Author Archives: Alfie Humphreys

Barry Town United returned to winning ways on Saturday afternoon with a hard-fought 1-0 victory away at Caernarfon Town, with Noah Daley’s first-half strike proving enough to secure all three points.

The Town made a positive start in North Wales, with little separating the two sides during the opening stages.

On six minutes, a Caernarfon defender slipped under pressure from Noah Daley inside the box, with the Town forward seeing his resulting effort blocked.

Barry continued to threaten, and after Owen Cuddihy was fouled while breaking forward, the resulting free-kick was delivered into the box but headed clear.

Then, on 10 minutes, the breakthrough arrived.

A superb passage of play involving Mikey George, Elliott Dugan and Jack Shaw opened the space for Daley inside the box, and the forward made no mistake, smashing the ball home to put the Town 1-0 ahead.

Caernarfon immediately looked for a response, but George Ratcliffe was equal to the task, producing an excellent one-on-one save just three minutes later.

The hosts continued to apply pressure, but Barry defended resolutely. Dan Barton cleared a dangerous corner, while a Caernarfon header flew narrowly wide.

As the half progressed, Caernarfon continued to knock on the door, but the Town’s defensive unit remained organised. James Lester headed another dangerous cross behind for a corner, before Mikey George rose highest to clear the resulting delivery.

Elliott Dugan received treatment late in the half before being replaced by Jadyn Crosbie.

Barry nearly doubled the advantage shortly afterwards, with some lovely interplay between Crosbie, Daley and George, although George’s cross ultimately came to nothing.

Deep into stoppage time, Crosbie produced a clever flick that was cleared off the line as the Town went into the break with a slender lead.

HALF-TIME: Caernarfon Town 0-1 Barry Town United

The hosts came out strongly after the restart, but Barry continued to carry a threat on the counter.

Just two minutes into the second half, Jack Shaw drove forward before finding Daley, whose first-time effort went narrowly wide.

Owen Cuddihy was booked shortly afterwards, before the hosts again looked to break into the Town box. Callum Sainty defended brilliantly to deny the danger.

Cuddihy was increasingly influential down the left, winning a corner on 50 minutes. His delivery was eventually worked back to him, before another cross found Daley at the back post, although the forward headed over.

Barry continued to create opportunities, with Cuddihy and Daley linking up well before Daley went down inside the box. He quickly got back to his feet and delivered a cross, but nobody was able to meet it.

Caernarfon then began to pile on the pressure.

George Ratcliffe punched away a dangerous free-kick before Dan Barton did brilliantly to win possession and draw a foul. Moments later, Jadyn Crosbie produced an outstanding tackle to deny the hosts.

The pressure intensified, with James Lester making an important intervention to prevent Caernarfon from converting a dangerous cross.

Barry then almost doubled their advantage on the counter. Cuddihy found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper, who won the ball, before it fell to Daley. With the goal seemingly open from distance, his effort flew just over.

Ratcliffe then produced two outstanding saves in quick succession to keep the Town in front.

Barry continued to threaten when they could, with good combinations between Crosbie, Shaw and Cuddihy, while another dangerous low cross from Cuddihy was cleared for a corner.

However, with 15 minutes remaining, Caernarfon were continuing to ask questions of the Town defence.

On 82 minutes, Cuddihy was shown a second yellow card for handball and was sent off, leaving Barry to defend their lead with ten men.

Daley was then replaced by Keston Davies, making his return from injury.

Ratcliffe once again came to the Town’s rescue, saving a dangerous free-kick before producing another incredible stop from Charsley inside the box.

The goalkeeper continued to stand tall, making yet another save as Caernarfon threw everything forward.

The hosts won a succession of corners late on, but Barry defended every delivery, with the ball eventually cleared away from danger.

Three minutes of added time were shown.

A Caernarfon header flew wide on 90+1, before Ratcliffe claimed another dangerous cross at 90+2, preventing what looked like a certain chance for the hosts.

Barry held firm until the final whistle.

FULL-TIME: Caernarfon Town 0-1 Barry Town United

A huge defensive effort, a goal from Noah Daley and an outstanding display from George Ratcliffe saw the Town leave The Oval with all three points.

The victory is Barry’s first since beating Llandudno on September 11, ending the wait for a win in hard-fought fashion.

Barry Town United suffered a disappointing afternoon at Jenner Park as Connah’s Quay Nomads claimed a convincing 4-1 victory, with three first-half goals leaving The Town with a mountain to climb.

