Barry Town Vets over 55s began the defence of their Wales Veterans o55s Cup title with a comfortable 4-0 win against a dogged Merthyr Tydfil at a blustery Jenner Park.

In a scrappy opening quarter, the two sides struggled with the conditions and the game lacked both energy and accuracy. Although the home side’s back four of Longman, Jones, Gibb and Staddon were tested early on, keeper John Jones was untroubled.

Gradually Barry’s midfield quartet of Brown, Welsh, Dyke and Dupuy began to impose themselves, and although the passing was still erratic, good work down the right culminated in Sanderson laying the ball back to Dupuy who continued his recent vein of form and curled a beauty passed the helpless Merthyr gloveman.

Minutes later, Staddon strode forward and reminded everyone of what he is capable of, unleashing a 30 yard screamer into the top of the net to give the home side a comfortable 2-0 lead which they maintained until the break.  

In the second half, Averies replaced Gibb for his first outing with this age group and showed immediately why he will be a major asset, snuffing out an attack then clipping a ball over the top for Bobbett, who was unable to take advantage on this occasion. Barry were not playing to their usual high standard, but they were still in complete control, and from a Brown through-ball, man-of-the-match Dupuy finished with aplomb to put the game beyond the visitors.

Minutes later substitute Marshall put the same player through for his hat-trick but, with the visiting keeper awol, Dupuy fluffed his lines. A recently reanimated Morgan entered the frey and waited 15 minutes to make an immediate impact, assisting a Dyke pile-driver into the path of Sanderson who kept up his goalscoring habit by crashing in from an inch to secure his side an emphatic 4-0 win.

This Sunday 15th December the over 50s hope to continue with their recent good form against Nelson at Jenner Park at 11am. At 4.30pm on the same day the over 60s face Newport at Ystrad Mynach.

2019/20 Barry Town Vets fixtures and results

Sept 8   Penybont 2 -3 BARRY 55s

Sept 15 BARRY 50s 1-0 Cardiff Accies

Sept 22 BARRY 55s 4-0 Merthyr

Oct 6     Newport 2-6 BARRY 55s

Oct 20   BARRY 50s 1-2 Continental

Oct 20   BARRY 60s 0-0 Swansea

Oct 27   BARRY 55s 8-1 Llantrisant

Nov 3    Merthyr 4-1 BARRY 50s

Nov 10  Swansea 3-1 BARRY 55s

Nov 24  BARRY 55s 3-0 Penybont       

Dec 1    Swansea 3-7 BARRY 50s

Dec 8    Barry 55s 4-0 Merthyr (CUP)

Dec 15  BARRY 50s vs Nelson / Jenner Park / 11am

Dec 15  BARRY 60s vs Newport / Ystrad Mynach Centre / 4.30pm

Jan 5     Merthyr vs BARRY 55s / Penydarren Park / 2pm

Jan 26   Penybont vs BARRY 50s / Bryntirion Park / 2pm

Feb 2     Swansea vs BARRY 55s / LLandarcy Sports / 2pm

Feb 9     BARRY 50s vs Llantrisant / TBC / TBC

Feb 16  BARRY 55s vs Newport / TBC / TBC

Feb 23  BARRY 50s vs Mathern / TBC / TBC     

Feb 23  Penybont vs BARRY 60s / Ystrad Mynach Centre / 4.30pm                 

March 8 Llantrisant vs BARRY 60s / TBC / 4.30pm

Mar 15  Llantrisant vs BARRY 55s / Tonyrefail Welfare ground / 2pm    

Mar 29  Newport vs BARRY 50s / LLanwern Sports / 2pm 

Apr 5     BARRY 55s vs Swansea / TBC / TBC

Apr 19   Cwmbran vs BARRY 50s / Celtic Park, Cwmbran / TBC