Barry Town 3 – 1 Flint Town | Cymru Premier | Play-off Conference
Saturday 1 February, 2025

A Keenan Patten brace inspired back-to-back wins for Barry as they keep their 100% record and remain top of the play-off table.

The first half saw a trio of goals as both sides traded blows in an entertaining encounter. Keenan Patten broke the deadlock two minutes into the game with a smart finish. Flint Towns’ Izaack Lambert replied from close range as Callum Sainty restored the lead with a back post tap in.

But an emphatic second half display rounded off by Patten’s second of the match rightfully earned the Town all three points.

Barry remained unchanged after last week’s 2 -1 win away at Aberystwyth, Ryan Kavanagh earned his third successive start as duo Ollie Hulbert and Kayne McLaggon led the line.

To break the deadlock a silky team move involving Michael George, Robbie Willmott and Ollie Hulbert down the right wing ended with Patten’s confident left footed finish, which he guided past Jack Flint and gave the Town a dream start.

Soon after Armstrong was met by a flurry of chances as Flint looked to restore the scoreline. Striker Elliot Reeves forced a stop with his low drilled attempt and Joshua Jones’ looping header gave Armstrong an easy claim.

After both teams settled into the game Ollie Hulbert was sent marauding forward running onto a Willmott pass, supported by Patten, who squared the ball across the edge of the area and found Ryan Kavanagh, with his right foot he almost doubled the hosts lead but his strike blazed narrowly over the crossbar.

Flint Towns leveller came in the 24^th minute, a Jake Philips long throw-in caused chaos for the Town, Armstrong dropped the ball on his own goal line and in the frame of Lambert, who struck the ball into the net to make it 1-1.

Barry replied minutes later, Willmott swung his corner towards the head of Will Richards, who’s guided attempt struck the underside of the bar, in true poachers fashion Sainty was waiting to pounce on the rebound and gave the hosts the advantage once more.

With minutes left of the first interval Hulbert nearly doubled the lead, George played through Hulbert who cut inside from the right and fired towards goal, to his frustration, his shot was sent high over the bar with the score remaining 2-1 going into half time.

Barry didn’t step off the gas in the second half and came back out fierce in the press. Moments after the restart Kavanagh’s found himself on the right edge of the box, his tantalising cross needed all but a touch to find the net but there was no teammate in sight. In the 52^nd minute Hulbert displayed a fine bit of skill to get free from his man, but his effort was dived on by Flint.

Sainty almost got a second, another dangerous corner from Willmott caused a scramble in the box where the ball fell to Barry’s no.4, who sent the ball high over the woodwork. At this point Barry was in total control of the affair, creating sustained attacks and gave Flint very little going forward.

The hosts continued to threaten down the right channel, Willmott played a delicate ball through to George, at the byline he floated the ball towards the unmarked Patten at the back post, on the half volley his first time strike agonisingly curled away from goal.

Seconds later Patten bagged his brace, Evan Press drove the ball up the left side, putting Lambert to the floor in the process, his whipped cross was spilt by Flint into Patten’s path who smashed the ball home wheeling away with delight.

Jones almost gave the visitors a lifeline at the death, teammate Isaac Lee found him open in the box, but his volleyed strike fizzed just wide of the post. Barry held on until the final whistle as they pick up successive wins with a trip to Newtown up next Saturday.

Barry Town – Armstrong, George, Sainty, Margetson, McLaggon © (Owen 72’), Patten, Wilmott, Hulbert (Snaith 78’), W Richards, Press, Kavanagh. Subs – Masrani, Yorwerth, E Richards, Snaith (Hulbert 78’), Lewis, Owen (McLaggon 72’), Bright.

Flint Town – Flint, Burke, Mariette, Owen ©, Phillips, Hughes (Hart 74’), Reeves (Maire 89’), Jones, Lambert (Collins 75’), Lee, Fofana. Subs – Murphy, Hart, Wynne, Brindley-Peagram, Maire, Morrison, Collins.