Barry Town United can confirm the permanent transfer of Keenan Patten to Newport County for an undisclosed fee.
Keenan, a fan favourite, joined the club in 2023, making 50 appearances and scoring 11 goals.
Stephen Jenkins, Head of Football, commented: “It’s been a pleasure having Keenan with us over the past 18 months. He’s earned this opportunity to return to full-time football, and we wish him all the best in his future career.”
Keenan Patten (Image courtesy of Perry Dobbins Photography)
Jonny Barrett, Director, added: “Keenan fully deserves the chance to play full time football again. He has handled this whole process with great professionalism. We’re a club that supports our players and when our financial requests were met this was the right decision. We’d like to thank Huw Jenkins and Newport County for the way they’ve managed the transfer.”
Keenan, it’s been a pleasure having you here. We look forward to following your journey in the EFL.
Barry Town 3 – 1 Flint Town | Cymru Premier | Play-off Conference Saturday 1 February, 2025
A Keenan Patten brace inspired back-to-back wins for Barry as they keep their 100% record and remain top of the play-off table.
The first half saw a trio of goals as both sides traded blows in an entertaining encounter. Keenan Patten broke the deadlock two minutes into the game with a smart finish. Flint Towns’ Izaack Lambert replied from close range as Callum Sainty restored the lead with a back post tap in.
But an emphatic second half display rounded off by Patten’s second of the match rightfully earned the Town all three points.
Barry remained unchanged after last week’s 2 -1 win away at Aberystwyth, Ryan Kavanagh earned his third successive start as duo Ollie Hulbert and Kayne McLaggon led the line.
To break the deadlock a silky team move involving Michael George, Robbie Willmott and Ollie Hulbert down the right wing ended with Patten’s confident left footed finish, which he guided past Jack Flint and gave the Town a dream start.
Soon after Armstrong was met by a flurry of chances as Flint looked to restore the scoreline. Striker Elliot Reeves forced a stop with his low drilled attempt and Joshua Jones’ looping header gave Armstrong an easy claim.
After both teams settled into the game Ollie Hulbert was sent marauding forward running onto a Willmott pass, supported by Patten, who squared the ball across the edge of the area and found Ryan Kavanagh, with his right foot he almost doubled the hosts lead but his strike blazed narrowly over the crossbar.
Flint Towns leveller came in the 24th minute, a Jake Philips long throw-in caused chaos for the Town, Armstrong dropped the ball on his own goal line and in the frame of Lambert, who struck the ball into the net to make it 1-1.
Barry replied minutes later, Willmott swung his corner towards the head of Will Richards, who’s guided attempt struck the underside of the bar, in true poachers fashion Sainty was waiting to pounce on the rebound and gave the hosts the advantage once more.
With minutes left of the first interval Hulbert nearly doubled the lead, George played through Hulbert who cut inside from the right and fired towards goal, to his frustration, his shot was sent high over the bar with the score remaining 2-1 going into half time.
Barry didn’t step off the gas in the second half and came back out fierce in the press. Moments after the restart Kavanagh’s found himself on the right edge of the box, his tantalising cross needed all but a touch to find the net but there was no teammate in sight. In the 52nd minute Hulbert displayed a fine bit of skill to get free from his man, but his effort was dived on by Flint.
Sainty almost got a second, another dangerous corner from Willmott caused a scramble in the box where the ball fell to Barry’s no.4, who sent the ball high over the woodwork. At this point Barry was in total control of the affair, creating sustained attacks and gave Flint very little going forward.
The hosts continued to threaten down the right channel, Willmott played a delicate ball through to George, at the byline he floated the ball towards the unmarked Patten at the back post, on the half volley his first time strike agonisingly curled away from goal.
Seconds later Patten bagged his brace, Evan Press drove the ball up the left side, putting Lambert to the floor in the process, his whipped cross was spilt by Flint into Patten’s path who smashed the ball home wheeling away with delight.
Jones almost gave the visitors a lifeline at the death, teammate Isaac Lee found him open in the box, but his volleyed strike fizzed just wide of the post. Barry held on until the final whistle as they pick up successive wins with a trip to Newtown up next Saturday.
Steve Jenkins becomes new Head of Football and First Team Coach, Andy Legg appointed as new Head Coach
Barry Town United can now confirm a change to their on field management structure. Steve Jenkins will move into the Head of Football and first team coach role.
As a result of this change we are pleased to announce that Andy Legg will become our new Head Coach.
Former Welsh International Andy brings much experience to the club with over 700 games played during his career as well as management stints at both Llanelli and Bangor.
We’re looking forward to being back at Jenner Park tomorrow and welcoming Andy to the club.
The Town take on Flint Town United at Jenner Park, Saturday 1 February in a 2:30pm kick off.
