JD CYMRU PREMIER: PENYBONT 2 BARRY TOWN UNITED 2

IT was a much-improved performance, however, despite the first point from Penybont since 2019, Barry were left kicking themselves for not taking all the spoils.

Town sit seven points off relegation in the lower half of the league split.

Read the match report, below.

Report by Ian Johnson

Barry earned their first point away at local rivals Penybont since 2019, but will be deeply frustrated after twice taking the lead.

Much improved on last week’s defeat to Pontypridd, Barry had the game’s opening chances.

Striker Ollie Hulbert was involved in both. On one occasion, he shot across goal after chasing a long ball, on another he headed over the oncoming ‘keeper, but saw the effort bounce wide.

The visitors took the lead in the nineteenth minute. From the right, Hulbert cut his cross back to the edge of the area where midfielder Aiden Lewis fired into the bottom corner, scoring his first goal for Barry in the Cymru Premier.

Penybont soon found themselves down to ten men after striker Chris Venables was red carded for an attempted slap on Barry defender Will Richards.

However, the home side got back into the game after 64 minutes. Barry ‘keeper, Luc Rees, misjudged a punch to clear and instead brought down Penybont forward, Keyon Refell. Kayne Owen scored from the spot to make it 1-1.

Barry soon had their back noses in front, though. From the left, a cross from Rhys Davies picked out Sam Snaith at the far post, who headed home to make it 2-1 in the 71st minute.

The pendulum soon went in the other direction, with Penybont again equalising in the 76th minute. An Owen free-kick from the right went uncleared and Refell was unmarked at the back post to make it 2-2.

The home side could have scored a winner, but, with Rees beaten, the shot from Eliot Richards was stopped by Evan Press, and the two sides shared the points.

Barry remain in ninth place, five points away from a European play-off place in seventh, but also seven points clear of the relegation zone.

With no game this weekend, Barry’s next match is at home to Haverfordwest County on Friday, February 23.