One of Barry’s biggest European nights happened thirty years ago, when Barry knocked out Hungarians, Budapest Vasutas, 4-2 on penalties, to reach the UEFA Cup first round against Aberdeen.
League of Wales Champions in 1996, Barry had already defeated FC Dinaburg of Latvia to reach the second preliminary round of the competition.
Barry were then drawn against Budapest Vasutas Sport Club, a team full of Hungarian internationals, who had finished second in the Hungarian league the previous season and runners-up in the Hungarian Cup Final.
BVSC won the away leg 3-1, with Terry Evans scoring for Barry.
The second leg was played at a packed Jenner Park, and came to life just before half-time.
A cross from the right saw Tony Bird’s shirt pulled back as he tried to attack the ball in the box.
Even though goalkeeper, Zoltan Vegh, who earned 25 caps for Hungary, dived correctly to his right, Chris Pike’s penalty was too well hit, and went past him.
Barry’s lead doubled when Dave O’Gorman scored in the 46th minute, looping his shot over the keeper from the edge of the box.
BVSC scored through 21-cap international, Gabor Egressy, after 62 minutes, heading in at the back post as Barry couldn’t clear, putting the visitors ahead on aggregate.
Then, with twelve minutes left on the clock, Barry made it 3-1 on the night, and 4-4 over the two games.
Phil Johnson’s long ball was flicked on by Pike, and substitute Craig Evans got between the defenders and fired past BVSC ‘keeper, Vegh.
Going to a penalty shoot-out, Barry scored all four of their penalties, through Pike, Bird, Gary Lloyd and finally, Craig Evans.
Meanwhile Gjorgy Bognar, a 50-time Hungarian international, failed to hit the target with BVSC’s second penalty, and Barry ‘keeper, Pat Mountain then saved the fourth from BVSC captain, Zoltan Bukszegi.
Barry’s reward was to be drawn against Scottish giants, Aberdeen, in the next round – a story for another day!
