BARRY VETERANS ....... 8 MERTHYR VETERANS . 3

MERTHYR travelled to Sully for an over-45s game. They dominated possession in the opening 30 minutes but found themselves two goals down.

Francis almost put Merthyr ahead on 10 minutes but shot just wide. Barry went ahead in their first venture into the penalty area when a cross from the right bounced awkwardly and was headed home by new signing Enrico Nascimbeni. Within minutes Merthyr were unlucky not to equalise when a back pass from the touchline by a defender eluded the goalkeeper only to strike the far post.

Barry went further ahead when Mike Fredriksen raced on to a long pass from defence and stroked past Collins.

A slick move between Thomas and Sullivan ended with Francis slotting home only to be judged offside.

Merthyr deservedly pulled a goal back when Wakeley fed Francis whose touch onto Clayton Griffiths led to the full back hammering the ball into the roof of the net.

Barry replied with a hotly disputed goal. A break down the left found Craig Thomas who looked well offside but he slotted home and the goal was given.

Merthyr hit back and a Stephen Thoms shot from outside the area flew into the net. Just before half-time tempers erupted when Paul Jones was judged to have pushed Mike Averies in the penalty area but it appeared that the unsighted referee had mistaken Jones for a Barry player. Nascimbeni netted the penalty but with the players still protesting, the referee found it difficult to control the game.

The half-time whistle blew with players still arguing the two controversial decisions. The second half started with Thoms being forced to clear off the line.

Merthyr replied with the best move of the game. Wakeley fed Sullivan whose cross was perfectly met by a Gerry Hatch volley which struck the keeper’s outstretched legs.

Nascimbeni completed his hat-trick when he picked up a loose ball, dribbled past three defenders and cooly finished.

Merthyr had not recovered their composure after the controversial goals. But they hit back when Thoms’ long cross found Francis who outstripped the defence and expertly chipped over the Barry goalkeeper.

Merthyr were completely out of luck when Otway showed superb technique but volleyed into the keeper’s arms. At the other end Griffiths headed a cross into his own net.

Merthyr were distraught and in the final minutes crosses from the right by Nascimbeni sailed over Collins into the top far corner of the net.

This was an ill-tempered game which Merthyr will want to forget. Three players for Barry were booked and one for Merthyr.

Little went Merthyr’s way and the scoreline was not a true reflection of the game.