Evan Press scored a late winner as Barry Town United claimed a dramatic 2-1 win over their South Wales rivals Cardiff Met at Cyncoed Campus.
A close-fought encounter looked set to end in stalemate before – with the game entering stoppage time – Press showed the composure to secure a fourth-place finish in Phase One.
Barry had initially taken the lead through Nat Jarvis early in the second half but his strike was quickly cancelled out by an Emlyn Lewis header.
Met had arguably been the likelier side to win given their dominance however they were unable to end a nine-game winless run and sit two points off the bottom two as a result of the defeat.
First-half opportunities came at a premium and it was Met who had looked the likelier of scoring.
Met had a number of corner-kicks and free-kicks but Barry did their defensive duties well to deny the leagues lowest scorers an opening goal.
A key decision for the referee to make in the first-half was a possible penalty for the hosts. Harry Owen fell in the box and claimed his ankles were clipped however he was booked for his attempts to earn a spot-kick.
Owen was undeterred by his caution and continued to cause problems for the Barry backline on the left-wing and had a good understanding with Eliot Evans.
After a first-half which lacked any cutting edge, the game burst into life in the early stages.
Barry seized the initiative by taking the lead through Jarvis after coping well with the Met pressure in the first-half.
Press played a decisive pass through to the creative Jordan Cotterill who pulled the ball back to Jarvis to tap home from close range.
Not as soon as Barry held their celebrations, they had to pick the ball out the net as Met struck an immediate response.
Emlyn Lewis rose highest from a well-delivered corner kick to head past Mike Lewis.
The goal was no more than Met had deserved given their threat in the first-half from set pieces.
Christian Edwards’ side almost turned the game on its head as Owen drew a low save from Lewis.
Their hopes for a first win since December looked to be halted though as goalkeeper Alex Lang required lengthy treatment.
Much to the relief of the Met staff, who are already without Will Fuller, who was injured in their defeat to Cardiff Met, Lang was able to continue.
Lang however was powerless to resist a late Barry winner in the first minute of stoppage time.
Curtis Jemmett-Hutson showed good feet to feet in Press who drove his shot into the left-hand corner of the Met goal and spark jubilant scenes.
Cardiff Metropolitan: Alex Lang, Kyle Mccarthy, Bradley Woolridge (C), Emlyn Lewis, Elliot Evans, Chris Baker, Charlie Corsby, Harry Owen, Joe Evans, Rhydian Morgan, Lewis Rees (Josh Thomas , 74)
Goals: Emlyn Lewis 52′
Yellow Cards: Harry Owen 25, Josh Thomas 90+1
Barry Town United: Michael Lewis, Chris Hugh, Luke Cooper, Callum Sainty (Theo Wharton ,37, Kanye McLaggon , Nathaniel Jarvis (Curtis Jemmett-Hutson, 77), Jordan Cotterill, Luke Cummings, Curtis McDonald, Michael George, (David Cotterill, 77), Evan Press
Goals: Nat Jarvis 51, Evan Press 90+1
Recap the action by following the game as-it-happened:
(Featured Image: Chwarae Sports Design/Rhys Skinner)
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