Barry Town United 2 Jordan Cotterill 41′ Drew Fahiya 86′
Prestatyn Town 0
Prestatyn Town have been relegated from the JD Welsh Premier League after they were unable to prevent Barry Town from extending their remarkable run of form.
The Dragons picked up their sixth successive league victory at the expense of Prestatyn, who needed to avoid defeat to have any chance of preventing an immediate return to the Cymru Alliance.
The two sides have endured very different seasons since gaining promotion back into the top-flight last summer. Barry Town have kept themselves clear of the relegation battle and are quickly closing down on a Europa League play-off spot, while Prestatyn have suffered from off-field problems, an enforced managerial change and have struggled to assert themselves in the WPL.
Jordan Cotterill struck late for Barry in what had been bad-tempered first half, and tempers further frayed when Prestatyn’s James Stead picked up a second yellow card for his reaction to the hosts’ goal celebrations.
Referee Dean John issued a second red card on 58 minutes when Barry Town defender Luke Cooper collided with Dean Ketley.
With each side reduced to ten men, James Demetriou and Jonathan Hood threatened to extend Barry’s lead.
Prestatyn did come close to salvaging an equaliser when Louis Irvine’s free-kick went narrowly over, but with five minutes remaining substitute Drew Fahiya sealed Prestatyn’s fate, converting Jonathan Hood’s cross from close range.
Carmarthen Town’s fight against the drop continued with a successive win against Newtown. The Old Gold rallied to a 3-2 victory at Latham Park and closed the gap on 10th placed Aberystwyth to just five points.
Aberystwyth again spurned the opportunity to move closer to safety as Matty Williams’ strike for Llandudno left the Green and Blacks empty handed.
With a match against Carmarthen Town still to come in their final three league fixtures, Aberystwyth leave themselves facing a nervous final few weeks of the season.
Barry Town United
1. Mike Lewis, 21. Macauley Southam-Hales, 4. Luke Cooper, 5. Curtis Watkins, 3. Chris Hugh, 6. James Saddler, 8. Troy Greening, 32. Jonathan Hood, 20. Ryan Newman (11. Drew Fahiya 62′), 10. Jordan Cotterill, 19. James Demetriou (26. Lewis Cosslett 70′). Subs not used: 17. Tyrrell Webbe, 15. Louis Gerrard, 2. Paul Morgan, 27. Bradley Cotterill, 25. Joseph Baker
Red Cards: Cooper 63′
Yellow Cards: Hugh 27′ Newman 38′ Cooper 38′ & 63′ Greening 64′ Cotterill 75′
Prestatyn Town
1. Carl Jones, 6. Noah Edwards (2. Thomas Kemp 10′), 9. Louis Irvine, 4. David Hayes, 5. Reece Fairhurst, 15. Ross Weaver, 20. James Stead, 23. Ross Stephens (14. Connor Shackleton 77′), 19. Zyaac Edwards, 10. Damian Ketley (26. Macauley Taylor 71′), 8. Ben Maher. Subs not used: 18. Oliver Buckley, 7. Michael Parker
Red Cards: Stead 41′
Yellow Cards: Maher 37′ Stead 38′ & 41′ Weaver 75′ Zy.Edwards 80′
Attendance: 401 Referee: Dean John
JD Welsh Premier League results
Cefn Druids 3 Bala Town 1 (Fri); Bangor City v The New Saints (5.15); Barry Town 2-0 Prestatyn; Connah’s Quay 3-0 Cardiff Met; Llandudno 1-0 Aberystwyth; Newtown 2-3 Carmarthen.