Match Report | Barry Town 3 – 2 Connah’s Quay Nomads | Cymru Premier
9th November
Super sub Ieuan Owen scores silky solo run to give Barry three points in action packed affair at Jenner Park.
Going into the match manager Steve Jenkins continued to rotate the squad, this time wingback pair Michael George and Joshua Beecher came into the starting XI as Keenan Patten replaced Ryan Kavanagh in midfield.
The visitors started with intensity; a dangerous Declan Poole cross called Town defender Ben Margetson into action early who earnt a goal kick with his clearance ricocheting off Nomads’ Daniel Roberts.
In the fifth minute Luc Rees’s goal kick was met by a smart Samual Snaith flick on into the path of Ollie Hulbert, who was met by a strong challenge from John Disney, the resulting freekick forced Nomads keeper George Ratcliffe into action, Robbie Willmott’s effort arched over the wall towards Ratcliffe’s bottom right corner before it was met by the glove of the Nomads no.1.
Soon after Town’s Callum Sainty had a busy few minutes with headed clearances to prevent Poole’s effort from distance and a dangerous Rhys Hughes cross. He too denied a close ranged strike from Jack Kenny to keep the tie level.
In the 13th minute Connah’s Quay Ben Nash found himself unmarked in the box, but his poorly directed header was off target and swept up by Barry’s no.1.
Barry utilised Snaith’s height again to play through Hulbert, but Town’s 22 found himself sandwiched between defensive pair Nash and Kai Edwards who blocked his effort to threaten Ratcliffe.
Barry was forced to make two quick substitutions with Hulbert and Elliot Richards forced off the field with injury and replaced by Ryan Kavavagh and Kayne McLaggon.
The Town took the lead in the 22nd minute, a brilliant team move was rounded off by McLaggon’s strike to the low right side of Ratcliffe. Kavanagh started the move with a smart bit of skill to beat his man, the ball was moved through the midfield quickly by Keenan Patten, who fired the ball into the feet of Snaith on the edge of the area. Snaith chipped the ball over Nomad defender Edwards to McLaggon, who shrugged of Nash and sent his strike past the keeper.
After the opener the Town took control of the tie and nearly double their lead in the 30th minute through McLaggon again. Kavanagh dispossessed Ben Maher and drove the ball down field, with his pass feeding through Barry’s no.7, as he pulled the trigger the leg of Poole denied him the chance to double the lead. Minutes later Joshua Beecher drove the ball downfield and cut it across to the oncoming Patten who pulled his shot wide left of the goal.
Just shy of halftime the visitors had an opportunity to bring the score level, Poole sent the ball into the Town’s box which was met by the unmarked Maher who directed his header high over the bar.
The Nomads looked to bring the score even straight after halftime, substitute Luca Hogen fired his shot into the side netting again off that back of a threatening Poole cross.
The Town almost doubled their advantage in the 50th minute, a well-worked move between Beecher and Patten carved through the visitor’s defence, the latter’s cut back trickled through the box and fell to the feet ofMichael George before his miscued attempt fired off the woodwork to his despair.
Despite their lack of chances on goal Connah’s Quay clinically equalised in the 58th minute, Poole’s low cross bounced across the Town’s penalty area into the path of Hughes, who’s first time strike curled into the bottom right corner.
With fresh legs on the field the matches intensity cranked right up with both teams hunting to take the lead, efforts from respected forwards McLaggon and Kenny were dealt with comfortably by their opposites.
The Town did take the lead in the 73rd minute with substitute Ieuan Owen, who positioned himself perfectly at the back post to tap home Kavanagh’s wayward effort.
Hughes replied for the Nomads in fine fashion with his 25-yard freekick curling into the top corner, just out of reach from the claw of Rees to keep the Town in front. The goal resulted from a tactical shirt pull from Kavanagh on Callum Bratley who beat him with a quick shift of the ball.
The Town replied with the winner instantly, the ball dropped to McLaggon just inside his own half, under pressure he poked the ball around the corner into the feet of Owen, who put his head down and drove the ball past Roberts and Disney, both of whom were determined to chop him down, one-on-one Owen slotted the ball past Ratcliffe to his bottom left corner and sent Jenner Park into ecstasy.
Late brave defending from duo Rees and Sainty ensure the Town take all three points, the latter provided a crucial block deep in added time, keeping Barry firmly in the run for the Championship round with six games left to play.
The Town look to build on this impressive performance with a trip to Caernarfon in a fortnights time, Ko 2:30pm.
Barry Town 3 – 2 Connah’s Quay Nomads
Barry Town: Rees, George, Beecher, Sainty, Margetson (Owen 65’), E Richards (Kavanagh 13’), Snaith (, Patten, Willmott, Hulbert (McLaggon 19’), Press Subs: Masrani, McLaggon (Hulbert 19’), Lewis, Owen, Richards, Bright, Kavanagh (E Richards 13’).
Connah’s Quay Nomads: Ratcliffe, Disney, Roberts, Nash, Edwards, Kenny, Maher (Hogan 45’), Edwards, Pownall (Bratley 77’), Hughes, Poole Subs: Rushton, Dugan, Bratley (Pownall 77’), Hogan (Maher 45’), Flanders.