Barry 1 Carmarthen 0

BARRY Town United reclaimed third position in the JD Welsh Premier League on Saturday afternoon, beating Carmarthen by a single goal at Jenner Park to continue their 100% home start to the season.

In one of the few fixtures to survive the weekend weather, Chris Hugh’s artificial grass cutter in the 50th minute proved the difference maker, as Barry drew level with second-placed TNS on 19 points.

The result left the Town a mere two points behind pacesetters Connah’s Quay Nomads, who were preoccupied with IRN-BRU Cup affairs on the weekend, beating Coleraine 2-0 at Deeside Stadium.

With former Barry player Tyrrell Webbe in tow, Carmarthen travelled to Jenner Park last Saturday hoping of an upset, having suffered no fewer than five straight losses to Gavin Chesterfield’s men.

However, the hosts were equally eager to make amends after their disastrous defeat in Newtown, with goalkeeper Mike Lewis pulling out a hat-trick of strong saves to frustrate the Old Gold’s finest.

With Marcus Jones’ back post header failing to threaten the Carmarthen goal, Barry’s breakthrough came after the break, when a promising team move between skipper Luke Cooper, Troy Greening and Momodou Touray saw the latter turn his marker and play Hugh through for the opening goal.

Touray’s strength, skill and vision has already won a number of admirers this campaign and the talented teenager was rewarded after the game with a call-up for Robert Page’s Wales U21 squad, ahead of Tuesday’s UEFA European Championship qualifier against Switzerland at Rodney Parade.

A season-long loan signing from Newport County, Touray could have made it 2-0 later in the half, when his right-footed shot flew over the Old Gold crossbar, after Jones’ long-range hit was saved.

As it was, Barry would be content with a 1-0 success, extending their unbeaten run at Jenner Park to an impressive nine months, with Llanelli Town next to visit this coming Friday (7.45pm kick-off).

Admission for the evening kick-off, against the side currently bottom of the division, is £7 (adults), £5 (senior citizens/students) and £3 (children) via the Barry Road and Gladstone Road turnstiles.

In related news, Barry Town manager Gavin Chesterfield has this week been named as the JD Welsh Premier League Manager of the Month for September, a month that saw the club beat Connah’s Quay 2-0 and come from behind to defeat Cefn Druids 2-1, as well as scoring 1-0 wins at both Caernarfon Town and Aberystwyth Town, solidifying the team’s healthy position in the Welsh top flight.