A DISPUTED equaliser by Aberystwyth Town’s Jonny Spittle denied last season’s Welsh League division one champions Barry Town a victory on their long awaited return to the Welsh Premier League on Sunday.

Former Aber keeper Mike Lewis felt he had saved on the line after the ball had deflected back off Spittle, following Declan Walker’s corner, but the goal was dramatically awarded with just 10 minutes to go.

Aberystwyth, with six summer signings in their starting line-up, fell behind midway through the first half to Ryan Newman’s goal, but they had fought back well to earn a point in their first competitive match under Neville Powell

In front of a bumper crowd of over 900 at Jenner Park, Barry had started at pace and Tyrrell Webbe got the first shot away on goal from the edge of the box, but his low strike failed to test Chris Mullock.

Kayne McLaggon’s deflected shot was also stopped, but Powell’s men went close on 11 minutes when the ball was cleared to right back Walker, who fired just wide of the post.

Barry continued to attack with purpose and a great overlapping run by danger man Webbe set up Chris Hugh, but centre back John McKenna made a brilliant block.

Webbe then got a shot away from 25 yards, which flew over, but Barry broke the deadlock on 28 minutes.

Aber conceded the ball in midfield and McLaggon ran at the defence - and despite a great save from Mullock the ball was parried to Ryan Newman, who slotted the ball home from 12 yards out.

The visitors responded with Luke Borrelli forcing a save with a header from a good position in the box, and John Owen fired wide after neat inside pass by Declan Carroll.

In a good spell for Aber, Owen looked a real threat on the left and he made great Cruyff turn before squaring to striker Craig Hobson, who was denied by an outstretched Lewis, before almost setting Malcolm Melvin up with a back header.

Melvin also fired wide from a well directed cross from Borrelli - but at the other end, McLaggon worked himself into great position, but the ball was cleared out for a corner.

Aber, however, almost levelled before the break as another Owen cross from inside the box on the left found Borrelli, whose deflected volley was brilliantly saved by Lewis.

With little separating the sides at the interval, there was all to play for in the second half, but it began with both sides conceding possession too easily in the first 10 minutes.

Aber did threaten when Melvin saw a shot blocked, and when Walker chipped the ball into the edge of the box, Carroll showed good skill to take the ball down and get a shot away, but it curled wide.

McKenna also headed over from a deep cross, but at the other end, Webbe won a free kick 25 yards out, for a foul by Spittle, but he then lifted his set piece high over the bar.

Subs Joe Phillips and Christian Langos came on as Aber stepped up, and Phillips went close before Ashley Young whipped in a cross to Jon Owen, who saw his back header well-saved by the keeper.

Hobson came off for Cledan Davies, and he soon lifted a deep cross over from the left side - before Aber equalised in controversial fashion.

Another strong Walker corner was pushed out by Lewis, but the ball rebounded off Spittle’s thigh and was caught by the keeper.

Spittle’s boot caught Lewis in the face as he held onto the ball, but when he recovered, expecting a free kick to be given, the keeper realised that the goal had been awarded.

It was no more than Aber deserved, however, and in the closing stages, Lewis punched a deep cross from Davies clear, before Owen saw his flicked shot whistle wide.

Livewire Langos then went down in the box under a challenge from defender Hugh, but Aber’s appeals for a penalty were waved away.

Three minutes into injury time, Walker also saw his free kick claimed by Lewis, but the honours deservedly ended even in an exciting curtain-raiser at Jenner Park.

BARRY TOWN: M Lewis, P Morgan, C Hugh, L Cooper, R Evans, J Saddler, T Greening, R Newman (C Sainty 80 minutes), K Mclaggon (TJ Nagi 71), T Webbe, D Fahiya (S Jones 90).

ABERYSTWYTH: C Mullock, D Walker, J Spittle, R Wollacott, M Melvin, C Hobson (C Davies 79), J Owen, L Borrelli (J Phillips 65), A Young, D Carroll (C Langos 72), J McKenna. Subs not used: J Rimmer, H Horwood.

Att: 902. Ref: B Markham-Jones.