We conceded an early corner when Mica rolled the ball back to Rory McCreesh but he miskicked, the ball rolling just wide of the post. Barry had the bulk of the early play but failed to create any chances, our best chance came after 13 minutes when Michael Waters played a 1-2 with Corey Thomas and got in a cross to the near post which Scott McCoubrey got to first but shot over the bar. At least this showed we were not there to make up the numbers and minutes later Mark Jones shot from distance but it was blocked and fell to Corey Thomas who took the ball on a few yards before shooting straight at the keeper. Barry responded with a move down their left and trying a shot at the near post which Rory McCreesh saved.

We took the lead after 26 minutes, Ian Jones laid the ball off for Sam Wade twenty five yards from goal, Sam evaded a couple of challenges and made ground into the area, pushed the ball past the keeper and was felled, he got up to score from the spot. Stung by this reverse Barry attacked and won a corner which Rory McCreesh punched clear to a Barry player who knocked it wide and it was crossed in, the cross hit the outside of the post but had earlier gone out for a goal kick. We could have gone two up just after the half hour when Ian Jones inside the six yard box got too good a header on a corner, his header went wide but if he could have deflected the ball he would probably have scored. Following a corner and a scramble in the Barry six yard box the ball rebounded off Ian Jones and went inches wide of the post. Scott McCoubrey played Ian Jones in and from 25 yards Ian's shot went just over the crossbar.

We went two up after 43 minutes when following a free kick the ball reached Scott McCoubrey just inside the area wide left and he controlled the ball and shot just inside the far post to give us some breathing space. Again Barry responded by winning a corner which Rory McCreesh saved to complete the first half action.

As expected Barry put us under enormous pressure in the early part of the second half but we defended really well. We did manage to relieve the pressure and win a corner after 50 minutes but Justin Williams headed at the keeper. After 53 minutes Rory McCreesh distinguished himself with a superb save from a 25 yard swerving shot. It looked as though it might be our night when Rory was beaten just afterwards but the shot sailed wide. On the hour we gained another corner which was knocked out to Sam Wade on the edge of the area, he shot through a crowd of players but straight at the keeper.

Barry had a series of free kicks and corners and everyone piled into the area but their efforts either went wide or were held by Rory McCreesh. The last 7 or 8 minutes we had 10 in defence and just pumped the ball anywhere to clear our lines, Ian Jones and Sam Wade did a lot of chasing and Tomos Wellington came on with 4 minutes to go to bolster the midfield.

Match Report by Peter Reynolds

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