Barry Comprehensive School

In an age where the professional game screams out for a football team to excite the watching masses but so often disappoints, fans of the beautiful game should make their way down to Barry Comprehensive School where Year 10 have this year adopted the tag of ‘Entertainers’!

After an undefeated league campaign, recent games have focussed on the Seagar Cup competition which has brought real drama and excitement to the end of season run in.

After defeating an excellent Llanishen side in the quarter-finals by the odd goal in seven, the team followed it up with nail biting win against Radyr to set up a final against local rivals St Cyres.

After the seasons’ run of results the team, led by captain Curtis Mathews, entered the game full of confidence and optimism and the first 10 minutes were dominated by the Barry side, however the early supremacy was not rewarded with goal. As the game continued St Cyres became more involved in the match, but still did not threaten the Barry goal. Nevertheless, the following 10 minutes saw a bizarre series of events, which saw St Cyres take a 3-0 lead after having only one shot at goal! Firstly, goalkeeper Nathan McCarthy misjudged a cross and parried the ball into his own net, Alex Webb then stabbed the ball past his own keeper after a harmless looking corner and St Cyres then scored a third past a bewildered looking McCarthy to go into a commanding lead.

Although this clearly knocked the stuffing out of Barry the boys continued to push forward knowing that attack was the only way to try and salvage the game. And attack they did! Amazingly an Antony Jones strike was sandwiched between 2 Mathew Fairweather goals just before half-time to bring a breathtaking first half to a close!

At the interval an exhausted coach Hutton had only praise after such an extraordinary start and made a few minor alterations to tactics to ensure that the attacking policy continued.

The second half was a little calmer but burst into life when Anthony Jones scored to grab Barry the lead for the first time in the game, but the joy was short lived when St Cyres quickly sneaked another equaliser. The game was now drawing to a close with both sides eager not to make a mistake that might cost them the game.

However, every game like this needs a hero and Rhys Collier provided the final act of a truly amazing show when in the last minute he latched onto a through ball and lobbed the keeper to snatch victory. Amazing!

The final whistle quickly was blown and Barry were victorious and St Cyres, who had played superbly in a great game were distraught. Well done to both teams, but particularly Barry who really showed that the tag of ‘Entertainers’ was maintained for another year.

Photo: Barry Comprehensive School’s Victorious Year 10 Team ‘The Entertainers’