Crunch Clash Ahead For Barry Town and Haverfordwest In Welsh League

Barry Town United and Haverfordwest County are going head-to-head in a battle for the Welsh League title.

They clash at Jenner Park, Barry next Tuesday when the result will have a major impact on which club comes out on top.

Barry are top of Welsh League Division One ahead of Goytre FC and Haverfordwest. Only three points separate Barry and County.

Only two clubs, Barry and Port Talbot Town, have applied for a domestic licence which is essential for teams hoping to be promoted.

The team who goes up must finish in the top two of the First Division. Last season Barry Town were runners-up behind Cardiff Met, who were promoted and have done well in their first season of top flight football.

This time the task for Barry seems to be a top two finish. If they achieve that they will surely achieve promotion.

Barry have two home matches in four days, playing Rhondda club Cambrian and Clydach in Saturday before taking on Haverfordwest, who travel to Caldicot this weekend.

Man of the match Jordan Cotterill, Louis Gerrard (penalty) and Curtis Watkins scored for Barry in a 3-0 win against Port Talbot Town.

The match was goalless at half-time, but Barry took control after the break to earn all three points.

Port Talbot named a strong starting line-up with former Cardiff City youth goalkeeper Rory McCreesh Craig Jones, Robbie Thomas, Adam Jenkins and Lewis Holmes.

Anthony Rawlings, Jonathan Hood, Luke Bowen and Scott McCoubrey offered attacking options.

Almost 250 spectators were at the Victoria Ground and home player Luke Bowen went close after eight minutes when Barry goalkeeper Mike Lewis saved well. McCoubrey was quickly in on the rebound, but his effort flew wide.

Former Port Talbot forward Drew Fahyia fired in a powerful shot after 55 minutes and McCreesh saved superbly.

Barry enjoyed the majority of possession in the later stages of the second-half and the league leaders came close to breaking the deadlock on 66 minutes when they hit a post.

There were only six minutes left when Watkins headed in from a corner, a goal which upset Talbot manager Paul Evans. He was sent to the stands after being shown a red card by the referee.

Gerrard scored from a 90th minute penalty and then Cotterill made it 3-0 a minute later.

Haverfordwest, meanwhile, earned a fifth successive League win to move into the First Division top three, beating Cwmbran Celtic 3-0.

Greg Walters made it 2-0 with goals in the third and 20th minutes, but Cwmbran fought back and hit the bar 10 minutes before half-time.

County had Matt Broome sent off just after the break after being booked for the second time with Cwmbran scoring from the spot-kick.

Haverfordwest showed great resilience in clinching victory despite being a man down. They scored a third goal through Ricky Watts after 85 minute.

Their win set up what should be a cracking title showdown against Barry Town at Jenner Park next Tuesday.

Welsh League Division One

top seven only – all clubs play 30 fixtures

Pl Pts

1 Barry Town United 20 41

2 Goytre FC 21 40

3 Haverfordwest County 20 38

4 Penybont FC 20 36

5 Caerau Ely 20 36

6 Cambrian and Clydach 24 34

7 Taffs Well 20 33

Latest results: Caldicot Town 0, Monmouth Town 1; Goitre 4 Undy Athletic 1; Haverfordwest County 3, Cwmbran Celtic 1; Penybont 5, Risca United 1; Cambrian and Clydach 0, Ton Pentre 0.

Fixtures:

Wednesday, March 8: Ton Pentre v Undy Athletic (7.30pm).

Friday, March 10: Risca United v Monmouth Town (7.30pm).

Saturday, March 11: Barry Town United v Cambrian and Clydach, Caerau Ely v Goytre United, Caldicot Town v Haverfordwest County, Cwmbran Celtic v Afan Lido, Goitre FC v Penybont, Ton Pentre v Taffs Well, Undy Athletic v Port Talbot Town (all 2.30pm).

Tuesday, March 14: Afan Lido v Caerau Ely, Barry Town United v Haverfordwest County, Port Talbot Town v Risca United.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *