Match Report: Barry Town United 2-0 Prestatyn Town – Jordan Cotterill and Drew Fahiya deliver two killer blows on night of boxing as Prestatyn Town are relegated
Jordan Cotterill and substitute Drew Fahiya both scored as Barry won their sixth game on the spin and sealed the Seasiders fate as their first season back in the JD Welsh Premier League came to an abrupt ending.
Jordan Cotterill’s goal separated the two sides as Barry maintained their 100% record in Phase Two of the JD Welsh Premier League to give them their sixth win on the spin.
Prestatyn battled hard but it wasn’t enough and James Stead was sent off. Barry also had a man sent off in what was a fiery affair throughout in the Vale of Glamorgan. Drew Fahiya sealed the visitors’ fate late on.
These two will now face each other again next week, with Barry looking to sustain their unbelievable momentum in the second-half of the campaign.
It was a relatively bright start from the hosts as captain James Saddler found Jonathan Hood, who unleashed a powerful shot, which Carl Jones got a slight touch to as it went behind for a Barry corner.
In a quiet start to the first-half, Barry’s next opening came from a free-kick following a nasty looking challenge from Zyaac Edwards on Jonathan Hood. From the resulting free-kick, Chris Hugh found Curtis Watkins unmarked, but his finish was a delicate one as Jones collected it with ease.
After, what was, in large parts a game with little goal-mouth action, suddenly a frenzy ensued as the referee booked two players from each side – Ryan Newman and Luke Cooper for Barry, as well as Zyaac Edwards and James Stead for the visitors.
In the aftermath of that flair-up, Barry put another punch in Prestatyn’s long-shot survival fight as Jordan Cotterill’s stunning finish into the bottom right-hand corner gave the Linnets the lead after being the better side in the first half.
After the goal, James Stead was sent off after an altercation with Ryan Newman – giving the visitors, who were already relegation certainties a gigantic uphill mountain to climb.
Prestatyn fought hard in long periods of the first-half, but the sending off was a huge blow, which would have no doubt frustrated manager Gareth Wilson.
Just moments into the second-half and there was a second sending off. This time for Barry as Luke Cooper was penalised for a second bookable offence – it looked like a harsh decision after the defender brought down Damian Ketley, but it gave the visitors a glimmer of hope nevertheless.
Prestatyn then had their first real clear-cut of the chance as Ben Maher found some space, but his effort was weak and comfortably saved by Mike Lewis in Barry’s goal.
Louis Irivine then came desperately close to given Prestatyn an equaliser as his free-kick from 20 yards out as his effort dived just too high of Mike Lewis’ goal.
Barry then looked to take advantage of the tiring Prestatyn defence, but Hood saw his effort slam up against the upright, before the tenacious Jordan Cotterill fired his effort just wide of the mark.
Drew Fahiya then secured the points for Barry after poking home a glorious cross from Macauley Southam as Prestatyn’s one season in the JD Welsh Premier League was all but over following a professional display from Gavin Chesterfield’s men.
Man of the Match (Jordan Cotterill)
A constant nuisance for the visitors. Took his goal with real style, firing low beyond Carl Jones into the bottom right-hand corner.There was a real punch about him, which is ironic with the boxing on later on in Cardiff this evening.
He could have easily added to his one goal, but his technical ability and overall creativity will no doubt be essential as Barry Town United look to secure that elusive final European playoff spot come the end of the season.
(Featured image: Rhys Skinner)
