A 9th minute goal from Barry Man of the Match, Luke Cooper, was just enough to earn Barry three points in the return festive fixture at Windmill Lane.

Travelling support made up a large amount of the 550 fans at the game, as Barry went four points clear at the top of JD Cymru South.

The early goal came from a corner on the Barry left with Cooper outjumping his marker to head home.

It was a tight match, though, and Barry had to defend doggedly in the second half, especially after the sending off of Chris Hugh for a second yellow card in the 58th minute left Town down to ten men with more than half an hour to play.

Llantwit’s numerical advantage was clear and in the final minutes, Mike Lewis’s goal led a charmed life, with one effort coming back off the inside of the post, and a number of scrambled clearances inside the box, but Barry held on.

Barry Town stretched their winning run to 12 league matches as they beat Llantwit Major 2-1 at Jenner Park to keep hold of top spot in the Cymru South.

Josh Graham’s second-half strike settled the game after Nathan Evans had cancelled out Liam Warman’s opener. Barry had been under pressure before Graham’s goal and endured a tough time until they went in front for a second time.

With their victory, Lee Kendall’s men remain a point above second-placed Briton Ferry Llansawel, who comfortably saw off ten-man Goytre United. Kendall’s only blemish since succeeding Gavin Chesterfield was a Welsh Cup defeat to Gresford Athletic.

The visitors almost opened the scoring in the first attack of the game but failed to take their opportunity. Matt Kimmins dribbled into the box but Rob Jones could not scruff his shot at goal having fallen to the floor.

Barry had seen their fair share of possession in the opening stages but it was a set piece that almost saw them take the lead. Chris Hugh’s corner-kick was floated in and Luke Cooper with a free header cleared it over the bar. Liam Warman and Jordan Cotterill then had half-opportunities from uncleared corner kicks, but could only blaze their shots from outside the box over the goal.

Barry changed their game up from crosses to playing on the deck and almost scored from it. Graham tackled and from the centre, Sainty played a pass out to Warman, before receiving the ball back in the box and scooping his wide.

The deadlock was broken in fortuitous fashion with Llantwit’s hard work undone by the slippery surface. Warman received the ball from Press and drilled a low shot underneath Jack Lansdowne, who fumbled his effort, with the ball going underneath him.

Barry’s lead would be short-lived however and it could be Mike Lewis that would be looking to the heavens after relentless rain. Nathan Evans let fly from 25 yards out and it slipped out of the Barry keeper’s hands into the net.

Llantwit finished the first half strongly with Kimmins twisting and turning but his teammates’ route was blocked for a clear run at goal. Rob Jones fizzed a low attempt just past the post. A similar opportunity fell in stoppage time with Kimmins again showing neat footwork and setting up Jones, but the shot would take a deflection as it agonisingly missed the target.

The second half started with a half-opportunity for Michael George, who enjoyed his partnership with Warman in front of him. George was influential down the right side and found Sam Johnson with a delightful ball, but he was blocked numerous times by Lansdown as he tried to touch a shot home.

Llantwit carved several opportunities with Lewis almost gifting substitute Ryan Harris a gift with a low cross nearly trickling underneath him. The tricky Kimmins then had two chances to score, with one saved and another going wide.

The tenacious Graham scored his fourth goal of the season to put Barry in front. He drilled a low shot past a sea of bodies that obstructed Lansdown’s view to restore the hosts’ advantage.

Barry’s second goal gave them fresh confidence to add a third and Johnson – who endured a difficult day in front of goal – could not get a first-time shot from George’s cross.

A raft of substitutions came as the game entered the last 15 minutes and that took the sting out of the game. Llantwit did have a few half opportunities to score with Joel Woodington flashing twice two shots, but ultimately they fell to defeat.

By Jordan Jones  of Y Clwb Pêl-droed

Liam Warman scored the only goal before half time, after the red mist descended on Old Gold captain Greg Walters.

The result leaves Barry top of the table and four points clear of second placed Llanelli Town, while Carmarthen remain in fourth, nine points behind Barry.

With both sides in the upper echelons of the Cymru South table, attack was certainly going to be the recipe for success, and the opening half produced just that.

For large periods of the first half, it was Carmarthen who had the better chances. Thomas Dyson and Liam Thomas having half chances, but they came to nothing, but they were certainly in the ascendancy.

Then the game changed on the half hour mark. Greg Walters fouled Kayne McLaggon, and after the referee awarded the free kick, Walters kicked McLaggon, who was lying in pain on the floor. The referee had no option but to send him off, in what was a bonkers decision from the away captain.

The sending off certainly boosted Barry’s confidence as they pushed themselves up field and took the lead seven minutes before the half time break.

McLaggon laid the ball of to Liam Warman on the edge of the area. His shot took a deflection and looped over a back-pedalling Nicholas Jones, who had no chance of saving it, and Barry were in the lead at the break.

There’s no doubting Barry were looking to turn the screw after the break, and almost doubled their lead. Jordan Cotterill’s effort looked destined to nestle in the net, but Matthew Delaney made a goal line clearance to keep the deficit to one.

Warman then had a chance to convert a Josh Graham cross, but he couldn’t get any connection on it. If he did, the lead would have been doubled.

For large swathes of the second half, however, the game was played in Carmarthen’s half, and a combination of Barry not executing in the final third and Carmarthen not able to get out and counter made for a tough watch at times.

Carmarthen did find themselves further up the field in the final stages of the game, but their efforts came to nothing, and they left Jenner Park defeated.

Barry will face Cwmbran Celtic at Jenner Park next week, while Carmarthen will welcome Taffs Well to Richmond Park.

By Siôn Misra Of Clwbpeldroed

Image Credit: Louis James

A return to league action last Friday night saw Barry return to winning ways and continue their impressive winning streak in the league.

Cambrian started the game brightest and after 19 minutes they were rewarded for their efforts when Liam Eason dispatched a penalty for the home side.

By half time Barry would have felt hard done by to go in 1-0 down having created a number of good chances that Johnson the Cambrian keeper was able to save.

The pattern of play continued into the second half and after 56 minutes Liam Warman cut inside from the left hand side and stuck a thunderous shot into the top right corner giving Barry their equaliser.

With the equaliser found, Barry continued their ascendancy and 10 minutes later Mclaggon found himself through over the top. Crossing the ball across the box, Jordan Cotterill was on hand to convert the chance and give Barry all three points.

Although a late chance for Cambrian could have seen them seal a draw, Mike Lewis was one hand to make a fantastic save to keep Barry in the lead and see out the result.

Barry’s first match with Gresford Athletic saw the Wrexham area club advance into the fourth round of the Welsh Cup.

Barry failed to gel against their Cymru North opponents, with a goal-less first half that neither club were able to control.

Gresford were the better side in the second half, with Dominic Deacon’s shot forcing Mike Lewis to tip the ball over the bar.

The visitors took the lead through Charlie Mann in the 63rd minute, having increased the pressure on the Barry defence.

Barry tried to force an equaliser, but failed to seriously trouble Jonathan Hill-Dunt, the former Prestatyn goalkeeper in the Gresford goal.

With the minutes ticking away, Barry continued to pressurise to try and get a goal to take the match to penalties, but, at the other end, substitute Jacob Barratt scored in the 93rd minute to secure the win for the away team.