OF the two sides involved in this top-of-the-table clash, the hosts will probably be the more satisfied with the eventual point apiece with their opponents constantly frustrated by a man-of-the match display be Scott Coughlan in the home goal.
He has been in outstanding form all season, and the Reds have much to thank him for again in this latest outing with a string of saves denying the visitors on numerous occasions.
It is not entirely a one-man show however, for as well as Coughlan the home defence also deserves fulsome praise for its efforts, Miles John, James Parry, Sean Cronin, Louis Gerrard and Jamie Baker turning in some outstanding displays over the season, and so it proved again against the league leaders, who despite having the bulk of the play were kept relatively quiet.
In fact, the Reds were the first to show with John making ground down the right before his attempted cut back into the middle was blocked and the ball eventually cleared.
Coughlan was then called on to make the first of his crucial saves, turning around a well struck effort by Josh Graham when the visitors broke in attack, and he was called into action again shortly after, this time safely clutching low down a Jordan Cotterill attempt when he latched on to a throw into the box.
Barry were looking dangerous, with Kayne McLaggon especially dominant, and he was denied at the near post by Coughlan after a surging run up the right flank.
The contest then became somewhat scrappy, with play being frequently broken up by a series of free kicks for either side, courtesy of some fussy refereeing by Kim Fisher, before a chance for the hosts arose when a ball over the top led to Joe Hopkins gaining possession and making inroads into the area, but he was unable to get his shot away and eventually crowded out.
Tom Hillman was causing the visitors` defence problems when he was found, and a run by him down the left culminated in goalkeeper Michael Lewis being called into action to grasp his finish at the near post.
Another close call on the Barry goal arose when a floated cross by John to the far post forced defender Michael George to head it narrowly past the upright to concede a corner.
The half came to a close with the Reds on the offensive, and Lewis had to be alert to safely clutch a shot from distance by John when Hillman set up the chance.
An early second half scare for the home side arose when a blind back pass intended for Coughlan was instead intercepted by McLaggon in space in the area, but fortunately a combination of the goalkeeper and defence averted the danger at the expense of a corner.
McLaggon was proving to be a constant threat, and when he was allowed to run unchecked into the box, it took another fine save by Coughlan to divert his goal-bound attempt around the upright.
From the ensuing flag kick, an almighty scramble in front of goal somehow ended with the home defence just about managing to eventually clear their lines.
As the half progressed, the Reds were being pressurised by their opponents as they upped the stakes, and when they were awarded a free kick just outside the area, Evan Press became the latest visiting player to be denied by Coughlan who was quickly down to smother his effort on the line.
With the contest being somewhat one-sided in favour of the visitors, surprisingly the hosts almost snatched an unlikely lead when new signing Josh Allen almost caught Lewis unawares with a well struck curler which forced the goalkeeper to keep it out with some difficulty.
The Reds then made a number of changes, with Jamie Baker, Dylan Williams and Tim Parker replacing Allen, Owen Bancroft and Eli Phipps, before almost immediately they were hit by the award of a penalty to their opponents with seemingly Hillman being involved in an initial tackle in the box, and even Coughlan could not prevent McLaggan from netting from the spot on 71 minutes.
This was some consolation for the visitors who had endured a frustrating afternoon with their goal attempts, but if they were thinking they were about to head home with the three points with just six minutes remaining, a well-crafted move by the Reds put these hopes to an end, with Hillman doing well to keep the ball in play on the byline before finding Parker, who in turn played a pass into the path of Cronin who had made his way from the back, and he curled a great finish into the top corner beyond the despairing clutches of Lewis to seal a precious point in the race for the title.
The Reds are without a game this weekend, their next fixture being a local derby at Carmarthen Town on Saturday, February 11, kick off 2.30pm.