Supersub Kayne McLaggon fired Barry through to the final four of the Nathaniel MG Cup with a 3-2 victory over Pen y Bont.
A brace from the inform Ollie Hulbert and an 80th minute winner from Kayne McLaggon earned Barry a hard-fought win to propel them into the semifinals for the first time in four years.
Five changes were made to Steve Jenkins’ side, Hulbert returned after being fully rested against Caerau Ely on Saturday. Luc Rees started in goal for the Town as Robbie Willmott, Elliot Richards and Ieuan Owen also came into the starting eleven.
Pen y Bont started brightly, in the fifth minute an Eduardo Bregua cross found defender Gabriel Kircough, who’s cushioned header looped over Luc Rees into the goal. Kircough came close to a second in the 27th minute when his header struck the crossbar.
Harrison Bright found space down the left wing for Barry throughout the first half but was unable to find a man free in yellow to threaten the visitors.
Pen y Bont keeper Michael Lewis was kept busy during the opening 45, denying Bright’s goal-bound strike in the 37th minute and claiming multiple of the Town’s crosses.
In the 34th minute Town’s star boy Hulbert scored the leveller, a Bright throw-in from distance caused chaos in the visitor box, unable to clear the ball, it found Hulbert who shifted it onto his favoured right foot and smashed the ball into the roof of the net.
His second of the evening came ten minutes later, Bright provided a whipped cross for the Town’s no.22 to direct into the bottom left corner, making his tally for the season 11 in all competitions.
Late on in the first Ioan Philips failed to capitalize on an opportunity to tie the match for the visitors, his close-range effort was sent wide of the post to his disbelief.
Barry came close to extending their lead in the dying moments of the half but instinctive blocking from Pen y Bont defenders meant the score was 2-1 at halftime.
Tempers flared between players when Pen y Bont’s James Crole committed a rash off the ball challenge on Ben Margetson, to the anger of Barry only a yellow card was issued.
Keenan Patten saw his header go just wide of the goal to make it 3-1 in the 52nd minute. Bright key in the build-up played through Elliot Richards, on the run his lofted cut-back found the unmarked Patten who directed his header inches off target.
Barry keeper Luc Rees was put under unnecessary pressure when Josh Yorwerth played an unwelcomed back pass, the visitors no.14 forced Rees to scramble the ball out for a corner kick.
Following a fast break Crole found space in the box to pull the trigger, but Callum Sainty recovered excellently to deny their no.10 from levelling the tie. Crole did equalise eventually, in the 78th minute his right footed strike curled into the bottom right corner to make it 2-2.
It took only two minutes for the Barry to retake the lead. A stunning diagonal pass from Willmott found Hulbert on the left wing who chopped inside and found the unmarked McLaggon at the back post, his volley was struck low and hard into the bottom right corner.
Barry fought hard for the remaining minutes of the match; conservative ball retention gave the Town the rest bite they needed to see out the match and secure their place in the semifinals with the draw set for 8pm on the 28th October.
A trip to North Wales for Jenkins’ men next as they face newly promoted Flint Town at 2:30pm on Saturday 26th October.
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.
Kavanagh is the Town’s 7th signing of a busy summer
The Town is delighted to announce the signing of Ryan Kavanagh. 21 year old Ryan joins from his boyhood club Cardiff City where he played his football from the age of 7.
A dynamic midfielder, Ryan will compliment hugely the skill set of midfielders already at the club and we’re excited to see him in a Barry Town shirt.
Ryan’s home and away shirt are now available to sponsor.
Willmott becomes Steve Jenkins’ 6th summer signing
Barry Town United is delighted to announce the signing of Robbie Willmott subject to International Clearance.
A Versatile midfielder Robbie will be well known for his time at EFL neighbours Newport County where he spent 9 seasons making a staggering 292 appearances.
The 34 year old was a huge part of the Exiles incredible run to the Emirates FA Cup fifth round during the 2018-2019 season where he scored important goals and created assists against Leicester City, Middlesbrough and Manchester City.
Willmott started his career in the academies of Buntingford Town and Cambridge United. In 2007, at the age of 17, he made his debut for the U’s in the then-Conference Premier.
Over five seasons and two spells – with two seasons and 67 appearances at Luton Town in between – he made 139 appearances for Cambridge.
Robbie’s home and away shirt are both now available for sponsorship.
Barry Town United has a vacancy for the role of Commercial Manager
As Commercial Manager of Barry Town United AFC, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the club’s commercial operations, growth and overall success.
You will need to be responsible for overseeing the commercial aspects of the club with a focus on developing a commercial strategy, increasing sponsorship agreements, develop the club’s marketing and brand strategy, along with identifying new commercial and partnership opportunities.
