A lesson in finishing your chances, by the home team, was the crucial difference in a game of few clear cut opportunities, with the away attack all too often blunted by a dogged Barry defensive display, in which Callum Sainty was a composed and controlling presence.
An early goal set Barry on the way, as they found the net with only two minutes on the clock. Robbie Wilmott sent a long raking ball out to the right, and found Michael George who played it infield to Ollie Hulbert, who in turn flicked it into the path of Kayne McLaggon. The Barry skipper cushioned a neat little pass into the path of Keenan Patten, who slipped the ball beyond Jack Flint from close range. From a Barry point of view it was a well worked goal, but from a Flint perspective, their defence was all too easily penetrated. The Silkmen’s first real attack of note came when Jake Phillips ran infield and found Ben Hughes, whose first time pass released Elliott Reeves, but his effort, whilst on target, did not unduly trouble Liam Armstrong in the Barry goal.
As the half wore on, Flint came more into the game and started to press the home side back. They equalised on 23 minutes, in a somewhat bizarre fashion. A long throw from Phillips was hurled into a crowded near post area. Armstrong was caught under the ball, and got his fingertips to it, but the trajectory carried it into the net, much to the keeper’s frustration.
Having got themselves back into contention, and looking fairly comfortable, Flint were undone by a corner on the half hour mark, that restored Barry’s lead. William Richards pulled away at the near post, and met the delivery, sending his header goalwards. The ball struck the bar, but bounced down nicely for Sainty to tap home.
With not much between the two sides in the opening half, it was still all to play for in the second period, but a disappointing 45 minutes from the Silkmen meant they rarely threatened Armstrong’s goal, until it was too late. A string of misplaced passes and overhit balls into the opposition half kept handing possession back to Barry all too cheaply, and they were unable to build up any kind of momentum.
Having toiled away in vain, the game was put beyond them with twenty minutes remaining when Barry raided down their left through Evan Press, who got to the by-line before sending a shot in at the near post. Jack Flint managed to get a block on it, but was unable to prevent it bouncing into the path of Patten, who was perfectly situated in the centre of goal to score his second of the afternoon.
Flint kept battling away, and new signings Ben Collins and Corey Hart were introduced off the bench to try and help turn the tide, but it was to no avail, although the Silkmen did at least create one good chance right at the end of regulation time. Isaac Lee set off on one of his marauding runs, and was forced out wide on the right, where Phillips picked up the ball and sent in a good delivery to find Josh Jones, who met it on the volley from 12 yards out, but he was unable to keep it on target, and it fizzed wide of the post.
On paper, this was always going to be the most difficult fixture of phase 2, and for long periods Flint more than matched their hosts, but the lack of a bit of self belief and creativity in the final third was their undoing. However, with other results going our way today, not too much damage was done, and we can now look forward to a home game with Aberystwyth next Friday evening, where we shall look to get back on track once again.
Report by Nigel Sheen
Line Ups :
Barry Town United – L. Armstrong, M. George, E. Press, C. Sainty, B. Williams-Margetson, R. Wilmott, K. McLaggon (C) (I. Owen 73), W. Richards, O. Hulbert (S. Snaith 79), K. Patten, R. Kavanagh. Unused Subs – L. Masrani (GK), J. Yorweth, E. Richards, A. Lewis, H. Bright
Flint Town United – J. Flint, I. Lee, M. Burke, L. Mariette (B. Wynne 72), H. Owen (c), I. Lambert (B. Collins 75), J. Phillips, B. Hughes (C. Hart), E. Reeves (G. Maire 90), S. Fofana, J. Jones. Unused subs – L. Murphy, H. Peagram, L. Morrison
Flint MOM – Sidi Fofana (another solid midfield performance)
