Barry Town United 1-0 Cefn Druids: Linnets take top spot with win against battling Druids

Barry Town United will head into next week’s game against The New Saints as Cymru Premier leaders after seeing off a battling Cefn Druids side at Jenner Park.

Chris Hugh scored the only goal in the 41st minute to continue their unbeaten start to the season.

It was a scrappy victory for the hosts with the game providing minimal opportunities for both sides. 

Barry have displaced The New Saints at the top, and travel to Park Hall in a mouthwatering clash next Saturday.

The Druids remain winless in five and sit three points off the drop zone. 

Both sides were forced into making early changes as Druids’ Cody Ruberto came off for Dean Rittenberg and Evan Press replaced midfielder Callum Sainty, who had to be stretchered off.

Momodou Touray and Sion Spence were at the heart of the action in the first half, and the latter had an early sighter after being played in by the Newport County loanee.

The Linnets came close to opening the scoring when the industrious Drew Fahiya put a teasing ball into the area, one which narrowly evaded the diving Kayne McLaggon.

Touray was involved once again when the ball fell to him in a crowded penalty area, however, the forward snatched at his shot as the chances continued to come for the hosts.

Playing advantage for a foul on Fahiya, Barry broke forward and the ball found its way to Touray on the edge of the box, with time and space aplenty he saw his effort come off the inside of the left post, back across goal and out for a goal kick.

A rare Druids foray into the attacking third gave James Davies a half-chance, but he was unable to keep his header down.

Touray saw another opportunity pass by when his shot from the edge of the area was well saved by Michael Jones.

Barry took the lead with a moment of real quality from left-back Chris Hugh, who took it upon himself to run at the Druids defence, weave his way through and fire a shot into the bottom right corner to calm any first-half nerves.

Spence – who was lively throughout the game – was denied by Jones having been played through after some neat interplay.

George Ratcliffe, the Cardiff City loanee, had very little to do all afternoon but had to be alert to save Davies’ effort low down to his right.

Barry Town United manager Gavin Chesterfield said:

“I thought we were very ball-dominant, we created some really good opportunities.

“It’s strange football because it took a worldie of a goal from our left-back to open the scoring but really delighted with the first period.

“In the second half I thought was a lot more even. We didn’t really get our passing game going but I’ve got to give the boys credit because they found a way to win again.”

Barry: George Ratcliffe, Luke Cummings, Luke Cooper, Curtis Watkins, Chris Hugh, Callum Sainty (Evan Press 20), Clayton Green, Sion Spence (Eli Phipps 70), Momodou Touray, Kayne McLaggon, Drew Fahiya

Subs not used: Mike Lewis, Paul Morgan, Rhys Abbruzzese.

Cefn Druids: Michael Jones, Phil Mooney, Nathan Peate, Alec Mudimu, Tyrone Ofori, James Davies, Ryan Kershaw, Thomas Reilly (Naim Arsan 70), Cody Ruberto (Dean Rittenberg 7), Michael Pritchard, Neil Ashton

Subs not used: Matthew Owen, Iwan Cartwright, Pape Diakhite.

(Featured Image: Lewis Mitchell)