ABERYSTWYTH Town fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat at the hands of a well-organised Barry Town United side at Park Avenue, as Clayton Green’s 17th minute strike proved enough to hand the high-flying Dragons the points.

Nev Powell’s men were never quite able to match their third-placed visitors, with three changes from the starting side that drew at Carmarthen.

Alan Goodall, Rio Ahmadi and Paulo Mendes replaced Lee Jenkins, Geoff Kellaway and Joe Phillips, but both sides struggled find early rhythm.

Paulo Mendes turned and dragged an effort wide of the post, but Aber were also forced into an early substitution as Ryan Edwards departed through injury, replaced by Phillips.

Barry keeper Mike Lewis let the ball slip, and Mathew Jones was on hand to slide the ball towards goal, only for Lewis Cosslett to clear off the line.On 17 minutes, the visitors made the breakthrough with their first effort on goal, when Clayton Green shifted the ball to his left, before rifling a shot above Leigh Jenkins and into the net.

Aber responded with Alan Goodall seeing his effort blocked by Luke Cooper, and Ryan Wollacott strode forward from defence to unleash a strong shot that was deflected wide.

At the other end, Chris Hugh fizzed a low cross into the penalty area, only for Mo Touray to slide a fraction of a second too late to get a toe on the ball.

Jonathan Hood then broke clear on the right hand side of the penalty area, only to see his shot go inches wide, and it was to remain 0-1 at the break.

On 53 minutes, Aber came close to finding an equaliser as Paulo Mendes turned in the box and his cross-come-shot bounced off the bar, and Joe Phillips dragged the rebound just wide.

Kellaway came on for Goodall as the hosts began to commit more bodies forward, but it was the visitors who created the better scoring chances.

On 65 minutes, Luke Cooper’s corner was kept out by a brilliant fingertip save from Jenkins, and substitute Jordan Cotterill curled just wide of the post with the outside of his foot.

With the hosts struggling to create openings, Chris Hugh went close for Barry with a curling free-kick, and then Mo Touray broke downfield in additional time, before seeing his low shot saved by home keeper Jenkins.

Aber struggled to secure possession and an organised Barry side saw the game out in a professional manner.

ABERYSTWYTH: L Jenkins, W Baynes, S Edwards, A Goodall (G Kellaway 62’), R Wollacott, P Mendes, P Ahmadi (N Blake 79’), D Walker, R Edwards (J Phillips 13’), M Jones, A Ruane. Subs not used: J Rimmer, L Jenkins, H Rowe, C Morgan.

BARRY TOWN M Lewis, M Southam-Hales, C Hugh, L Cooper, L Cosslett, T Greening, R Patten, C Green (T Fry 81’), J Hood, M Touray (D Fahiya 90’+1), K McLaggon (J Cotterill 68’). Subs not used: L Gerrard, P Morgan, J Baker.

Attendance: 476. Referee: G Townsend.