NOVEMBER 21, 2017

SETBACK FOR THE TOWN AT NEWTOWN

Barry Town United’s hopes of moving into the top half of the JD Welsh Premier League suffered a setback at Newtown on Saturday, as Gavin Chesterfield’s men succumbed to a surprise 3-0 defeat.

Arriving in good spirits after their successive wins against The New Saints and Llandudno, Gavin Chesterfield fielded an attack-minded XI, with forward Drew Fahiya coming in for Paul Morgan.

It was leading goalscorer Kayne McLaggon though who would pose the Town’s first major threat; running with confidence at four Newtown defenders, only to fire his shot high over the crossbar.

Later, in what was a promising first half for the visitors, teammate Jordan Cotterill took aim at his first JD Welsh Premier League goal of the season; dragging the ball inside and forcing a low parry out of Robins goalkeeper Dave Jones, with Fahiya sadly unable to capitalise on the rapid-fire rebound.

However, the Town’s opportunities would not reap the opening goal the players coveted; and they eventually found themselves punished by a Newtown outfit who showed great character to bounce back from their narrow Nathaniel MG Cup Semi-Final defeat in midweek to in-form Cardiff Met.

Capitalising on a free-kick from summertime signing Jojo Harris, Luke Boundford had missed out in Newtown’s previous fixtures but was keen to make his mark on his one; leaping above Chris Hugh and heading the ball to former Wrexham man Nick Rushton, who failed to convert his opportunity.

Then, with little over an hour played, the deadlock was broken and Barry found themselves behind.

After striker Neil Mitchell took advantage of a favourable bounce off Luke Cooper’s head, the #7 delivered a fine through ball to winger James Murphy, who immediately looked a threat on goal.

Although Murphy found his path obscured by Hugh, Macauley Southam and skipper Ryan Evans, he soon squared it smartly to Tom Goodwin and the former Player of the Year sidefooted home for 1-0.

Another recent return to the Robins first team, Murphy’s opener meant that the Town would have to come from behind for the first time all season to leave Latham Park with at least a point in tow.

To their credit, Barry’s boys in green almost turned things around, with Cooper and Southam doing well to clear away aa Newtown corner and kickstart a thrilling counter attack, which saw Curtis Watkins, Callum Sainty and finally Louis Gerrard each carrying the ball forward.

Unfortunately, while Gerrard’s left-footed finish beat Jones, it could only find the side netting and the Robins retained their narrow advantage as the day’s early kick-off approached its final stages.

Any flame of a comeback was then extinguished a minute from time, as Boundford’s effort took a cruel deflection off a tackling Evans and looped above both Mike Lewis and Cooper into the net.

The hosts would show no mercy to make it three in stoppage time; substitute Goodwin gathering a clearance after Lewis had slipped and feeing teammate Boundfound, who made no mistake to blast beyond the Barry goalkeeper and seal a win welcomed with open arms by the Latham Park faithful.

With Newtown climbing to 15 points, the Mid Walians now sit two points adrift of Barry Town, who remain level with Llandudno on 17, after the Seasiders were beaten 1-0 at home by The New Saints.

This Saturday, the Town travel to The Rock to battle sixth-placed Cefn Druids in a 2.30pm kick-off, looking to avenge their 3-1 defeat to the side from Cefn Mawr, Wrexham region earlier in the campaign.