Barry Town United’s perfect start to the Novira Cymru Premier season came to an agonising end as a late goal handed The New Saints a 1-0 victory in Oswestry.
Steve Jenkins’ side arrived across the border with six wins from six and produced another impressive display against the reigning champions, twice having the ball in the net during the first half and striking the woodwork on two occasions.
However, despite more than matching the hosts for much of the contest, an 88th-minute winner proved the difference as Barry suffered their first defeat of the campaign.
Jenkins made three changes to the side that defeated Briton Ferry on Bank Holiday Monday, with captain Callum Sainty, Daniel Barton and Noah Daley coming into the starting XI, the latter making his full debut for the club.
Barry made a bright start and Owen Cuddihy caused plenty of problems down the left. His early cross towards Daley and Elliott Dugan was cleared behind before Owen Brain’s resulting corner found Sainty, whose deflected header earned another corner. Will Richards met the second delivery but headed wide.
The Town thought they had taken the lead after just eight minutes. Mikey George did brilliantly to get into the TNS penalty area before the ball eventually found Daley, who turned and struck the post. The rebound sparked a scramble inside the area before George found the back of the net, but celebrations were cut short as the goal was ruled out for offside following a VAR check.
At the other end, Sainty produced an excellent challenge inside the Barry penalty area to halt a TNS attack, despite appeals from the home support for a penalty.
Cuddihy continued to cause problems, producing a crunching challenge before carrying the ball beyond three TNS players, but the afternoon was unfortunately cut short for Owen when he was forced off through injury on the half-hour mark. James Lester replaced him, with Ellis Williams moving across to left-back.
Despite TNS enjoying more possession, Barry restricted the hosts to very few clear-cut opportunities and continued to threaten themselves.
The Town then had the ball in the net for a second time in the 37th minute. Brain delivered a free-kick into the TNS penalty area, with the ball eventually looping towards Dugan, who headed beyond the goalkeeper and into the net. However, the referee spotted an infringement and awarded TNS a free-kick, meaning Dugan’s effort was ruled out and the score remained 0-0.
It meant Barry had found the back of the net twice during the opening 45 minutes without either goal counting – George’s effort being disallowed for offside following a VAR check, before Dugan’s header was chalked off after the referee awarded the hosts a free-kick.
Theo Wharton then produced an important block to deny the hosts inside the penalty area before Barry saw out six minutes of first-half stoppage time to head into the break level.
Barry almost made the perfect start to the second half.
Brain won a free-kick just outside the TNS penalty area before stepping up and striking the post with a superb effort, leaving the hosts breathing another sigh of relief.
George Ratcliffe comfortably dealt with a long-range effort at the other end before Barry threatened again. Wharton found Brain with a clever pass and the midfielder looked set to round the goalkeeper before a TNS defender made a crucial intervention to concede a corner.
Brain’s resulting set-piece was eventually recycled before he was fouled again on the right-hand side. His free-kick found Daley at the back post, whose header towards goal was ruled out for offside.
Daley’s full debut came to an end shortly afterwards as Daniel Smith was introduced in his place.
Barry continued to defend superbly as TNS attempted to find a breakthrough. George threw himself in front of a dangerous effort in the 66th minute, while Lester, Richards and Sainty all produced important clearances as the pressure began to build.
Wharton continued to cover plenty of ground in midfield for Jenkins’ side, while Sainty led by example at the back with another superb standing challenge as the game entered its closing stages.
Barry continued to carry a threat on the counter, with Smith winning possession before finding substitute Jack Shaw, whose cross into the penalty area was eventually cleared.
With three minutes of normal time remaining, Ratcliffe produced a fantastic stop to deny what looked certain to be the opening goal.
However, Barry’s resistance was finally broken in the 88th minute as TNS found the breakthrough to make it 1-0.
The hosts almost doubled their advantage in stoppage time, but Ratcliffe was once again on hand to produce another excellent save and keep the deficit at one.
The final whistle confirmed Barry’s first defeat of the campaign, bringing an end to their six-match winning run and leaving Jenkins’ side with a record of six wins and one defeat from their opening seven league matches.
It was a cruel conclusion to an impressive performance from The Town, who twice found the net in the first half without either goal standing, struck the woodwork through Daley and Brain and pushed the champions all the way until the closing stages.
Barry leave Oswestry empty-handed, but with plenty of positives after a performance that arguably deserved at least a point.
Full Time: The New Saints 1-0 Barry Town United
Attendance: 412