It has been a long wait since Barry Town United last lifted the Nathaniel MG Cup, but there is a growing sense at Jenner Park that silverware could be within reach once again.
On Saturday evening, Barry head to JD Cymru South outfit Cambrian United for a semi-final clash (KO 17:15) that promises the chance to edge closer to a trophy that has eluded them since 2000.
Captain Callum Sainty has been central to Barry’s resurgence this season, adapting to new roles and helping drive the team’s momentum.
“I started the season at centre-back, but for the last ten or so games I’ve moved into midfield,” he explained.
“It’s somewhere I used to play, and I’ve really enjoyed going back in there. Personally, I’ve managed to score a couple of goals, and for the team as a whole, we’ve picked up form recently which is great heading into this game.”
Nathaniel MG Cup
Semi-final preview
That form has been evident in Barry’s recent run, with five wins and three draws across their last eight outings in all competitions, in addition to six clean sheets. Sainty believes the improvement has come from a more clinical edge across the pitch.
“We’re scoring goals all over the team this year – we’re not just relying on the strikers. Defenders and midfielders have chipped in, which makes us harder to play against. In previous seasons we’ve been more dependent on the forwards, but now we’ve got threats everywhere.”
Cambrian United, however, present a formidable challenge. Flying high in the JD Cymru South and pushing for promotion, they will be backed by a strong home crowd under the lights. Sainty knows the scale of the task.
“They’re doing very well and look like they’ll go on to win the league. Playing them away at 5.15pm, with a good crowd behind them, will be tough. But we’re up for it.”
For Barry, reaching the final would be a significant milestone. The club enjoyed a golden spell of dominance in the domestic game in the late 1990s, reaching the final on five occasions and winning the competition four times in succession, but the club have not lifted the trophy since.
The last time they reached the final was in 2017, when a 20-year-old Sainty came off the bench late on in Barry’s 4-0 defeat to TNS.
“It would be great to get back to that sort of occasion,” Sainty said. “These are the games players want to be involved in and it would mean a lot to the club and the supporters to get to the final and hopefully win it.”
Beyond the Cup, Barry’s ambitions remain high with Steve Jenkins at the helm. Securing a top-six finish in the JD Cymru Premier and pushing for European qualification is firmly on the agenda.
Cambrian United v Barry Town United
Saturday 6 December, 17:15
“That’s absolutely the goal,” Sainty emphasised. “We’ve got to finish Phase One strongly to give ourselves that chance.”
For Ely-born Sainty, Barry Town United is more than just a club – it’s home. Having grown up just 15 minutes away, he relishes representing the Jenner Park side.
“It’s home from home for me, and I’m really enjoying my football under the gaffer. There’s a great buzz around the squad right now, and we just want to keep that going.”
As the Linnets prepare for Saturday’s semi-final, their current promising run of form and Sainty’s leadership offers hope that the club could be on the brink of another memorable chapter in its proud history.
