By Josh Thomas
Barry Town United and Clifftonville held each other to a 0-0 draw at Leckwith Stadium tonight in the first leg of their preliminary round Europa League tie.
A number of missed chances for both sides on a hot summer’s evening in Cardiff means Barry – back in Europe after a 16-year absence – head to Belfast for the second leg with all to play for.
Despite Rory Donnelly going close several times for the Northern Irish side, Mike Lewis in the Barry goal was in inspired form and pulled of a number of fantastic saves.
It was the visitors who started brightly and their early possession saw them go close to finding the away goal early on.
However, Luke Cooper was on hand with a couple of vital clearances from two Levi Ives’ crosses to keep the score goalless.
Barry, in their first home European game since the first qualifying round of the Champions League in 2003, saw Clayton Green shoot spectacularly from distance but the midfielder’s effort sailed over the bar.
The Northern Irish team had the first real chance after 14 minutes through Donnelly. A Gary Breen cross from the right was met by the head by Donnelly, but he could only direct it over the bar and onto the top of Lewis’s net.
Lewis had to be called into action again moments later after the ball dropped to Chris Curran, but Barry’s number one made himself tall and saved well with his body and the ball went away to safety.
Constant pressure from Cliftonville reduced the Welsh side to limited chances throughout the first half.
Jonathan Hood’s shot flew just go over after a routine corner, but it was Hood’s defensive lapse that saw Donnelly almost in once again.
This time, Luke Cummings got in front of the ex-Swansea City man and cleared the danger.
Kayne McLaggon would go close towards the end of the first half but despite being presented with a second chance after his original shot lacked power, the forward wasn’t able to turn it home as both teams went into half time scoreless.
Cliftonville started the second half as the dominant force once more, and went close twice in quick succession.
Firstly, a dangerous corner found its way to Joe Gorman whose flick found Donnelly, who tried the acrobatic overhead kick but his shot went over the bar.
Moments later, Conor McDermott, on loan from Derry City, lashed his shot over as the away side started to build up momentum.
Barry injected fresh legs into the game with Troy Greening coming on for debutant Jack Compton and Drew Fahiya for Robbie Patten.
It was Fahiya who made an instant impact after his ball found Jordan Cotterill in space, but the captain could only fire his shot off target.
Cliftonville, however, resumed their attacking threat and it needed some sound defensive work from Barry to keep them out.
Mostly, though, they were kept at arm’s length – McDermott again firing over from far out as the game ended in an entertaining but goalless draw.
Barry Town United: Lewis, Hugh, Cooper, Patten (Fahiya, 73) McLaggon, Cotterill (C) (Fry, 82) Cummings, Compton (Greening, 73) Hood, Green, Press.
Unused substitutions: Ratcliffe (GK), Morgan, Watkins, Snaith
Cliftonville: Brush, McDermott (Maguire, 90+6) Ives, Breen, Curran (C), Harkin, Donnelly, Bagnall, Doherty (Gormley, 79) McMenamin (Curran, 84) Gorman
Unused Substitutions: Dunne (GK), Harney, Foster, Wilson
Attendance: 2,106
