Welsh League Division One - Barry Town United 2 Monmouth Town 0

AFTER last week’s dramatic equaliser away at Ton Pentre, Monmouth Town travelled to league favourites Barry Town United.

Manager Andrew Smith made one change to his side that drew with Ton Pentre bringing in defender Dan Spence for striker Craig Lewis. Barry, who are favourites to win the league, won their first game against Gwent side Undy Athletic and drew their second game against Bridgend side Penybont.

Barry started the brighter out of the two sides, maintaining possession well and looking to set their attacking players away in the final third. Their positive start to the game was almost rewarded in the fifth minute when their player played a corner to his teammate on the edge of the box who took a touch and shot but his shot lacked any conviction and power and went just over the bar.

Against the run of play the Kingfishers had a golden opportunity. Mitchell Palmer picked the ball up on the edge of the box, nutmegging his man and finding himself one on one with the Barry keeper, who made himself big and made a spectacular diving save to his right.

Barry continued to attack Monmouth with great intensity and came agonisingly close to taking the lead again in the 25th minute. Barry’s full back played an inviting ball down the line which their winger ran onto and floated a ball into the box. The shot made it past Lee Williams but Mitchell Palmer was heroically there to clear it off the line.

The Town nearly went into half time one up when Nick Harrhy, with time on the edge of the box, shot narrowly wide.

Barry started the second half like they started the first, attacking Monmouth with intensity. They missed a golden opportunity two minutes into the half when Mitchell Palmer lost the ball to a Barry midfielder who played a through ball which their striker ran on to and went one on one with Monmouth’s goalkeeper. Williams was well alert to the situation though, and pounced on the ball.

The Town had a chance of their own in the 65th minute when Elliot Ford beat his man and went down the by-line and whipped an inviting cross in. A Barry defender cleared it but only to Kazeem Kareem who shot first time but his shot went over the bar.

Barry then broke the deadlock. In the 70th minute their winger beat his man and whipped a ball into the box finding his teammate at the back post who volleyed it into the top corner. The Kingfishers searched for an equaliser, but Barry made sure they’d be taking all three points in the 85th minute when they floated in a corner, finding their defender who headed it down low. Lee Williams acrobatically made an outstanding save, but his effort came out to a Barry player who was there to thump it into the back of the net.

Assistant Manager, Ross Kennedy, described the loss as “gutting”. He said: "I felt we defended extremely well for the first seventy minutes and we stuck to our game plan, however, I felt we just lost our concentration and conceded two sloppy goals.”

The Kingfishers are home next Saturday to Undy Athletic and manager Andrew Smith and secretary Dave Slater have urged football fans in Monmouth to come and support their local team. Kick off is 2.30pm at the Sportsground.