AFAN LIDO 2-0 barry town

Football finally woke up from it's hibernation to provide an excellent contest between two evenly matched sides. Scott McCoubrey with a screamer and Robbie Walters on his debut scored for the Lido but both Mark and Gavin Jones hit a post and Gavin had one cleared off the line. Barry also had a goalbound shot blocked in the first half and had numerous chances in the last 15 minutes but only worked Mike Lewis once. Alan Howells made Chris Pridham man of the match but not far behind was Matt Harris on his debut and Scott Hillman.
Barry were awarded a free kick in the centre circle, they knocked it wide right but Mike Lewis safely held the cross and fed Scott McCoubrey, he made ground and found Robbie Walters who played it wide to Gavin Jones. He won a corner off the full back, Robbie Walters appeared to be pushed in the area but nothing was given and Barry cleared the danger. On 5 minutes Mike Lewis knocked the ball long to Mark Jones who played it to Matt Harris, Matt played it square to Scott McCoubrey but his shot was blocked in the area. Robbie Walters then fed Gavin Jones whose cross was blocked, the ball rebounded to Gavin who shot left footed to the near post but Dan Bradley got down well to save. We took the lead on 11 minutes after Matt Harris won the ball in midfield, his through ball was cut out but went to Scott McCoubrey just outside the area and he hit an unstoppable shot into the top corner of the net. On 17 minutes Scott Hillman broke up a Barry attack and found Robbie Walters, he passed to Carl Payne who set up Matt Harris but his shot from 25 yards was saved by the keeper. Matt was again involved 4 minutes later when he set up Mark Jones inside the area, Mark turned and shot from six yards but Dan Bradley saved it with his feet. Barry should have been level on 23 minutes but we managed to block the shot  and clear the ball to Gavin Jones. He found Carl Payne who crossed to Mark Jones, with the goal at his mercy Mark only succeeded in heading over the crossbar. From the resultant goal kick we did increase our lead when the ball was played in to Robbie Walters who with the Barry defence waiting for an offside which didn't come, he coolly slipped the ball under Dan Bradley as he closed Robbie down. A Lido corner was cleared and for a short time it looked as though they'd catch us on the break but Jonathan Hood got back to tidy up and clear the ball. On 37 minutes Barry won a series of corners, the final one we headed clear and Scott McCoubrey made ground and crossed from the left. It was an invitation to make it three but no-one got a touch and the ball went out for a goal kick. Just before half time a loose square ball from Shaun Galsworthy almost put us in trouble but Shaun did well to get back and win a goal kick from his challenge. Gavin Jones was then booked for a foul just outside the area, the dangerous free kick was headed behind for another corner but Mike Lewis was injured and needed treatment. Once Mike was ok we again headed the ball clear and held our advantage to the interval.
Three minutes into the second half Barry were awarded a free kick just outside the area and it was Mike Lewis' turn to save a shot with his feet. On 51 minutes we attacked down the left and Robbie Walters played the ball square to the onrushing Gavin Jones who hit the ball first time from the edge of the area only for a Barry defender to clear off the line. Barry then attacked and not the first time shot wide from a good position. On the hour Gavin Jones had a cross cut out and Barry attacked and their 10 James Simpson made space in the area but failed to hit the target. We then kept possession well with several players involved and Scott McCoubrey sent in a cross which Carl Payne failed to get a touch to inside the six yard box. On 65 minutes Robbie Walters played the ball wide to Gavin Jones who made 30 yards before shooting from the edge of the area, his shot beat the keeper but hit the outside of the post. Barry were still looking for the goal to get them back into the game but their finishing let them down, on 73 minutes we failed to deal with a long ball into the box and Rob Blatchford headed wide from 4 yards. With Barry continuing to push forward Scott Hillman and Shaun Galsworthy made some crucial interceptions and tackles and we should have been out of sight on 81 minutes when Matt Harris won the ball and fed Mark Jones but his snap shot hit the outside of the post. Barry pushed forward in the final 10 minutes but despite excellent approach we, in the main defended well and Mike Lewis was only once forced into a save when he dived low to his left to turn a goalbound header around the post for a corner. 
 
Lido side  Mike Lewis  Jonathan Hood  Carl Payne  Scott Hillman  Shaun Galsworthy  Matt Harris  Gavin Jones  Chris Pridham  Robbie Walters  Mark Jones  Scott McCoubrey
 
12 Damon Thomas for Matt Harris 84
14 Craig Baker
15 Rhys Williams
16 Daniel Lancey
17 Corey Thomas for Carl Payne 90
 
Bookings  Gavin Jones 42  Jonathan Hood 86
 
Goals Scott McCoubrey 11 and Robbie Walters 24  

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Match Report by Peter Reynolds