When we meet Caernarfon Town in the Gilbert League of Wales Cup final, it will be our fifth meeting of the season. Barry have won all four games, two in the League of Wales and two in the FAW Premier Cup group stage, but, before any sort of complacency sets in, remember that Connah’s Quay Nomads have never beaten Barry in the League of Wales, but twice in the Welsh Cup.
Ironically, the key to the Caernarfon defence was unlocked by their old boy, Eifion Williams, who scored six of Barry’s eleven goals against his former side. We first met the Canaries at Jenner Park this season, way back in September, where two goals from Williams and a third from Richard Jones gave Barry a 3-0 League of Wales victory.
The cancellation of the FAW Premier Cup match in October meant that we didn’t meet again until December, when we played the Cofi’s twice in a fortnght in the group stage of the Cup. In the first game, at the Oval, it was only a header from Lee Barrow that ensured Barry’s win, while the Canaries took the lead in the return at Jenner Park. Ian Horrigan’s thirty yard free-kick gave them a 1-0 advantage, but Williams brought Barry back to level terms by half-time. A few minutes after half-time, Barry took a 2-1 lead, when Caernarfon player/manager, Paul Rowlands, put the ball into his own net. Williams scored again, ensuring that Barry won group B, and earnt home advantage against Merthyr Tydfil in the quarter-final.
Back in the League of Wales, Barry took a fourth victory, with a 4-0 win at the Oval. Gareth Shone gave Barry the lead, with his first goal for the club. The Dragons were 2-0 up by half-time, with a goal from Eifion Williams, before second half goals from Richard Jones and another from Williams wrapped up the points.
However, Caernarfon have proved themselves to be tough customers this year, and have fought their way to fifth place in the League of Wales. The Canaries home record has been excellent, and they were unbeaten in the LoW on their home patch until our visit there in January.
In the Gilbert Cup itself, Dame Fortune has been on Caernarfon’s side, with a series of narrow wins, and drawn at home in all three rounds. In the first round, they took the lead against Rhyl and eventually won 2-1. In the second round, they were at home to Total Network Solutions. The game looked to be heading for a goalless draw until T.N.S scored after 75 minutes. The Saints let their guard slip, and Caernarfon equalised through Emrys Williams, before a spectacular effort from Paul McAndrew took them through to a semi-final against old rivals Bangor City last week. Caernarfon scored three minutes into injury time to win 1-0 and book a place in the final.
This will be Caernarfon’s first ever Gilbert Cup final, having twice fallen at the semi-final hurdle, to Connah’s Quay Nomads 5-2 on aggregate in 1996, and then 1-0 to Bangor City last year.
Above anything else, though, Barry fans are sure to remember the televised League of Wales match between the two clubs two years ago. Barry won 5-2, the fans sung all day, and Jenner Park was awash with the yellow colours of both sides.
Make sure that you get to the game, wear your colours and enjoy the football!
See the local press for details of Supporters’ Club travel arrangements.
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 Inter Cabletel, FAW Premier Cup semi-final first leg, 20.04.99
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