Despite a second-half goal from James Lester and an encouraging cameo from the returning Rhys Schwank, Barry were unable to recover from a difficult opening 45 minutes.

First Half

Dan Barton got proceedings underway at Jenner Park, but it was the visitors who made the brighter start, winning two corners inside the opening minutes. Noah Daley cleared the first before Will Richards and Callum Sainty combined to deal with the second, conceding another corner which George Ratcliffe comfortably claimed.

The Nomads continued to enjoy the majority of possession during the opening exchanges, with Barry struggling to establish a foothold in the contest.

Richards received the first booking of the afternoon in the tenth minute following a foul on the edge of the penalty area. Sainty headed the resulting free-kick clear before Jadyn Crosbie dealt with a second delivery, sending the ball upfield for Daley to chase.

The visitors came close to breaking the deadlock in the 13th minute when they fired wide after finding themselves through on goal. Four minutes later, Ratcliffe produced an excellent save in another one-on-one situation to keep the scores level.

However, the breakthrough arrived just a minute later. The Nomads’ number nine connected with a half-volley and sent a powerful effort into the top-right corner to give the visitors an 18th-minute lead.

Barton was subsequently shown a yellow card following a challenge near the corner flag, although the resulting free-kick came to nothing.

Barry continued to struggle to create any meaningful opportunities, and their task became even more difficult in the 28th minute when the visitors doubled their advantage.

Ratcliffe came out to claim the ball, but it was taken away from the goalkeeper before being turned into an empty net. Despite appeals for offside from the Barry players, VAR allowed the goal to stand, with Daley receiving a yellow card for his protests.

The Town eventually produced their first attacking move of note in the 31st minute when Barton released Josh Bernard down the flank, but his delivery into the penalty area was comfortably gathered by the visiting goalkeeper.

Things went from bad to worse six minutes later as Connah’s Quay added a third, leaving Barry facing a three-goal deficit before the interval.

Barry looked to find a response in the closing stages of the half, with Owen Cuddihy’s good work inside the penalty area earning a corner in the 40th minute. However, the resulting delivery failed to trouble the visitors.

There was a brief stoppage shortly before half-time as a Nomads player received treatment, before play resumed with three additional minutes indicated.

Jack Shaw attempted to spark an attacking move in stoppage time but was unable to find a teammate. There was further concern for The Town when captain Sainty landed awkwardly following an aerial challenge.

The half-time whistle brought a difficult opening period to an end, with Barry trailing 3-0.

Second Half

Connah’s Quay got the second half underway and immediately looked to extend their advantage, finding the net once again shortly after the restart. However, the assistant referee’s flag ruled out the effort for offside.

Ratcliffe was called into action in the 52nd minute, comfortably claiming a free-kick delivered into the Barry penalty area.

The Town began to show signs of improvement and won a corner three minutes later. Bernard delivered into the box, but the initial ball was headed clear before the visiting goalkeeper gathered the second delivery.

Barry made their first substitution in the 59th minute, with James Lester replacing Dan Barton.

However, the visitors added a fourth just three minutes later, with their number nine grabbing his second goal of the afternoon to put the result beyond Barry’s reach.

The Town continued to search for a response and almost found one in the 64th minute when a cross picked out Daley at the back post, but the striker was unable to guide his header towards goal.

Two minutes later, Barry finally found the breakthrough.

Michael George produced an excellent cross into the penalty area, finding substitute James Lester, who finished to pull a goal back for The Town in the 66th minute.

There was another positive moment shortly afterwards as Rhys Schwank replaced Josh Bernard, making his first appearance for Barry since 17 September 2024.

Despite Barry’s goal, the visitors quickly regained control of proceedings and won another corner in the 71st minute, with George heading the delivery away from danger.

Schwank looked lively following his introduction and provided some much-needed energy down the right-hand side.

With 12 minutes remaining, the substitute helped Barry win another corner after an initial short delivery. Cuddihy subsequently sent a cross towards Lester at the back post, but the visitors cleared their lines.

The Town continued to push forward, although they struggled to turn their possession into clear-cut opportunities.

Ratcliffe was called upon once again in the 85th minute, producing an important stop on his goal line following a dangerous free-kick delivery to prevent the visitors from adding a fifth.

At the other end, Schwank continued to impress, making an excellent run down the right flank before delivering a cross that earned Barry another corner in the 87th minute. However, the resulting set-piece came to nothing.

Barry continued to press as the game entered its final stages, with Daley winning a corner in the 90th minute. Cuddihy delivered towards the back post, where Daley connected with a volley, only to see his effort saved by the visiting goalkeeper.

