Match Report | Barry Town 1 – 0 Aberystwyth Town
Author: Archie Tooth
An 85th minute winner from Ollie Hulbert secured Barry the three points in a 1-0 victory over Aberystwyth at Jenner Park
Striker Ollie Hulbert scored the winner in a dominant Town performance to send Aberystwyth home in what was their seven loss in a row.
Steve Jenkins made one change from his side which drew midweek to Haverfordwest, the suspended Josh Yorwerth was replaced by Robbie Willmott in a game which saw Barry earn their first clean sheet of the season.
The Town started the first half well, in the sixth minute Aberystwyth were caught in possession by Barry striker Hulbert, who quickly shifted the ball to his right foot, but his strike went high and wide of the goal.
In the 12th minute Barry’s no.22 drove the ball down the right wing beating two men, stopping at the byline his whipped cross forced Aberystwyth keeper David Jones to tip the ball over his crossbar.
He again went close in the 13th minute when his close ranged header was met by a fine reaction save from Jones to keep the tie level.
The visitors came close to scoring in the 19th minute, midfielder Niall Flint drove through the midfield and teed up John Owens, unable to get the shot off Owen played a deft pass into the path of the charging Christoph Azaimale, who shifted the ball onto his right foot and guided the ball to the far corner, but Barry keeper Luc Rees met the strike with a strong punch out of harm’s way.
Jones and his backline remained busy throughout the opening 45, Barry’s Samuel Snaith was denied from close range and minutes later Elliot Richards’ curling effort was claimed by the busy Aberystwyth no.1.
Hulbert had a chance to put the home side up in the 36’ minute, but an important block from a sea of Aberystwyth bodies denied him.
Late on in the first Iwan Lewis forced Rees to make a diving save whose strike was heading for the bottom right corner. Aberystwyth’s no.19 too went close late on when his curling right footed effort narrowly went past the post, ending the first half goalless.
The visitors nearly took the lead in the 60th minute, a stray Evan Press pass across the Barry penalty area fell to Aberystwyth’s no.9 on the right wing, his curled cross provoked Rees to send the ball over his own woodwork.
Barry proved to be a threat on set pieces, centre back Callum Sainty rose highest and guided his header just wide of the far post. In the 76th minute teammate Ben Margetson nearly broke the deadlock, a Willmott corner found the unmarked defender, who directed his header narrowly over the crossbar.
Barry’s Michael George and substitute Josh Beecher found a lot of freedom down the flanks, which made it difficult for the visitors to create sufficient chances of their own.
A flurry of Barry chances was met by crucial Jones saves, Keenan Patten found himself on the end of a George cross, his well struck volley was sent down the throat of Jones’ goal and saved. In the 65th minute Patten had another opportunity go close; his deflected strike was met by the Aberystwyth goalie.
Barry kept the chances coming where moments later a double save from the heroics of Jones kept Aberystwyth afloat. A low-driven effort from the Barry no.8 forced a diving stop, on the follow up Snaith couldn’t provide the final touch to send the ball home.
The visitors called Rees into action in the 70th minute, Azaimale’s strike from a tight angle required a strong punch away from goal.
With five minutes remaining, Barry’s no.2 brilliantly kept the ball in play on the right wing, substitute Ieuan Owen hounded the Aberystwyth defender and found Hulbert open in the box with a square ball, using his right foot Town’s no.22 poked the ball into the net, putting his tally up to 5 for the season.
Barry remains seventh in the JD Cymru Premier on 13 points, with a trip to Bryntirion Park Stadium next week, the Town face Penybont on Friday 4 October, kick-off 7:45pm.
Full Time Barry Town 1 – 0 Aberystwyth
Barry Town: Rees, George, Margetson, Sainty, Press, Willmott, Richards (Owen 84’), Bright (Beecher 64’), Hulbert, Patten, Snaith (McLaggon 74’). Subs: Masrani, Beecher, McLaggon, Perrett, Lewis, Owen.
Aberystwyth: Jones, Walsh, Bradford, Ealing, Lewis, Flint, Owen, Hartley, Torry, Aziamale (Mason 81’), Patterson. Subs: Osment, R.Davies, Mason, Huxley, Dafis, Darlington.