Barry Town Vets Over 55s moved to the top of the Wales Veterans O55s league with a comfortable 3-0 win over Newport on February 16.

At a very blustery Jenner Park the weather could have been a real leveller but, with Barry’s defenders Jones, Averies and Gibbins dealing with the conditions more competently, it did not take long for their midfield colleagues Huish, Gibb, Dupuy, Staddon and Murray to force the beleaguered opposition into desperate rear-guard action.

Strikers Bobbett and Hill (turning back the clock at centre forward) were a constant threat but Newport defended stubbornly and when they were breached their keeper was also defiant, expertly saving a fierce strike from Barry captain Jones. Jones was not so accurate minutes later however, when he hit a barn door from a ‘botched’ free-kick. But the defence was finally breached when Bobbett converted a fine Huish pass and gave his team a well-deserved 1-0 lead going into half-time.

Minutes after the restart, Hill, in his first match since a foot operation, rose like a gazelle to nod home Barry’s second from an Averies cross before manager Blackie rang the changes. Rutherford, Marshall, Brown and Taylor had only been on the pitch moments before Murray made the game safe, finishing with aplomb after a fine run to take Barry to the top of the league with two matches to play.

In the Over 50s game, also at Jenner Park, Barry Town faced bottom of the table Mathern. It was good to see usual keeper Harding in the dugout after suffering a heart scare earlier in the week, but his replacement Niblett was untroubled in an underwhelming contest. Although the game lacked energy it was no surprise when Tommy Taylor gave the hosts the lead. ‘Glouton’ Dupuy finally scored after repeated efforts and Sullivan established a comfortable 3-0 lead on the hour. The game was postponed shortly afterwards however, when Town defender Paul ’Smiler’ Simms sustained a serious ankle injury in an innocuous challenge. Everyone at the club wishes him a speedy recovery.

There was brighter news at the inaugural Over 60s international Tri-nations tournament in Northern Ireland, where no less than five Barry Town Vets made the starting line-up. Huish, Price, Staddon, Brown and captain Bobbett (all to the right of the photograph) performed well in a scoreless draw against the hosts, followed by a 2-2 draw against England. Northern Ireland lifted the trophy courtesy of their victory over England. 

Barry Town Over 60s face Llantrisant in a top of the table clash on March 8 at Ystrad. The O55s also face Llantrisant at Tonyrefail the following Sunday.

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 0-1 Nelson

Dec 15  BARRY 60s 3-0 Newport

Jan 5     Merthyr 1-9 BARRY 55s

Jan 12 BARRY 50s 5-3 Cwmbran Celtic (CUP)

Jan 26   Penybont 2-3 BARRY 50s

Jan 26 BARRY 60s 3-0 Merthyr Tydfil

Feb 2     Swansea 2-0 BARRY 55s (CUP)

Feb 9     BARRY 50s 1-2 Llantrisant

Feb 16  BARRY 55s 3-0 Newport

Feb 23  BARRY 50s 3-0 Mathern 

March 8 Llantrisant vs BARRY 60s / Ystrad Mynach / 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 

May 10 BARRY 55s vs Newport / Jenner Park / TBC (CUP)