UNBEATEN RUN OVER FOR REDS
BARRY TOWN UTD ............. 3 LLANELLI TOWN ................. 1
LLANELLI Town suffered their first JD Cymru South defeat of the season at Jenner Park.
The Reds had been beaten by the same opponents in the League Cup at Stebonheath a week earlier, so they made the trip east hoping for revenge and a victory which would extend their lead at the top of the table over their second-placed hosts to five points.
But they found Barry a tough proposition at home and were trailing by three goals at the interval,
To their credit Llanelli fought back well and dominated the second half, but it was not enough and as a consequence surrendered their unbeaten league record.
The Reds welcomed back Keane Watts and Thomas Hillman to the starting line-up, but almost from the outset found themselves on the back foot as Barry surged forward playing some neat one-touch football.
Sean Cronin came to the rescue twice, heading over two well-struck shots on target by Evan Press, while Scott Coughlan did well to push clear a dangerous ball into the middle from Chris Hugh.
Barry were enjoying too much time and space in which to launch their attacks, with the visitors slow to close them down. Balls were crossed into the middle almost at will, causing all sorts of difficulties.
Coughlan was forced to smother the ball at the feet of Josh Graham when he attempted to connect with a delivery driven into the area, and he was called into action again shortly after, this time denying the same player when he met an assist from Jordan Cotterill.
Despite being under the cosh, it was the visitors who had probably the best chance of taking an unlikely lead when a far-post ball by Ryan Bevan found the head of an unmarked Watts, but he somehow contrived to direct his finish wide.
Llanelli were made to pay for his lapse when Barry took the lead on 26 minutes. Kayne McLaggon found Liam Warman, who set off on a run down the middle, and despite the attentions of a couple of defenders he finished superbly by drilling his shot past Coughlan.
This was no more than the home side deserved as they had been the dominant force almost from the outset, and they rubbed more salt into Llanelli’s wounds with two more successes in the space of 10 minutes.
Some fine approach work involving Graham led to him finding McLaggon in the middle, and his finish nestled in the bottom corner in the 35th minute.
And on the stroke of half-time, Hugh was adjudged to have been fouled in the box by Jamie Baker, and McLaggon stepped up to complete his brace from the spot.
Second best by some margin, the Reds needed to desperately up the tempo in the second period if they were to avoid an embarrassing defeat – and they did just that with a far more assured display which forced the home side back for long periods.
Dylan Williams and Louis Gerrard were brought on at the start for Miles John and Kyran Steadman, and both played their part in a much-improved performance.
There was an early chance for Watts when he unleashed a shot on target, but a home defender made a crucial block.
Barry were then reduced to 10 men when Curtis McDonald was redcarded for a crude challenge on Watts on 59 minutes. And the Reds dictated play without really testing Michael Lewis in the home goal.
They did, however, pull a goal back on 71 minutes after pressure on the home goal led to a corner taken by Watts. His delivery into the goalmouth was not cleared effectively, allowing Llanelli skipper Josef Hopkins to meet the loose ball and force it home from close range.
The visitors went all out in the closing stages in an effort to take something from the contest, with a Hillman free-kick parried into the air by Lewis leading to a scramble in front of the net before a final attempt was blasted wide of the near post.
Llanelli face another difficult trip on Friday evening when they visit Cambrian & Clydach Vale, who occupy third spot in the table (7.30pm).
BARRY TOWN UNITED: M. Lewis; George, Hugh, Cooper, McDonald, McLaggon (capt, Walsh 90+1), Greening, Cotterill (Beddard 81), Graham (A Lewis 68), Warman (Fahiya 68), Press. Subs not used: Clarke (GK), Johnson, Bennett.
LLANELLI TOWN: Coughlan; John (Gerrard 46), Parry, Cronin, Baker, Robbins (Phipps 66), Watts, Steadman (D. Williams 46), Parker, Hopkins (capt), Hillman. Subs not used: E. Williams (GK); Rees, Rumbelow, Marsh.
SCORERS: Barry – Warman 26; McLaggon 35, 45 (pen). Llanelli – Hopkins 71.
YELLOW CARDS: Barry – Press, Cotterill, Greening. Llanelli – Cronin, Hillman.
RED CARD: Barry – McDonald. REFEREE: Daniel Richardson. ATTENDANCE: 779.