Barry Town United 3-0 Pontypridd Town: Dragons miss out on top four after Linnets stun them
Barry Town stunned Pontypridd hitting them for three goal at Jenner Park. A battling performance from Barry stopped Pontypridd from having a chance at making the top four for phase two.
Taite Trivett opened the scoring for Barry after 20 minutes to send Barry into the break ahead. Caitlin Marron got the second monuments after Ponty keeper Eleanor Brook was shown a red card. Grace O’Reilly added a third for the host with ten minutes to play.
Barry pressed their opponents quickly and battled for every ball as they stopped Ponty from playing their game. Missing several first team players Barry worked hard and showed quality when needed. Ponty created chances but struggled to really trouble Chelsea Herbert’s goal.
The win lefts Barry from the foot of the table to sixth place. Pontypridd who still had a chance of making fourth will finish phase one in fifth place.
The match began as an even affair with neither side gaining a solid foothold. Barry had the first chance as a shot from the edge of the box forced a low save from Eleanor Brook.
Barry pressed every time Pontypridd had the ball and gave them no time to put passes together.
Pontypridd’s first chance came from a poor clearance from Herbert. Gifting the ball to Carys Bufton, Bufton tried to lob the Barry Keeper but Herbert was able to recover and save the ball.
Barry soon began to craft the better chances as Megan Bowen sent a looping header towards goal. Brook needed a strong hand to keep it out of the top corner.
Mackenzie Olden saw her shot saved after pressure from Grace O’Reilly caused Ponty to lose the ball at the back.
The hard work from Barry soon paid off as O’Reilly found Taite Trivett with a good though ball. Trivett confidently put the ball under Brook to make it 1-0 to the hosts.
Ponty tired to get level as Olivia Barnet met Anais Trinci’s corner. Rising above everyone Barnett sent her header wide of the goal.
Just before the break Alison Whitts won the ball on the edge of the area. Whitts took a shot at goal but it was wide.
Half Time: Barry Town 1-0 Pontypridd Town.
Faith Mulenga made a good run down the left side and won a free kick. Caitlin Marron tried for goal but hit it straight at Brook.
Pontypridd made two changes at the break and it was Ffion Spence who found Whitts in space. Whitts took a shoot but it went wide.
A mix up at the back from Barry allowed almost let Alana Murphy in on goal but Herbert was out well to collect the ball.
Soon after Herbert gifted the ball to Whitts who hit a quick shot at goal. Her shot went wide in what was a let off for Barry.
Barry who were quick to break all game soon caught out Pontypridd’s defence. A though ball gave Mackenzie Olden the chance to get though on goal as she did she was brought down by Brook. As Brook was the last player she was shown a red card for the foul.
Masie Jones came on for Ellie Gunney and her first task was to face a free kick. Caitlin Marron stop over the ball and drove a low shot into the bottom corner to make it 2-0.
Barry made use of the extra space to get a third goal after 80 minutes. A good ball out to right was picked up by Trivett who sent a low cross into the six yard box. Grace O’Reilly got on to the ball and put it home to make it 3-0.
Full Time: Barry Town 3-0 Pontypridd Town.
Barry Town: Chelsea Herbert (G), Olivia Townsend, Faith Mulenga, Megan Bowen (C), Holly Jenkins, Hazel Lockwood, Grace O’Reilly, Manon Pearce, Mackenzie Olden, Caitlin Marron (Lorna Thomas 86), Taite Trivett.
Goals: Taite Trivett 20, Caitlin Marron 70, Grace O’Reilly 80.
Yellow Cards: Taite Trivett 41.
Pontypridd Town: Eleanor Brook (G), Clare Daley-Smith, Holly Broad (C), Alana Murphy, Renee Day, Ellie Gunney (Masie Jones 69), Alison Whitts, Anais Trinci (Robyn Pinder 45), Efa Preece-Jones, Olivia Barnett, Carys Bufton (Ffion Spence 45).
Yellow Cards: Alison Whitts 47,
Red Cards: Eleanor Brook 69.
