Match Report | Barry Town 1 – 4 The New Saints | Cymru Premier
2nd November
Barry was defeated 4 – 1 by a well-drilled TNS side at Jenner Park.
A quality long-ranged strike from Leo Smith helped earn the visitors three points over a rallied Town performance. Samuel Snaith found the roof of the net for the Town in the 36th minute to half the visitor’s deficit, but accompanying finishes from Declan McManus, Dany Davies and Ashley Baker ended Barry’s three-game win streak.
A single change was made to Steve Jenkins’ side, Ryan Kavanagh replaced Keenan Patten in midfield. Jenkins watched on from the stands following his caution at Barry’s 2-1 victory over Flint Town last Saturday.
The visitors started the game with intensity barraging the Town’s box with crosses, but Barry’s defensive trio rose highest on every occasion to clear the danger and prevent TNS from going ahead early.
Snaith had a half chance to put the Town ahead in the 13th minute, Ollie Hulbert was key in the build-up to hound and dispossess TNS keeper Connor Roberts, from an acute angle Snaith shot was sent high over the empty goal to his frustration.
Shortly after Roberts was forced to save with his feet after a quick break from Hulbert and Snaith, the latter’s through ball broke the line of TNS and found Evan Press through on goal, his left footed strike met a strong boot which kept the tie level.
A quick double from the visitors gave them a two-goal cushion. In the 28th minute TNS’s Danny Davies slotted the ball into the bottom right corner and a minute later Ashley Baker extended their lead, following a scramble for possession in box his effort found the back of the net despite a wall of Town bodies in the way.
Barry’s Luc Rees provided a quick double save to keep the Town alive in the match, the latter nearly an own goal from Callum Sainty.
Samuel Snaith scored Barry’s only goal of the day in the 36th minute, the ball trickled through the box following a corner which found the open no.9 at the back post, he poked the ball into the roof of the net to cut TNS’s lead in half and spark a small period of Barry dominance.
McManus was eager to restore the visitors two goal advantage and did so right before halftime, in the 46thminute a cross from teammate Leo Smith found the unmarked no.9 who direct the ball past Rees into the right side of the goal.
The second 45 started tamer than expected with neither Rees nor Roberts called into action until the 57thminute. Town’s no.1 displayed more great goalkeeping, this time to deny a powerful Ben Clark strike from close range.
Barry remained determined to reduce the scoreline for a second time in the match, Press’s deft cross from the right wing found Hulbert at the back post but his headed attempt went just wide of the post.
In the 65th minute the visitors built on their lead to make it 4-1, Clark dispossessed Josh Yorwerth on the edge of his box and played a square pass to the oncoming Smith who’s distanced effort curled into the top right-hand corner.
The Town failed to create a clear-cut chance for the remainder of the match until substitute Ieuan Owen forced a stop out of TNS goalkeeper Roberts in 83rd minute, a loose ball was quickly pounced on by Owen inside the visitor’s box and drilled low to the near post, but it was met by a strong glove.
The town fort to win the ball for the remainder of the match but the visitors found space over the top to pen back Barry from kickstarting a late comeback.
Jenkins’s side have a week until their next tie as they play back-to-back games at Jenner Park, this time they’re met by Connah’s Quay Nomads at 14:30pm on the 9th November.
Barry Town: Rees, Sanity, Margetson, Yorwerth, Richards (George 84’), Snaith (Owen 75’), Willmott, Hulbert (McLaggon 68’), Press, Bright (Beecher 68’), Kavanagh (Lewis 75’) Subs: Armstrong, George (Richards 84’), Beecher (Bright 68’), McLaggon (Hulbert 68’), Lewis (Kavanagh 75’), Owen (Snaith 75’), W Richards.
The New Saints: Roberts, Pask, Bodenham, McManus (Jay-Oteh 78’), Redmond (Bradley 78’), D Williams (Holden 68’), J Williams (Brobbel 68’), Clark, Smith (Wilson 78’), Davies, Baker Subs: Karolak, Brobbel (J Williams 68’), Jay-Oteh (McManus (78’), Holden (D Williams 68’), Bradley (Redmond 78’), Wilson (Smith 78’), Doforo.