A first half hat-trick from midfielder Rob Laurie wasn't enough to save Monmouth Town, who despite going in at half-time 3-1 to the good succumbed to a second half onslaught from six times Welsh Champions and former Champions League reps Barry Town.

Monmouth got off to a bright enough start despite only playing once since their brave display against Bala Town back in December and Ford was looking threatening down the right, linking up well with MacDonald and Harrhy.

On 12 minutes, in Barry's first real attack, a corner flicked off the Monmouth bar leaving Jenkins to head home from point blank range.

Cue Rob Laurie and an emphatic retort on 23 minutes, drilling home as the ball broke loose in the penalty area.

He repeated his act just 10 minutes later again pouncing and firing home before sealing his first ever senior hat-trick with a glancing header just before half-time.

In between times, Ford managed a scuffed shot from six yards and Harry inexplicably headed against the bar from a yard out.

Barry Town were competitive and showed small pockets of intent but barely troubled Blackburn in the home goal.

Then it became the classic game of two halves.

The vocal Barry Town support got behind their team, who had nothing to lose and bit by bit they clawed their way to a famous victory.

First Jones picked his way through the area before unleashing a terrific strike which cannoned off the post and in, then as Monmouth conceded midfield and dropped deeper and deeper, and as the game reached the final 10 minutes, Jones equalised after great work from substitute Cottrell.

Town still threatened, however, with some decent enough situations that fizzled out or bought good stops from the visiting keeper but the momentum was all with Barry and with barely minutes remaining a free kick was converted at the back post for what proved the winner.

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Harrhy still had a couple of chances that he couldn't convert, and whereas the ball was dropping kindly through the first half now it fell this was and what. You make your own luck in football and Barry's determination had certainly made theirs.  

Afterwards Town boss Barry Burns was disappointed and claimed: "All credit to Barry, they went for it second half and we were found wanting.

"We lacked that bit of sharpness all over the park, couldn't get our game going and defensively we looked very disorganised.

"But we'll come again. We have not turned into a bad side, we just need a run of games and our first half was terrific."

Town, sponsored by WyeMedia  play Bridgend Town at the Brewery Field this Friday night at 7.30pm.