Barry Town kicked off 2024 in style with a convincing 4-0 win over Newtown in the JD Cymru Premier at Jenner Park.
The dominant performance against the fourth placed Robins was led by an unlikely double and an assist from Ben Blythe. Sam Snaith and Ollie Hulburt also secured places on the scoresheet as the Town cruised to victory in Steve Jenkins’ absence.
Blythe opened his account for the Town on 18 minutes with a Rhys Davies cross trickling across the six-yard box for the Swansea loanee to smartly find the bottom corner.
The centre-back completed his brace from a Barry corner with a powerful header. A Jamie Veale corner had the centre-back rising highest to double the hosts’ lead.
Snaith was able to seal three points for the Town inside the hour mark, another Veale corner finding the Town striker to take his goal tally to two goals in two league starts. The 23-year-old’s first league start since August 19.
Ollie Hulburt rubbed salt in the wound when he added a 71st minute winner. After threatening breaking the line of defence throughout the match, he eventually made it count, slotting home Blythe’s through ball for 4-0.
After a stretched opening few minutes, Ollie Hulburt beat the offside trap with Callum Sainty showing great vision from the back, the Town striker could only force a corner with a good save from Andrew Wycherley.
It was déjà vu for Hulburt ten minutes later. A ball over the top allowed the 21-year-old to demonstrate his burst in acceleration, denied by a brilliant Wycherley save.
Newtown’s chances were few and far between although a looping cross had Louis Robles testing Luc Rees able to make a comfortable save.
Aiden Lewis was given a golden opportunity to double the Town’s lead late in the first half when he intercepted a misplaced goal kick, spraying his effort from outside the box.
League top goalscorer, Aaron Williams had a chance to reduce the deficit in the second half when the ball fell from the sky on the penalty spot. Getting his technique all wrong, the Newtown striker couldn’t find the target.
Despite running riot so freely throughout, Barry couldn’t secure a fifth despite continuing to push in late minutes. A darting run from Mike George down the right-wing found Keenan Patten in an unlikely position in the box but he couldn’t beat the Robins’ ‘keeper.
Barry Town United: Rees, Press ©, Sainty, Blythe, Davies (Hugh 85’), Patten, Veale, Lewis (Tomlinson 52’), Hulburt (Huggins 85’), Snaith (McLaggon 78’).
Subs not used: Tucker, Greening, Sylvester.
Newtown: Wycherley, Sears, Mills-Evans (Hughes 78’), Sutton ©, R. Evans, Robles, Ismael (Boakye 65’), Williams, Cowans, Jones, D. Smith.
Subs not used: Ussher, Sharp, C. Smith, Downs, Taylor.
Goals: Blythe 19’, 43’, Snaith 59’, Hulburt 71’.
Yellow Cards: Patten 82’. Cowans 50’, D. Smith 58’.