Barry Town United continued their perfect start to the Novira Cymru Premier season with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Cardiff Met at Jenner Park.
Daniel Smith proved to be the match-winner for The Town, heading home the rebound after Jack Shaw saw his late penalty saved, as Steve Jenkins’ side made it three wins from three to start the new league campaign.
First Half
Cardiff Met got the game underway, but it was Barry who looked to make the early running. George Ratcliffe’s long ball forward gave Elliott Dugan the opportunity to put goalkeeper Arron Davies under pressure in the fourth minute, but the Met stopper gathered safely.
The Town won their first corner four minutes later following good work from Jadyn Crosbie down the right. Owen Brain played it short, combining with Sion Spence and Joshua Bernard, before the visitors eventually cleared.
Met threatened from a set-piece in the 11th minute, with Ratcliffe punching the delivery away before Brain completed the clearance. The Barry goalkeeper required treatment shortly afterwards but was able to continue.
Barry began to produce some neat football as the half developed. Mikey George showed excellent footwork to beat his man before finding Bernard, whose attempted shot-cross struck Dugan, who was in an offside position.
Theo Wharton and Brain then combined well before Brain’s deflected cross fell to Spence, whose inviting delivery drifted beyond the goalkeeper and out of play.
Brain was at the heart of much of Barry’s attacking play and produced a superb outside-of-the-boot pass to release Owen Cuddihy down the left. His cross was deflected away before it could reach Dugan, with the resulting corner punched clear by Davies.
Cardiff Met’s Sam Jones was shown the first yellow card of the afternoon in the 27th minute following an aerial collision with James Lester.
A minute later came Barry’s first clear sight of goal. Crosbie found space and unleashed a powerful effort, but his strike continued to rise and cleared the crossbar.
Met responded almost immediately when Fumpa Mwandwe found himself with an opportunity from close range, but his effort went over Ratcliffe’s goal.
Wharton then won possession just outside the Cardiff Met penalty area and found Dugan, whose first-time effort was comfortably gathered by Davies.
The visitors were forced into an early change in the 36th minute, with Ryan Reynolds making way for Myles McKenzie.
Chances became limited as the interval approached, although Dugan saw a dangerous cross cleared following a quick Barry break before Jack Veale’s attempted overhead kick at the other end failed to trouble Ratcliffe.
The two sides therefore went into the break level.
Half-time: Barry Town United 0-0 Cardiff Met
Second Half
Barry restarted the contest, but Met created the first opportunity of the second period. A shot inside the Barry penalty area was blocked by George before Jones headed the resulting corner wide.
The Town immediately responded. Brain’s long pass found Bernard, who moved the ball onto George. The defender took on his man before firing an effort towards goal, but Davies was equal to it.
Barry continued to apply pressure, winning successive corners through Brain, but the visitors’ defence stood firm.
At the other end, Ratcliffe was called into action just before the hour mark. Mwandwe cut inside from the left and sent a curling effort towards goal which looked destined for the net, only for the Barry goalkeeper to produce an excellent save and tip the ball over the crossbar.
Jenkins made his first change on the hour, introducing Jack Shaw in place of Crosbie.
Met continued to threaten, with Toby Raison heading wide before a promising attack broke down when Cuddihy made an important interception inside the Barry penalty area.
Barry made a double change in the 66th minute as Daniel Barton and Daniel Smith replaced Brain and Dugan.
Shaw almost made an immediate impact. The substitute broke free and drove into the Met penalty area before sending his effort narrowly over the crossbar in the 69th minute.
He threatened again moments later, only for James Clarke to make a well-timed challenge before Shaw could get his shot away.
The Town were beginning to turn up the pressure. Spence delivered a series of corners into the Met penalty area, with Smith seeing one header gathered by Davies.
Shaw continued to cause problems with his direct running, while Smith saw an effort deflected behind as Barry searched for the breakthrough.
That breakthrough finally arrived following another Spence corner in the 78th minute. After Met initially dealt with the delivery, Barton was brought down inside the penalty area and the referee pointed to the spot.
Shaw stepped up to take the penalty, but Davies produced the save. The danger wasn’t over, however, as the ball looped into the air and Daniel Smith reacted quickest to head home the rebound and put Barry 1-0 ahead in the 80th minute.
Cardiff Met pushed forward in search of an equaliser during the closing stages, but Barry’s defence stood strong.
Ratcliffe comfortably claimed a long ball into his area before dealing with a Met free-kick in the 87th minute. George then produced an important challenge to stop a potential counter-attack before Ellis Williams headed another dangerous delivery clear.
Five minutes of additional time were indicated, but Barry remained organised as Met continued to push bodies forward.
The Town almost sealed the points in the 93rd minute when Bernard produced an excellent run into the penalty area, cut back onto his left foot and sent his effort just over the top corner.
Met had one final opportunity when Clarke headed over from close range, but Barry held on to secure another three points and preserve their perfect start to the league season.
Full-time: Barry Town United 1-0 Cardiff Met
Barry Town United
Starting XI: George Ratcliffe, Mikey George, Ellis Williams, Jadyn Crosbie, Owen Brain, Theo Wharton, James Lester, Owen Cuddihy, Joshua Bernard, Elliott Dugan, Sion Spence.
Substitutes: Daniel Barton, Rhys Schwank, Daniel Smith, Jack Shaw, Case, Saunders.
Cardiff Met
Starting XI: Arron Davies, Jack Veale, James Clarke, Ryan Reynolds, CJ Craven, Jasper Payne, Sam Jones, Fumpa Mwandwe, Spencer Dymond-Hall, Aaron Wildig, Toby Raison.
Substitutes: Will Howard, Tom English, Bailey Gaughan, Myles McKenzie, Harri John, Ollie Good, Harrison Matthews.
