Barry Town United 3-1 Caernarfon Town: McLaggon double secures first win of season for Linnets

Barry Town United earned their first points of the new Cymru Premier season with a convincing 3-1 win over Caernarfon Town at Jenner Park.

A double from talisman Kayne McLaggon either side of Curtis MacDonald’s header saw the Linnets bounce back from their 3-0 opening day loss to The New Saints last weekend.

Mike Hayes struck back in the second half for the Cofis, but it wasn’t enough to mount a comeback for the away side.

Despite a bright start from Caernarfon, the home side grew into the game and took control of proceedings to earn their first victory of the season. 

The first chance of the game fell to the visitors, as summer signing Paulo Mendes pressed well and won the ball back for the Cofis in the Barry half, winning his side an early corner.

Darren Thomas, who has impressed for the Cofis in recent seasons, combined well with Sion Bradley as Caernarfon played the corner short. Thomas’ backheel set up Bradley to fire into the side netting. 

Huw Griffiths’ side continued to push for the opener, as Mendes forced Dragons defender MacDonald to block a succession of shots from outside the box. 

Gavin Chesterfield’s side grew into the contest and began to put the away side under pressure, creating a number of chances. 

Barry striker McLaggon was found in space inside the box, but his effort on-the-turn was well saved by the on-rushing Josh Tibbetts. 

McLaggon’s strike-partner, Nathaniel Jarvis, was then involved as his cross from the right found Clayton Green in the box. The midfielder’s powerful effort at goal was just over the bar.

Cummings was again involved, as he overlapped and beat his man on the right. After driving into the box, the right-back’s low cross was cut-out superbly by Caernarfon Town defender Gruffydd John. 

After numerous chances for the home side, the pressure told and the Linnets broke the deadlock in the 37th minute. 

Theo Wharton combined well on the right with Jordan Cotterill, whose cross was perfect for McLaggon to head past Tibbetts for his first goal of the Cymru Premier season. 

Chesterfield’s side could have doubled their lead when Jordan Cotterill’s cross into the box found Jarvis at the back post, but the striker’s volley at goal went wide. 

A rare chance for the Cofis fell to Hayes late in the first-half, but Mike Lewis saved well to ensure the hosts went into the break with a 1-0 lead.

Goalscorer McLaggon could have doubled his tally early in the second-half, as a long-ball into the Caernarfon Town box fell to the striker, but he couldn’t connect cleanly with the ball.

The home side doubled their lead in the 54th minute, as Jordan Cotterill’s corner was headed powerfully into the net by summer signing MacDonald to give his new team a two-goal cushion.

The Cofis went close to halving the deficit when Thomas found space on the right side of the box, but his effort at goal was saved well by Lewis. 

The Linnets added to their lead just nine minutes after their second goal, as Wharton did well on the right to find McLaggon, whose superb volley put Barry 3-0 to the good.

The Canaries struck back immediately, however, as Hayes found space in the box to fire past Lewis and score his second goal of the Cymru Premier season. 

The final chance of the game fell to substitute Curtis Hutson, who counter-attacked following a Caernarfon corner. 

The attacker cut in from the left and curled an effort at goal, which was saved by Josh Tibbetts. 

Barry Town United: Mike Lewis, Luke Cummings, Luke Cooper, Curtis MacDonald, Evan Press, Chris Hugh, Clayton Green, Theo Wharton (Michael George 81), Jordan Cotterill, Kayne McLaggon, Nathaniel Jarvis (Curtis Hutson 84)

Goals: Kayne McLaggon 37’, 63’, Curtis MacDonald 54

Yellow Cards: Luke Cummings 10’, Clayton Green 45’, Jordan Cotterill 45’

Caernarfon Town: Josh Tibbetts, Joe Williams, Gruffydd John (Gareth Edwards 65), Louis Augustin (Cai Jones 48), Sion Bradley, Paulo Mendes, Mike Hayes, Darren Thomas, Danny Brookwell (Telor Williams 74), Noah Edwards, Ryan Williams

Goal: Mike Hayes 65’

Yellow Card: Louis Augustin 32’

Barry Town United goalkeeper Matthew Lewis said after the game: “An Important win against a tough opponent! There is still more to come and improvements to be made but it’s three points on the board.”

See how Barry Town claimed their first win of the season in our live blog:

(Featured Image: Mike James)