Owen Brain struck twice, including an 89th-minute winner, as Barry Town United came from behind to secure a dramatic 3-2 victory over Flint Town United at the Essity Stadium.

Elliott Dugan gave The Town an early lead before goals from Joe Malkin and Harry Dean turned the game around for the hosts. Brain levelled shortly after half-time before popping up in the closing stages to secure all three points for Barry.

First Half

Barry started positively and created their first opening after four minutes when Owen Brain’s corner was gathered by the Flint goalkeeper.

Just two minutes later, The Town had the breakthrough. Elliott Dugan found the back of the net in the sixth minute to give Barry an early 1-0 lead.

However, Flint were handed an opportunity to respond when the referee awarded the hosts a penalty in the 10th minute. Following a VAR check, the decision stood and Joe Malkin converted from the spot two minutes later to make it 1-1.

Barry looked to regain their advantage immediately. Owen Cuddihy produced a brilliant run down the flank before seeing his initial effort blocked and his second attempt cleared.

Brain was next to threaten, with his 16th-minute strike deflected behind for a corner. He stepped up to take the resulting set-piece, but the short-corner routine came to nothing.

The hosts completed the turnaround in the 24th minute. After another VAR check confirmed the referee’s decision, Harry Dean found the net to put Flint 2-1 ahead.

Despite trailing, Barry continued to see plenty of the ball and applied pressure, but a well-organised Flint defence made chances difficult to come by.

Flint threatened from a corner in the 36th minute, although the ball eventually found the side-netting.

Barry then enjoyed a promising spell. Cuddihy did well down the left before finding Sion Spence, whose effort dragged wide. Mikey George then produced an excellent run and combined with Spence before the ball eventually fell to Dugan, who fired over the crossbar.

Captain Callum Sainty tried his luck from the edge of the area shortly afterwards, but his effort was comfortably dealt with by the Flint goalkeeper.

Dugan required treatment after an aerial challenge in the 41st minute but was able to continue.

Flint came agonisingly close to extending their advantage two minutes later when an effort crashed against the crossbar, with Barry somehow escaping without conceding a third.

Four minutes of additional time were indicated, and Spence had the final opportunity of the half when he fired over the bar.

Half-time: Flint Town United 2-1 Barry Town United

Second Half

Barry came out looking for a response after the break, with Brain delivering a cross into the penalty area in the 49th minute which was claimed by the Flint goalkeeper.

Dugan then produced a driving run into the box before Spence saw an effort deflected and cleared.

Flint responded with two opportunities of their own, but George Ratcliffe was called into action twice in quick succession, first denying a shot from inside the area before keeping out a header moments later.

Those saves proved important as Barry drew level in the 54th minute.

Owen Brain found the back of the net to make it 2-2 and bring The Town right back into the contest.

Sainty required treatment shortly after the equaliser but was able to carry on.

Brain continued to cause problems for the Flint defence and delivered an excellent cross from the left in the 62nd minute, but Spence was unable to get the decisive touch.

Steve Jenkins made his first change a minute later as Jack Shaw replaced Jadyn Crosbie.

Barry continued to search for a third, with another Brain corner travelling through the penalty area before eventually being cleared.

A second change followed in the 69th minute, with Daniel Smith replacing opening goalscorer Dugan.

Flint then began to build momentum and Barry needed a crucial intervention from Will Richards in the 71st minute, with the defender clearing off the line following a scramble inside the box.

The hosts went close again three minutes later when a dangerous cross somehow evaded everyone inside the Barry penalty area.

At the other end, Smith went down inside the box in the 80th minute, but the referee waved away Barry’s appeals.

Shaw was shown a yellow card two minutes later for a high boot before Smith also entered the referee’s book in the 87th minute.

Then came the decisive moment.

With just a minute of normal time remaining, Sainty’s initial effort from close range was saved, but Brain was quickest to react to the rebound and bundled the ball home to send Barry 3-2 ahead.

It was Brain’s second goal of the evening and completed an impressive second-half turnaround for The Town.

Six additional minutes were indicated, giving Flint one final opportunity to rescue something from the contest.

Ratcliffe produced another important save in the 91st minute to deny a Flint effort from inside the penalty area, before Smith went down in the opposite box three minutes later while attempting to get a shot away, but once again no penalty was awarded.

Barry saw out the remaining minutes to secure a dramatic victory on the road and continue their winning start to the Novira Cymru Premier campaign.

Full-time: Flint Town United 2-3 Barry Town United

Barry Town United Starting XI

31. George Ratcliffe
2. Michael George
3. Ellis Williams
4. Callum Sainty (C)
9. Jadyn Crosbie
10. Owen Brain
15. Theo Wharton
17. Owen Cuddihy
20. Elliott Dugan
23. Sion Spence
24. Will Richards

Substitutes: Joe Thomas (GK), Daniel Smith, James Lester, Joshua Bernard, Jack Shaw, Joseph Case, Keegan Saunders.

Barry substitutions:
63′ – Jack Shaw replaced Jadyn Crosbie
69′ – Daniel Smith replaced Elliott Dugan

Goals: Elliott Dugan 6′, Owen Brain 54′, 89′