Schwank then produced an excellent crunching tackle before launching another attacking move, although Barry were unable to capitalise.

The Town had another opportunity deep into stoppage time when a superb Cuddihy cross found Daley inside the penalty area. His initial effort was blocked, with appeals for handball waved away, before Crosbie forced the visiting goalkeeper into an excellent save.

Barry won another corner from the resulting attack, with Shaw playing it short to Schwank. The ball eventually found George, whose ambitious effort from distance sailed over the crossbar.

The final whistle confirmed a disappointing 4-1 defeat for The Town at Jenner Park, with Lester’s second-half strike providing the only consolation.

Despite a difficult afternoon, Schwank’s impressive return to action and a number of late attacking opportunities offered Barry some positives to take from the closing stages.

Barry will now look to regroup and respond as they prepare for their next Novira Cymru Premier fixture.

Barry Town United suffered their second defeat of the season as Colwyn Bay came from two goals down to claim a 5-2 victory at the Blue Turtle Arena.

First-half goals from Noah Daley and Mikey George had put The Town in control, but a goal shortly before the interval gave the hosts a route back into the contest. Colwyn Bay then struck four unanswered goals after the break to turn the game around.

First Half

The opening stages proved scrappy, with both sides looking to gain a foothold in the contest.

The first opportunity fell to Colwyn Bay after two minutes when a deflected cross was met by a header at the near post, forcing George Ratcliffe to tip the ball over the crossbar.

Barry gradually began to settle and created their first notable opportunity in the 21st minute. Neat combination play involving Jack Shaw, Ellis Williams, Daniel Smith and Noah Daley ended with Daley trying his luck from distance, but his effort was comfortably gathered.

The hosts continued to threaten from set-pieces, with Ratcliffe called into action again four minutes later to palm away an effort from the edge of the area.

However, it was Barry who broke the deadlock on 29 minutes.

Some excellent build-up play saw Smith find Mikey George making his way forward before the ball was worked to Dan Barton. His delivery towards the back post was met by Daley, who guided his header into the opposite corner to give The Town a 1-0 lead.

Seven minutes later, Barry doubled their advantage.

Shaw won possession inside his own half before Barry broke quickly. George raced forward from deep and was played through one-on-one, keeping his composure to finish into the bottom corner and make it 2-0.

Colwyn Bay responded before the interval, however, pulling one back in the 40th minute to reduce Barry’s advantage.

The hosts then enjoyed a sustained spell of pressure before half-time. Ratcliffe produced another save from a back-post header before Will Richards made an important challenge inside the penalty area to prevent another opportunity.

Barry survived further pressure in added time to head into the break with a 2-1 advantage.

Half-time: Colwyn Bay 1-2 Barry Town United

Second Half

The restart was briefly delayed due to an issue with the floodlights before Theo Wharton eventually got the second half underway.

Colwyn Bay made a fast start and were level just two minutes after the restart. An inswinging corner was met by a header at the back post to make it 2-2, with the goal confirmed following communication between the referee and VAR.

The hosts continued to apply the pressure and almost completed the turnaround moments later, but an effort from the edge of the area was dragged wide.

Barry struggled to regain the control they had shown during periods of the first half, with Colwyn Bay maintaining the pressure before taking the lead in the 57th minute.

Jadyn Crosbie was introduced in place of Daniel Smith as The Town looked for a response.

However, Colwyn Bay extended their advantage from another set-piece. A free-kick was delivered into the Barry penalty area and, after the initial header was won, a second header found the net to make it 4-2.

In front of an attendance of 848, Barry continued searching for a way back into the contest.

One of The Town’s best moves of the second half came in the 79th minute as a patient passing move eventually saw Wharton find Callum Sainty, whose effort from distance went over the crossbar.

Josh Bernard replaced Shaw with seven minutes of normal time remaining before Barry threatened again late on. James Lester and Daley combined well, allowing the latter to get a shot away on his left foot, but his effort went narrowly past the right-hand post.

With four minutes of additional time indicated, Sainty produced an important intervention to initially prevent what looked certain to be a fifth for the hosts.

Colwyn Bay would eventually add another before the final whistle, completing a difficult second half for The Town and securing a 5-2 victory.

Barry will now look to respond after suffering their second defeat of the Cymru Premier campaign.

Full-time: Colwyn Bay 5-2 Barry Town United

Barry Town United: Ratcliffe, George, Williams, Sainty, Daley, Barton, Smith, Wharton, Lester, Shaw, Richards.

Subs: Thomas, Crosbie, Schwank, Bernard, Njie.