For the second time this season in meetings between them, neither side could find a goal, as Flint left Jenner Park with a well earned point. The home side had the cleaner chances in a well matched battle, whilst Flint enjoyed good periods of possession and passages of play, but struggled with the final ball.
Both keepers enjoyed a reasonably quiet afternoon, as neither were really called upon to make any saves of note.
Barry were at their most dangerous when they turned over possession in the middle of the park, and then mounted swift attacks, particularly down their left side. On one such occasion on 18 minutes, they created their first sight of goal. Owen Cuddihy received the ball and was free to run down the left, before pinging a great ball across the face of the 6 yard box. Ieuan Owen met it, but snatched at the chance, and shot wide from a good position.
Flint responded on 25 minutes, when Ben Hughes played in a decent ball from the right, and Mikey Burke’s flick header finished just the wrong side of the post from his point of view.
Owen had another sight of the target when a ball was lobbed into his path, but his attempted chip sailed high over the bar.
On the hour mark, Jake Canavan gifted possession to Barry, and Eliot Richards played a swift one-two with Robbie Wilmott before striking a 20 yard effort just past the upright. As the second half wore on, Flint were displaying more composure on the ball, and Barry were stating to become more frustrated, with Hughes in particular doing well for his side in turning over possession by nicking the ball back.
After one such interception on 66 minutes, he found Ben Wynne, who then slipped the ball to the supporting Burke, but he screwed his attempted shot across the face of goal.
As the game entered added on time, Ollie Hulbert tried to win a penalty for the home side as he entered the box and ran into Isaac Lee, the Flint defender merely standing his ground, and the referee correctly waved play on.
A game short on goalmouth action, but which nevertheless was reasonably entertaining, and one which showed a welcome bit of defensive steeliness from the Silkmen given the mishaps from the previous couple of weeks.
Report by Nigel Sheen
Line Ups :
Barry Town United – G. Ratcliffe, M. George, W. Richards, C. Sainty (c), B. Margetson, K. Davies, R. Wilmott, E. Richards (D. Barton 76), I. Owen (D. Smith 81), O. Hulbert, O. Cuddihy (E. Williams 67). Unused Subs – J. Thomas (GK), J. Bernard, K. Saunders, J. Case
Flint Town United – J. Flint, I. Lee, M. Burke, A. Mudimu, H. Owen (c), J. Thorn, J. Phillips, B. Hughes (S. Fofana 88), E. Reeves (D. Stephenson 82), B. Wynne (J. Jones 88), J. Canavan. Unused Subs – D. Szczepaniak (GK), B. Woollam, K. Imariagbe
Flint MOM – Ben Hughes (a real dynamo in the midfield for his side)
