the opening minutes of the match as David O'Gorman, Willie Batchelor and Tony Bird all found themselves wanting when given chances to put Barry ahead against the mid Wales village.
No such problem faced the Caersws forward line. In what was very nearly their first forage into Barry territory, they took the lead. It began with a Barry corner on the left, which was partially cleared. The ball reached Richard Jones, who attempted to pass to Paul Giles. However, the unpredictable surface saw the ball bobble before Jones struck it, and, instead of reaching its target, Caersws forward Andrew Whitticase unexpectedly found himself in possession. Whitticase wasted no time, and relayed the ball to partner Stuart Aubrey, who sent a long ball over the heads of the few Barry defenders who had not ventured forward for the corner. Retrieving the ball, Whitticase brushed past Gary Barnett and slotted the ball past Barry 'keeper Mark Ovendale with a fine finish.
Barry never looked as if an equaliser was on the cards, and a combination of poor crosses and then poor finishing ensured that Barry wouldn't be scoring in the first half. The best of the few chances came from set-pieces, where the height of Batchelor allowed Barry to at least have hit the target before half-time.
In fact, Barry could well have gone a further goal behind in the 31st minute. Whitticase again broke on the Barry left, and was able to send in an accurate cross which eluded both 'keeper and defenders, only for Stuart Aubrey, who had scored eight goals in his previous ten matches, to wildly miscue his shot.
Whatever was said in the Barry Town dressing room half time certainly seemed to work, and the side came out fired up for the second half. Gary Lloyd hit the target in the first minute of the half, and a minute later Barry found themselves level.
Paul Giles beat the offside trap, and approached the Caersws goal. As he did so, Caersws 'keeper, Russell Cadwallader, rushed out to stop him. As Giles tried to take the ball around the 'keeper, who had committed himself too early, he was pulled down, and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.
Tony Bird elected to take the penalty. Looking comfortable, he sent Cadwallader the wrong way, firing in a hard and low shot to the 'keeper's right. Barry were level at one apiece.
Minutes later Barry nearly took the lead through Ian French but he headed over the bar. Two minutes on, Bird almost increased his tally, turning sharply and shooting from 25 yards, only to see his effort go wide of the post.
A further chance fell into Bird's path in the 66th minute, when after good work from Batchelor and O'Gorman he blazed wide. Other opportunities on the Barry side fell to substitutes Chris Pike and Cohen Griffith, who returned to the team after a prolonged injury.
Caersws' last chance came in the 75th minute, Aubrey's cross met by Whitticase, but Ovendale was able to save.
The result was probably a fair reflection of the match, Caersws' harrying preventing Barry from ever getting into their stride. They always looked dangerous on the break, having the Barry defence licked for speed.
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This page edited by the Yellow Dragon, 1998.
All material on this page first published in the Barry Town Matchday Magazine, v Caersws, League of Wales Cup First Round Replay, 06.10.1998
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