ABERYSTWYTH Town were unable to provide much festive cheer as Kayne McLaggon’s 65th minute header earned Barry Town United the Christmas spoils in a competitive match at Park Avenue.

The Seasiders were looking to make it three wins in a row for the first time this season, after following up their Welsh Cup win over Ruthin with an excellent win at Cardiff Met the following week.

Marc Williams went closest for Aber late on, but the result leaves Aber ninth in the JD Cymru Premier, while Barry moved back up into a top four position.

With four games to go until the league split, the Seasiders will be looking to get back on track in their festive double-header against mid Wales rivals Newtown, at Latham Park on Boxing Day, and at Park Avenue on 30 December.

On a chilly evening, a few Christmas wassailers had stopped by on their Carol signing route, and a sizeable contingent of visiting supporters were also in great voice in the Dias Stand from the start.

Jordan Cotterill sent an early free kick over the bar for Barry, while Wes Baynes’ set-pieces were dangerous for the home side, with Lee Jenkins heading a corner wide of the target early on for the hosts. Geoff Kellaway headed just over from another Baynes free kick, and Aber were well in a tight and competitive game.

The home side were incensed when Cotterill, already on a yellow card, unceremoniously appeared to barge Richie Ricketts into the advertising hoardings, but he escaped another Christmas card.

Jonathan Hood lobbed over keeper Connor Roberts’ bar, Cotterill volleyed wide, and Lee Jenkins made a great challenge to deny McLaggon at the near post.

At the other end, Edmilson Vaz’s low goal-bound shot was gathered by Mike Lewis, before Paulo Mendes played a one-two with Williams, but his near post effort was deflected wide for a corner.

Stuart Jones headed inches wide from Baynes’ corner, whilst a Jonathan Hood cross bounced off the crossbar, but neither side could break the deadlock. With Barry ahead on possession and Aber ahead on the shots on goal count, it remained goalless at the half-time break.

Into the second half, the pattern of the game remained the same, with Tom Price working hard to protect the Seasiders’ capable back four in the central midfield.

Connor Roberts pulled off a good save to deny Sion Spence’s dangerous free kick, and at the other end the lively Joe Phillips forced Lewis into another save, with a low fizzing shot from 30 yards out.

Baynes’ free kick just evaded Stuart Jones at the back post, and with Aberystwyth keeping a nice defensive shape the game remained very much in the balance.

The breakthrough finally arrived on 65 minutes when Luke Cummings found space down the right to cross for McLaggon, and he headed home at the far post, to gift the Linnets had a crucial lead.

Home keeper Roberts denied McLaggon again, and Aber made an attacking change, with Luke Boundford sent on up front to impose more physical threat.

The visitors were slowing the game down well – and then the floodlights went out. Six minutes later, however, the Christmas lights were restored, and 10 minutes of injury time was indicated.

Ricketts went on a buccaneering run before unleashing a low shot, which deflected nicely into Lewis’ hands, and Williams curled a cute effort towards the far corner, but Lewis got down well to save.

A late Boundford long throw was cleared, and Williams volleyed over from distance, but Barry survived the late onslaught to secure their 10th league win of the season - and Aber’s 10th defeat.

ABERYSTWYTH TOWN: C Roberts, W Baynes, G Kellaway, P Mendes, M Williams, E Vaz, L Jenkins, S J Jones, R Ricketts, T Price (A Boss 73’), J Phillips (L Boundford 73’). Subs not used: A Pennock (gk), R Edwards.

BARRY: M Lewis, C Hugh, L Cooper, K McLaggon, J Cotterill (M Touray 90’), L Cummings, J Hood, K Reffell (D Fahiya 79’), S Spence, C Green, E Press. Subs not used: L Kendall (gk), C Watkins, R Abbruzzese.

Attendance: 243. Referee: L Evans.