HAVERFORDWEST'S push for the top six was dealt another blow as they were held at home to Barry.

Kyle Patten put the hosts ahead with a low finish in the box just after half time.

Barry equalised through captain Kayne McLaggon who forced the ball into the net from close range twenty minutes before the end.

First half: Filthy conditions win out in even half

County were without captain Dylan Rees, a casualty of the weekend thumping by TNS, but Elliot Scotcher was in at the heart of midfield, back after aggravating his knee in the win over Newtown a week ago. 

It was also nice to see a return to Ogi Bridge Meadow for Jazz Richards after a substantail lay-off with injury.

It was Richards who played in a sumptuous ball onto the head of Fawcett four minutes into the game after some slick play from Haverfordwest moving the ball across the pitch left to right, however Fawcett's header was straight at Barry keeper Michael Lewis.

On a filthy night with wet condtions that made the ball akin to a soap bar it would be interesting to see how Lee Idzi faired, back between the sticks for Wojciech Gadja who was on the bench.

Idzi was tested early on by Barry's number seven McLaggon who hit a stinger of a shot from 20 yards which, in the condtions, he did well to punch away.

Idzi could have been tested again after Alaric Jones received a yellow for a foul on the edge of the Haverfordwest penalty area after a tussle with McLaggon, but the resulting freekick was blazed over the bar by Barry's Rhys Abbruzzese.

How would Touray-Sisay fair in a winter's night midweek game? The big striker battled well against the Barry defence, with limited service in the first 45 minutes. He showed great strength to carve an opportunity on the half hour mark, racing with the Barry defenders to the through ball but his low shot was saved.  

Second half: A goal for either side in a 'stramash' of a half

Kyle Patten was at risk of being subbed off in the middle of the first half as the defender limped off with what looked like an ankle injury, but the big centre-half played on and good news he did, it was Patten's low shot from five yards after a stramash in the box off of Jack Wilson's long throw that broke the deadlock.

Straight after the goal Alaric Jones made a goal saving chellenge and then the tables, which had been in Haverfordwest's favour, began to turn.

Firstly there was a flurry of yellow cards for Watts and Wilson, then Idzi made the save of the game, getting down low to deny Barry Town from five yards.

Kieran Lewis, so wily in the middle of the park, had been subject to some rough treatment tonight and had to be replaced on the hour mark by Iori Humphreys.

One of Humphreys' early contributions was to be booked for a foul right on the corner of the Haverfordwest box, then from a cross and another stramash, McLaggon wheeled a way in delight after a pack of Barry players forced the ball over the line under Idzi's crossbar.

Haverfordwest were dominated for much of the second half but did hit a counter punch with a lovely move that saw Touray dummy the cross for Wilson who stayed on his feet and got his shot away in the six yard box but it was smothered by Lewis.

Bluebirds' supporters hearts were in mouths when, on 79', substitute Marcus Day's fantastic curling effort from 18 yards went a whisker wide of Idzi's far post and Day had another opportunity from the same spot that went just over.

Haverfordwest 1-1 Barry Town

Goalscorers: Patten 48', McLaggon 69'

Haverfordwest County: Idzi (GK), Richards, Scotcher (C), Jones, Watts, Fawcett, Wilson, K Rees, Touray Sisay, K Lewis (Humphreys 60'), Patten 

Subs: Gajda (GK), Humphreys, King, Hillier-Wood, Davies

Barry Town United AFC: Lewis (GK), R Patten, McLaggon (C), Cotterill, Kavanagh, Wharton (Day 75'), McDonald, Abbruzzese, A Davies (Cummings 82'), Green, Press

Subs: Absalom (GK), Cummings, Jarvis, Day, Cooper

Referee: Benjamin Williams