JD CYMRU PREMIER: BARRY TOWN UNITED  0 PONTYPRIDD UNITED 3

IT was the start they didn't want as Barry fell to a chastening defeat at home to Pontypridd in the start of phase two of the JD Cymru Premier.

Read the match report, below.

Read more: Can Barry Town get into Europe as JD Cymru Premier splits?

Report by Ian Johnson

Phase Two of the Cymru Premier season got off to the worst possible start for Barry, who were well beaten at home by Pontypridd.

Despite a strong line-up, Barry lacked the sharpness and competitive edge needed to take three points.

The result leaves Town in ninth place, five points behind a play-off place but also only seven points away from a relegation spot.

Barry came to close to scoring after six minutes when Lucas Tomlinson’s shot from the edge of the box cannoned off a defender and wide of the goal.

However, the visitors took a fifteenth minute lead through striker Ben Ahmun.

A long ball over the top saw Barry goalkeeper Luc Rees come to clear, only to lose the race to the Ponty striker, who lifted the ball over Rees before slotting into the empty net.

Five minutes later, Barry came close to equalising, with Sam Snaith knocking the ball down and Oli Hulbert firing across the face of the goal from the edge of the box.

After an hour, Ahmun nearly doubled his tally, outpacing the Barry defence but shooting across goal, rather than on target.

Nevertheless, Ponty made it 2-0 a few minutes later. Owain Jones saw his shot saved by Luc Rees, but scored from close range from the resulting corner, getting in front of the Barry defence to head home.

The visitors continued to push, with Keston Davies going close from a free-kick which went just wide, and Luc Rees saving his effort from close range.

Eventually the pressure told, and Pontypridd scored a third. Barry gave up possession cheaply in midfield and, although Luc Rees saved the initial shot from Ahmun, the ball stayed in play and fell to Owain Pritchard, who netted comfortably.

Barry travel to Penybont on Saturday for a 12:45pm kick-off, with the match being screened live online by Sgorio.