Barry Town vs Trethomas Bluebirds

Barry controlled the first half from the outset. The breakthrough came in the 29th minute when new signing Sion Spence — who arrived at Jenner Park this summer after leaving Gloucester City — found the net to make it 1-0. Spence had already scored in Barry’s earlier pre-season wins and continued his impressive start to life back in South Wales.

Jack Shaw doubled the lead in the 37th minute. The midfielder, who joined Barry this summer after spells at Trethomas Bluebirds, Llantwit Major and Penybont, scored against his former employers to send the hosts into half-time with a 2-0 advantage.

Barry emerged from the tunnel with renewed intensity. Two quick goals inside the opening five minutes of the second half — the first in the 46th minute, the second in the 49th — effectively killed the contest as a competitive affair. The lead stretched to 4-0 within four minutes of the restart.

Trethomas pulled one back in the 71st minute through an unassisted strike, providing a brief moment of encouragement for the visitors. But Barry restored their four-goal cushion five minutes later when they added a fifth in the 76th minute, rounding off a 5-1 scoreline that accurately reflected the gulf in class between the top-flight hosts and their second-tier opponents.

The match was already tilted in Barry’s favour by half-time, but the decisive moment came in the first 240 seconds of the second half. Two goals in quick succession — at 46 and 49 minutes — turned a manageable 2-0 deficit into a 4-0 mountain that a Cymru South side was never going to climb. Steve Jenkins’ half-time team talk had the desired effect, and Barry’s sharp start to the second period removed any doubt about the result.

Sion Spence — The former Gloucester City and Bristol Rovers midfielder scored his third goal of pre-season in the 29th minute and continues to look like a shrewd addition. His movement between the lines caused Trethomas problems all evening.

Jack Shaw — A goal against his former club in the 37th minute, and a composed midfield performance throughout. Shaw joined Barry after spells at Trethomas, Llantwit Major and Penybont, and his familiarity with the opposition showed.

Barry’s second-half starters — The unnamed scorers of the 46th and 49th minute goals changed the complexion of the game within minutes of the restart. The quick double was the match’s defining sequence.

The 5-1 scoreline, with a 2-0 half-time lead, tells a story of growing dominance. Barry’s pre-season pattern has been consistent: controlled first halves followed by aggressive second-half starts. The two goals in the opening four minutes of the second half here mirrored their approach against Yate Town (1-0 win) and Goytre FC (3-1 win), where intensity after the break proved decisive. Trethomas’ consolation in the 71st minute was their only notable attacking moment of the evening.

Barry Town United have now won all four of their pre-season friendlies (Goytre United 1-2, Goytre FC 3-1, Yate Town 0-1, and this result), building momentum ahead of the 2026/27 Novira Cymru Premier season opener against Cambrian United on 31 July at Jenner Park. Steve Jenkins’ side travel to face English Southern League side Weymouth on 18 July in their penultimate pre-season fixture.

For Trethomas Bluebirds, who finished 13th in the Cymru South last season with 29 points, this was a useful workout against top-flight opposition. They continue their own pre-season preparations ahead of the 2026/27 Cymru South campaign.

A straightforward pre-season friendly that followed the expected script. Barry’s quality advantage told from the first whistle, and the second-half flurry underlined the depth Steve Jenkins is building. The unanswered question remains how these promising pre-season performances translate once the competitive fixtures begin on 31 July.