An enforced first half substitution that saw James Demetriou replace injured Kayne McLaggon proved to be the turning point of the game as in-form Barry Town fought back to claim an entertaining 4-1 win over Llandudno.
Barry notched their third straight victory following the league split despite trailing after just 25 seconds when a defensive lapse allowed Robbie Parry to put Llandudno in front.
After leading scorer McLaggon left the field in the 37th minute, Demetriou soon fired Barry level, scoring his first goal since joining the club from Bangor City last month.
A strong spell for the visitors followed the restart as Parry struck the upright from a free-kick and Mike Lewis thwarted Toby Jones.
And those missed chances would prove costly to Llandudno as a quick-fire double from Demetriou put Barry Town in the driving seat.
A confident curling finish from the Australian-Cypriot striker was followed up four minutes later when a precise drive from outside of the area gave Barry a 3-1 lead.
Chris Hugh sealed the result when he charged through the Llandudno defence to finish past Lynch in the closing stages as Gavin Chesterfield’s side strengthened their play-off hopes, pulling five points ahead in seventh-place in the table.
Bala Town moved up to third after Les Davies fired home his fifth league goal of the season against Cardiff Met.
Jon Routledge scored the only goal of the game as runaway leaders The New Saints won at Connah’s Quay. Saints finished the game with 10 men after goalkeeper Paul Harrison was dismissed in the 88th minute.
Barry Town United 4 James Demetriou 41′ 66′ 68′ Chris Hugh 84′
Llandudno FC 1 Robbie Parry 1′
Barry Town United
1. Mike Lewis, 21. Macauley Southam, 4. Luke Cooper, 5. Curtis Watkins, 3. Chris Hugh, 8. Troy Greening, 14. Callum Sainty (6. James Saddler 86′), 10. Jordan Cotterill, 20. Ryan Newman (15. Louis Gerrard 84′), 11. Drew Fahiya, 7. Kayne McLaggon (19. James Demetriou 37′)
Subs not used: 26. Lewis Cosslett, 12. Joe Massaro (gk), 24. Michael George, 28. Luke Davidson
Red Cards: None
Yellow Cards: Newman 62′ Cotterill 67′
Llandudno FC
1. Alex Lynch, 6. Wes Baynes, 3. James Joyce, 2. Joe Heath, 4. Danny Shaw, 16. Sam Hart, 20. Tom Dix, 7. Matthew Williams (5. Harri Jones 90′), 14. Robbie Parry (12. Joe Carey 74′), 21. Toby Jones, 10. Marc Williams
Subs not used: 13. Patrik Rutter (gk), 23. Iwan Williams
Red Cards: None
Yellow Cards: Hart 18′ Matty Williams 37′ Dix 59′ Heath 74′
Attendance: 307 Referee: Huw Jones
Sunday’s fixtures:
Prestatyn v Newtown (2.30)
Carmarthen v Aberystwyth (5.15)
