Barry Town Have Welsh League Title And Promotion In Their Sights

Barry Town United are closing in on the Welsh League Division One title.

Manager Gavin Chesterfield and his team won 3-1 against Ton Pentre at Ynys Park and are five points clear at the top five five fixtures to play.

Phil Clarke fired Ton ahead, while Barry hit back with goals from Curtis Watkins, captain James Saddler and Drew Fahiya.

Their next match is against Goytre United at Jenner Park on Saturday (2.30pm).

Saddler, who fired his first goal of the season, was man of the match for a Barry team who started their April fixtures in style.

Chesterfield and Barry won manager and club awards in March for a record which saw them win four and draw one of their five fixtures, scoring 10 goals and conceding two.

Barry are intent on promotion to the Welsh Premier League and must finish in the top two to achieve that feat.

Both Ton Pentre and Barry finished with 10 players at Ynys Park.

Ton’s Liam Hutchinson saw red for a rash tackle on the edge of the penalty area, allowing Curtis Watkins to equalise from the free-kick.

Barry’s James Dixon was sent off for kicking out at Clarke shortly after the break, but the visitors regained their composure, with Fahiya and Saddler both netting in quick succession to seal the win.

Barry have suffered only one league defeat since mid-October and are going for the title, while second-placed Goytre won 5-0 at Afan Lido to stay in touch.

In contrast, back-to-back defeats puts Ton Pentre just two points above the relegation zone.

Barry Town United’s remaining First Division fixtures are all in April: Saturday 8 v Goytre United (home, 2.30pm), Saturday 15 v Risca United (home, 2.30pm), Tuesday 18 v Goytre United (away, 7.30pm), Saturday 22 v Cambrian and Clydach (away, 2.30pm), Saturday 29 v Ton Pentre (home, 2.30pm).

Division One fixtures this Saturday: Cambrian and Clydach v Haverfordwest County, Goitre United v Barry Town United, Monmouth Town v Taffs Well, Penybont v Caerau Ely, Port Talbot Town v Afan Lido, Risca United v Caldicot Town, Undy Athletic v Ton Pentre.

Llanelli Town are still unbeaten in Division Two and their latest result was a 2-2 draw against Croesyceiliog.

Lee Trundle is Llanelli’s top scorer but during an uninspiring performance against Croesy the former Swansea City hitman even missed a penalty.

Llanelli are second in the table having won 16 of their 21 matches and drawn five, one point behind Briton Ferry Llansawel with five games in hand.

Croesy had a simply game plan, using one lone striker and flooding both midfield and defence.

Both goals for the visitors came when Llanelli failed to deal with set-pieces effectively.

Trundle put Llanelli in front after 33 minutes from a Jordan Davies pass, while Dan Pritchard made it 1-1 when he netted for Croesyceliog.

The Reds went close inspired piece by Trundle saw him turn his marker and send a chip over goalkeeper Church, but it clipped a post on the way out of play.

Three minutes into the second half Llanelli were ahead again when Liam Samuel’s effort rebounded off the bar and Joe Clarke struck the rebound low into the net.

Croesyrceiliog levelled again three minutes later when a Matthew Sainsbury free-kick swung into the goalmouth and led to a scramble in front of the net. Tom Doidge was credited with the final touch to send the ball over the line.

When Trundle was brought down in the area referee Paul Hitchcott (Ammanford) pointed to the spot, but the striker fired the spot-kick against a post.

Llanelli’s next fixture, at Garden Village, was postponed and their next game is against Pontypridd Town on Friday (April 7, 7.30pm)

Llanelli Town: Morris, Graves, March, Clarke, C Thomas, Bevan (capt), Samuel; Davies, Wade (R Jones 76), Trundle, Loveridge (L Jones 71). Subs not used: A Jones; R Thomas, Morgan.

STM Sports are top of Division Three on 54 points, but they have played six more fixtures than second-placed Llantwit Major (48 points).

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