Match Report: Barry Town United 3-1 Aberystwyth Town – Jonathan Hood scores on debut as Barry ease to win over Aberystwyth Town
Barry Town United showed their clinical edge as they comfortably beat Aberystwyth Town in a crisp afternoon at Jenner Park.
Goals from debutant Jonathan Hood, playmaker Jordan Cotterill and a penalty handed Barry all three points at Jenner Park.
Declan Walker did pull a goal back, but it wasn’t enough as the hosts made the perfect start to Phase Two of the campaign.
The win meant that Barry moved up one place, into eighth – Aberystwyth Town, on the other hand, remain 10th.
Match Report
Barry Town United started brighter of the two sides ass McLaggon broke down the middle, and saw his striker spilt by Chris Mullock but the visitors managed to clear their lines in time to ensure the game remained level.
The hosts continued their good early pressure, and debutant Jonatan Hood saw his woderfully fashioned cross find the head of Callum Sainty, but his header narrowly went over the bar as the hosts started with real intent in the start to their phase two campaign.
Aberystwyth Town then had a chance of their own, though, as Declan Walker found space down the right-hand side, but saw his fizzing shot well saved by Mike Lewis in the Barry goal.
John Owen, who was a constant threat for the first-half then cut inside, showing the tremendous speed and tenacity he has within his disposal, and unleashed a shot, which was again saved by Lewis, who did well go down to his left-hand side to preserve the hosts lead.
However, just when it looked like Aberystwyth were growing back in the game, Barry earned a free-kick in a dangerous area and deadline day signing Hood made no mistake, drilling his effort low and hard into the right-hand side of the net to give chesterfield’s side the lead in the 23rd minute.
Barry continued to pressure after that, and McLaggon, in particular, looked a real threat with his rapid speed and endeavour but they couldn’t quite find another goal before the break to give them that breathing space they needed.
The visitors started the second-half the brighter of the two teams and earned a free-kick in a dangerous position but Luke Cooper made a key intervention as he put the ball behind for a corner for Aberystwyth Town following Ashley Young’s free-kick.
Barry, like in the first-half, they were a constant threat when on the counter-attack and McLaggon broke free, but luckily for Aber, Mullock was up to the challenge and saved well.
Jordan Cotterill was the next to try his luck but saw his shot evade the goal, but just a minute later, his stunning strike doubled Barry’s lead.
Chesterfield’s side were now in the groove and substitute Demetriou, another signing for Barry over the past week, was so unlucky not to make it 3-0, but Walker did superbly to put in a goal-saving challenge and put the ball out for a throw-in.
Demetriou got behind the vulnerable Aberystwyth back-line once again, but saw another one of his strikes go just wide of the mark as Barry looked to kill the game off once and for all.
The visitors pushed for a way back in the game, but it was never going to be – not even Declan Walker’s ferocious free-kick could pull a goal back, and the game was sealed late on in the game as McLaggon buried his 10th Welsh Premier League goal from the penalty spot.
Aber did pull a goal back late on through the determined Walker but it was nothing more than a consolation for Powell’s side who were second best on the day.
Man of the match – (Mike Lewis – Barry Town United)
Some performance from lewis, who made some sublime saves in today’s win. Aberystwyth pulled a goal back late on, but don’t take anything away from Lewis, he put in another tremendous performance in goals and was desperately unlucky not to keep a clean sheet.
(Featured image: Rhys Skinner)
