Gloucester City edged out Barry Town United 1-0 in a pre-season friendly at Jenner Park on Saturday, with Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology playing a decisive role in the match’s sole goal.
Ashley Hemmings scored from the penalty spot after a foul was awarded against Barry’s James Lester just past the half-hour mark. The initial penalty decision, which came despite Barry Town’s protests that the foul had occurred outside the penalty area, was confirmed following consultation with VAR, which is currently being used as part of the Football Association of Wales’ referee training programme.
Upon the VAR review, the original on-field decision stood, allowing Hemmings to convert the spot kick confidently in the 34th minute and give Gloucester City the lead.
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City’s manager Daf Williams commented on the impact of VAR, saying:
“It slowed the game down but I think it was the right decision. The argument was whether contact was inside or outside the area. It was a different experience but I think I’d get frustrated with it. Barry and the other teams in the Welsh Premier have that in every game going forward but it’s not something I’d be particularly pleased with.”
Barry Town fielded three former Gloucester City players-Owen Brain, Sion Spence, and Jadyn Crosbie-and were quick to create early chances. Spence tested City goalkeeper Jared Thompson within six minutes, while City responded with efforts from Tom Owen-Evans and Hemmings. Barry’s attacking moves included a well-coordinated sequence involving Brain and Crosbie before Spence crossed dangerously.
After the penalty, Barry continued to press, with Crosbie earning a corner and Elliott Dugan coming close to an equaliser with an overhead kick in first-half stoppage time, narrowly missing the target.
In the second half, goalkeeper George Ratcliffe made a notable save denying Morgan Lewis, and Joshua Bernard delivered promising crosses, though Barry were unable to break down the City defence. Barry’s appeals for a penalty late in the game were dismissed, and Gloucester City held on for the victory.
Reflecting on the match, City boss Daf Williams stated, “There were bits that I didn’t like and bits I really liked so it’s about bringing everything together now with a couple of weeks before the season starts. It was another good workout and a lot of the lads had 90 minutes so we are all topped now going into the last game of pre-season. We still have things to work on, there are still things that I want to improve on and increase the quality in standards in some parts of the pitch. But the lads look fit and we have still got that extra week compared to Barry and I thought we competed physically.”
Gloucester City’s final pre-season fixture is away at Weston-super-Mare on Friday night, ahead of their Southern League Premier South campaign opener against Chertsey Town on 8 August.
Williams added: “It was nice to win the game and we did challenge the players in terms of finding a way to win. All of our games in pre-season have provided different challenges and tests and we are quite pleased with where we are at. There are three or four players who haven’t been involved today so the squad is looking healthy, hopefully we get some bodies back in the next week or so. Tactically there are things we need to work on and be better at but we have plenty of time in the next two weeks. I think we will be more than ready to go.”
Gloucester City’s lineup included: Thompson, M Lewis (Emmett 75), Nugent (J Lewis 88), O’Regan, E Williams, Evans (Trialist 75), Owen-Evans, Thomas, Waite (Bearne 75), Cross (Dunbar 63), Hemmings (H Williams 75).