Ten-man Barry Town defeat Llanelli on penalties
Evan press scored the decisive spot kick to send Barry Town through. (Pic By John Smith/FAW)
Ten-man Barry Town progressed in the Nathaniel MG Cup as they defeated Llanelli Town in a penalty shootout.
The hosts had to do without Josh Yorwerth for 50 minutes after he was sent off just before half time. The Reds were unable to capitalise on the advantage and instead fell behind to Eliot Richards’ effort.
Josef Hopkins levelled in the final 10 minutes and the score remained level and as a result the game went to penalties. Ethan Cann’s penalty was saved and as a result captain Evan Press scored the decisive spot kick to send his side through.
Barry took the game to the visitors in the early goings but the first good chance fell to Llanelli on the break. Ethan Cann made a run through the middle and tried to curl the ball around Liam Armstrong but put it just wide.
Barry sent the ball forward into the Llanelli box to Kayne McLaggon. McLaggon did a good job of holding the ball as he waited for the run of Ollie Hulbert. McLaggon slid the ball into the path of Hulbert but Scott Coughlin was quick to it to stop the chance.
Ollie Hulbert went down in the box under a challenge with Barry calling for a pen but the ref gave nothing. Moments later Llanelli were given a penalty at the other end.
Henry Jones hit a shot from outside the box and it hit Yorwerth and the ref pointed to the spot. Yorwerth was shown a second yellow and sent off. Joe Hunt took the penalty but it lacked power and Liam Armstrong went the right way to save.
Llanelli used the extra player to push Barry back into their own half but it was the Linnets who went closet to opening the scoring. McLaggon again used his experience to hold the ball up and found Keenan Patten. Patten tried to chip the ball in but Coughlin did well to tip over the bar.
Barry kept the pressure on and Callum Sainty saw his effort blocked. The ball then fell to Eliot Richards who struck the ball first time to give Barry the lead.
Llanelli went in search of the equaliser and Cann took a shot from a tight angle that forced another save from Armstrong.
Llanelli made three changes and pushed to get back into the game. With seven minutes to play Josef Hopkins hit a powerful shot that finally beat Armstrong.
Barry went first in the shoot-out and Keenan Patten scored to set Barry off. Llanelli keeper Scot Coughlin stepped up first for the Reds and also scored. Sam Snaith and Henry Jones both scored to make it two apiece.
Ollie Hulbert put Barry 3-2 up, but Ethan Cann saw his penalty saved and gave Barry the advantage. Ben Williams Margetson made it 4-2 to Barry pilling the pressure on Danny Birch. Birch sent the keeper the wrong way to keep Llanelli in the game. So it fell to Evan Press who calmly sent Coughlin the wrong way and rolled the ball into the net to send Barry though.
Penalties: Barry Town 5-3 Llanelli
Barry Town United
Liam Armstrong (G), Michael George, Callum Sainty, Ben Williams-Margetson, Josh Yorwerth, Kayne McLaggon (C) (Sam Snaith 72), Eliot Richards (Aiden Lewis 83), Keenan Patten, Ollie Hulbert, Kian Woodiwiss (Drew Perrett 68), Evan Press.
Goals: Eliot Richards 68.
Yellow Cards: Josh Yorwerth 39, Keenan Patten 77, Aiden Lewis 90+4.
Red Cards: Josh Yorwerth 41.
Llanelli Town
Scott Coughlin (G), James Parry (Danny Birch 79), Jamie Baker, Kurtis Rees, Josef Hopkins (C), Ethan Cann, Henry Jones, Lewis Iles (Alex Giardelli 80), Joseph Lloyd, Joe Hunt, Theo Wharton (Bradley Gibbings 78).
Goals: Josef Hopkins 83.
Yellow Cards: Theo Wharton 5, Ethan Cann 39.
