Barry Town United 1-0 Cefn Druids – Abbruzzese strike boasts Barry survival chances
Rhys Abbruzzese of Barry Town in action. Cardiff Metropolitan University v Barry Town United in the JD Cymru Premier at Cyncoed Campus on the 15th March 2022. Credit: Lewis Mitchell
A first win in eight games for Barry as they grab a vital three points in their bid to stay in the JD Cymru Premier.
Rhys Abbruzzese got the games only goal after 67 minutes in a match where Barry had several good chances. Marcus Day did have the ball in the net during the first first but it was ruled out.
Barry controlled large parts of the game and had the better chances of the two teams. Druids Keeper Michael Jones was called on to make two important saves as Druids struggled to deal with Barry.
Barry are now level on points with Connah’s Quay and two points off ninth placed Aberystwyth. Barry will face Cardiff Met on Tuesday in another vital game in the Play off conference.
Robbie Paten tried an early long range effort with which very close to the post to the surprise of almost the whole ground.
Barry kept the pressure on already relegated Cefn Druids with Callum Sainty setting up Marcus Day. Day tried to curl a shot into the far post but it went wide. Michael George forced a stop from Michael Jones after a good cross field pass from Aaron Davies.
After a good piece of passing to get the ball into the box the Druids defence were unable to clear and Marcus Day blazed a shot over the bar from close range.
Marcus Day was causing all sorts of problems as he cut inside on the edge of the box and shot just wide of the target.
Druids best chance of the half came when Ioan Evans headed just wide from a corner.
Barry did get the ball in the net but it was ruled out. Finding space on the edge of the area Day struck a low shot. It went in off the post but the flag was raised. A Barry player was in the keepers line of slight.
Barry kept searching for the opening goal and from a Marcus Day corner, Kane McLaggon headed down at goal. Somehow Druids cleared the ball off the line to go in at the break level.
Half Time: Barry Town 0-0 Cefn Druids.
The Linnets continued the pressure as the second half started. McLaggon forced a fine low save from Jones after being found in the box by George.
Niall Flint tried to bend the ball into the net from distance but his effort went just wide.
The break though did come as Barry moved the ball quickly into the box where Rhys Abbruzzese was charging in on the far side. Abbruzzese coolly slotted the ball into the bottom corner.
Soon after it could have been two as Barry went close again. Luke Cooper with a ball into Rhys Kavanagh, Kavanagh was then able to set up Day for a shooting chance. Firing the ball at goal Day saw it cannon back off the crossbar. Kavanagh was on to the rebound with his diving header went over the bar.
Druids kept plugging away and Mooney headed wide late on after a long ball from Jones.
Barry held out to take the three points which could prove vital if they are to remain in the JD Cymru Premier.
Barry Town: Mike Lewis (G), Callum Sainty, Robbie Patten (Evan Press 76), Kane McLaggon (C) (Nat Jarvis 90), Rhys Kavanagh, Marcus Day (Chris Hugh 90), Rhys Abbruzzese, Aaron Davies, Luke Cooper, Clayton Green (Theo Wharton 59), Michael George.
Goals: Rhys Abbruzzese 67.
Yellow Cards: Luke Cooper 55.
Cefn Druids: Michael Jones (G)(C), Phillip Mooney, Niall Flint, Izaack Lambert, Peter Evans (Frederick Whiles 72), Eric Durnell (Joshua Walker 83), Vinnie Cook, Mitchell Williams, Ioan Evans, Connor Rogers (Daniel Cabral 83), Samuel Hanley.
Yellow Cards: Mitchell Williams 83.
