Barry Town United maintained their perfect start to the 2026/27 Novira Cymru Premier season with a 3-1 victory over Holywell Town at the Bartons North Wales Stadium.
Goals from Elliott Dugan, Owen Brain and Jack Shaw secured a fourth consecutive league victory for Steve Jenkins’ side, with Brain producing a moment of magic from a second-half free-kick before Shaw wrapped up the three points deep into stoppage time.
The victory leaves The Town top of the Cymru Premier with four wins from four.
First Half
Holywell got proceedings underway, but it was Barry who created the first real opportunity of the evening.
After winning an early corner, The Town went agonisingly close to opening the scoring in the sixth minute. Mikey George’s long ball released Owen Cuddihy down the flank, who cut the ball back into the path of Owen Brain. The midfielder worked himself into space before curling a superb effort towards goal, only to see it crash back off the crossbar.
Barry thought they had found the breakthrough four minutes later. Cuddihy floated an inviting cross into the area and Jadyn Crosbie headed home, but the assistant referee’s flag was raised for offside, with the decision subsequently confirmed following a VAR check.
Sion Spence was next to threaten as he drove into the Holywell penalty area, cut inside and fired narrowly over the crossbar.
Despite Barry’s positive start, it was the hosts who struck first on 15 minutes. Holywell broke quickly on the counter-attack before a composed finish put the Wellmen 1-0 ahead.
The Town responded well and began to apply sustained pressure on the Holywell defence. Josh Bernard’s cross found Crosbie, who held the ball up before laying it into the path of Brain. His first effort was saved before Barry quickly recycled possession, with Spence sending the ball across the area. Brain regained possession, beat two defenders, but was once again denied by the goalkeeper.
Spence then sent a free-kick over the crossbar before Cuddihy tried his luck from distance as Barry continued searching for an equaliser.
The pressure finally paid off on 31 minutes.
Elliott Dugan won Barry a corner which Brain delivered into a crowded penalty area. Holywell struggled to clear their lines and, following a scramble inside the box, Dugan reacted quickest to bundle the ball home and restore parity.
Barry almost completed the turnaround immediately afterwards when Cuddihy delivered another dangerous cross into the area, but neither Spence nor Crosbie could apply the finishing touch.
The visitors continued to push as half-time approached. Dugan, Crosbie and Bernard combined well to win another corner before Theo Wharton produced an excellent long pass to release Cuddihy. Brain eventually took over and drove into the penalty area, but his effort was deflected before Holywell cleared.
Deep into eight minutes of first-half stoppage time, Dugan was released by Crosbie and saw an effort deflected into the goalkeeper’s hands, while Spence also had a late attempt blocked following a Bernard free-kick.
The sides went into the interval level at 1-1.
Second Half
Barry started the second half on the front foot and continued to create opportunities from set-pieces.
Brain forced another corner after taking matters into his own hands in the 50th minute, beating his man before seeing his effort deflected behind at the final moment.
However, the game threatened to swing in Holywell’s favour when the hosts were awarded a penalty in the 56th minute, with Bernard shown a yellow card. Following a lengthy VAR check, the original decision stood.
But George Ratcliffe came to Barry’s rescue.
The goalkeeper guessed correctly and produced a superb save low to his right to keep the scores level and deny Holywell the opportunity to regain the lead.
The hosts went close again eight minutes later when they managed to take the ball beyond Ratcliffe, but Bernard recovered brilliantly to clear the ball off the line.
That intervention proved crucial.
Cuddihy produced an excellent run in the 71st minute, winning possession back before driving towards the Holywell penalty area and drawing a foul on the edge of the box.
Up stepped Owen Brain.
The midfielder curled a brilliant free-kick over the wall and beyond the goalkeeper to give Barry a deserved 2-1 lead, adding another memorable goal to his impressive start in a yellow and blue shirt.
Dugan thought he had added a third shortly afterwards when he rounded the goalkeeper and found the net, but the striker was flagged offside.
Holywell began to pile on the pressure as the game entered its closing stages, with Jenkins introducing Daniel Smith before Jack Shaw and Daniel Barton were also brought into the action.
The hosts continued searching for an equaliser, but Barry’s defence stood firm.
Then, four minutes into stoppage time, Jack Shaw put the result beyond doubt.
Shaw raced through one-on-one with the Holywell goalkeeper before emphatically smashing the ball into the back of the net. A VAR check followed, but the goal was confirmed to spark celebrations amongst The Town.
The final whistle eventually sounded with Barry securing a 3-1 victory and another three points on the road.
Four games. Four victories.
A perfect start to the season and top of the Novira Cymru Premier.
Full-Time
Holywell Town 1-3 Barry Town United
⚽ Elliott Dugan
⚽ Owen Brain
⚽ Jack Shaw
Barry Town United
Starting XI: George Ratcliffe, Mikey George, Ellis Williams, Jadyn Crosbie, Owen Brain, Theo Wharton, James Lester, Owen Cuddihy, Josh Bernard, Elliott Dugan, Sion Spence.
Substitutes: Daniel Barton, Rhys Schwank, Daniel Smith, Jack Shaw, Joe Case, Keegan Saunders.