Barry Cup Semi Final
St Athan 2-1 FC Barry Belgrade

Reece Lewis and Karl Steel’s early goals were enough to send St Athan into the Barry Cup Final after a tremendous team display by Saints. 

Saints came into the game hurting from their ASRS Cup semi final defeat days earlier and looked to right a few wrongs.

St Athan started like a house on fire and early high pressure from Jordan Mortimore and Karl Steel saw Steel lay the ball to Lewis who’s low strike from distance bent away from the keeper and into the net after three minutes.

Saints kept their foot on the gas and soon made it too, relentless hard work from Aaron Rogers saw the spill to Mortimore, who played in Josh Harfoot, his shot was parried into the path of Steel for the tap in after six minutes.

Belgrade were rattled and at sixs and sevens and Harfoot fired wide after good work as Saints looked for the third.

Belgrade composed themselves and found a way through the well marshalled Saints defence but fired wide.

St Athan continued to put their opponents under pressure and Mortimore and Steel both saw shots wide while Lewis saw a strike from distance well held.

Saints went in 2-0 up but influential midfielder Joe Laing was forced off with an eye injury.

This seemed to disrupt Saints early in the second half as Belgrade came out all guns blazing.

Belgrade applied a period of pressure but found Saints defence in a resolute mood and keeper Andrews rarely troubled meaningfully.

Saints looked to break and saw strikes by Rogers and the impressive Kieran Ashton comfortablely stopped.

Belgrade threw caution to the wind in a late attempt to find some way back into the area and after a free kick was in and rebounded off the post, they got a goal back in stoppage time.

Saints managed the final minutes to book their Barry Cup final place. In which they will play local rivals Llantwit Major who disputes Barry Athletic 4-2.

The final takes place on Sunday 6th May at Jenner Park.

St Athan : Andrews, Cox, Young, Sutch, Laing, Lewis, Rogers, Ashton, Harfoot, Steel, Mortimore. Subs – Howells, Pugh.

HD