Current champions Barry Town Vets consolidated their position at the top of the over 55s League with a hard fought 6-2 win away to Newport in the Wales Veterans Football League.
Barry travelled to Llanwern with a strong squad despite several late withdrawals, which demonstrates the depth of the over 55s group this term.
Barry once again started with real urgency, with Gibb, Huish, Marshall and Dupuy mostly controlling matters and creating several good opportunities to go ahead, particularly Dupuy, when well placed. Newport, as predicted, were a threat on the break, but apart from a momentary lapse when only a fine save by Barry goalkeeper John Jones denied the big number nine, Gibbins, Jones, Blackie and Staddon were watertight at the back.
Barry continued to create chances but lamentable finishing kept the scores level. Man-of-the-match Sanderson was causing constant problems for the Newport defence and on the half hour, he put Barry 1-0 up after good work by Gibbins. His strike partner, Bobbett, added a second shortly afterwards. On 38 minutes and against the run of play the hosts converted a controversial free-kick, only for the visitors to once again extend their lead, when a Gibb pass was clipped over the line by Dupuy, to give a more realistic scoreline going into half time.
Indecisive defending by Barry after the interval allowed Newport to grab a second goal and as a result the game became scrappy and disjointed, with the hosts sensing an upset. Substitute Welsh entered the fray and immediately converted a Sanderson flick-on, after pirouetting around the keeper and full back simultaneously! Minutes later a fine through ball by Huish was converted (in the end) by Sanderson to make the game safe. On the full time whistle, Longman fed Mark Jones and his probing ball forward allowed Welsh to tap in for his second and Barry’s sixth, continuing their unbeaten run.
On the 20th October Barry 50s play The Continental at Leckwith Stadium, whilst the over 60s kick-off their season on the same day against Swansea.
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 vs Continental / Leckwith / 2pm
Oct 20 BARRY 60s vs Swansea / Ystrad Mynach Centre / 4.30pm
Oct 27 BARRY 55s vs Llantrisant / Jenner Park / 2pm
Nov 3 Merthyr vs BARRY 50s / Penydarren Park / 2pm
Nov 10 Swansea vs BARRY 55s / LLandarcy Sports / 2pm
Nov 17 Merthyr vs BARRY 60s / Ystrad Mynach Centre / 4.30pm
Nov 24 BARRY 55s vs Penybont / Jenner Park / 1pm
Dec 1 Swansea vs BARRY 50s / LLandarcy Sports / 2pm
Dec 8 Barry 55s vs Merthyr (CUP) / Jenner Park / 11am
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