Cardiff City's U21 side benefitted from another stern test as their pre-season campaign continued with an exciting match at Jenner Park on Tuesday evening.
Following an initial slow build-up throughout the opening passages of play as both sides grew into the game, City would chase their senior hosts well throughout, showing plenty of fight and responding well to going behind late in the first half.
Tanatswa Nyakuhwa came close to putting the visitors ahead at the half hour mark, as he rounded his man before striking on goal from 20 yards out. However, his powerful shot flew low and just wide of his near post.
The hosts capitalised on their biggest chance of the half as they went ahead with 40 minutes played. Breaking City’s press to release a long ball down the Bluebirds’ left, a low cross was subsequently converted as a blue body turned the ball into his own net.
Nyakuhwa very nearly levelled the score on the stroke of 45 minutes, but was denied by a brave block in a one-on-one with the ‘keeper, with City going in behind at the break.
Coming back from the break, City hit the ground running and levelled within ten minutes of play resuming. Trey George found the equaliser as he powerfully headed home from a high cross.
The hosts retook the lead minutes later, heading in from a crossed free-kick at the back post. Doubling the lead moments later, ‘keeper Joe Thomas made a great initial save before the rebound was put away.
Troy Perrett wasted no time in finding an immediate response for the Bluebirds, picking out space ahead of him before curling home with a sublime strike from the edge of the area.
City continued their search for an equaliser thereafter. Two minutes after Perrett’s goal, while attacking on the counter and with Nyakuhwa in support, substitute Josh Beecher struck but saw his effort saved.
Barry Town added their fourth with a penalty kick following a foul by Freddie Cook inside the area, before netting for the final time with a ranged strike as Thomas had come off his line to attempt a clearance under pressure.
At the end of a night filled with goals for both sides, it was City who had the final word in the matter, as substitute Mannie Barton did well to finish neatly from close range.
City return to competitive action on Friday evening, as they face Afan Lido away from home in the First Round of the Nathaniel MG Cup – 7:30pm KO.
FINAL SCORE: BARRY TOWN UNITED 5-3 CARDIFF CITY
Cardiff City: Griffiths, Edwards, Giles, Mafico, Lawlor, Cook, George, Twose, Nyakuhwa, Perrett, Wigley. Subs: Trialist, Joe Thomas, Jac Thomas, Rees, Davies, Beecher, Debono, Ola, Barton, Williams.