Parkway Face London Test As They Chase First Away League Win
Hanwell Town vs Parkway | Match PreviewBy Mike Parrish
Plymouth Parkway head back onto the road this weekend knowing December could shape their season. Saturday’s trip to Hanwell Town isn’t simply another away day, it’s a chance to change the narrative that has followed them on their travels so far, and to put points on the board at a ground where recent visits have brought more frustration than joy.
Last weekend’s narrow 1–0 defeat at Chertsey Town stung, but it also highlighted a theme that keeps reappearing in Parkway performances. The first half in Surrey was another long spell of resistance, a backs-to-the-wall dog fight where Chertsey could, and arguably should, have been out of sight before the break. Parkway’s ability to survive that kind of siege speaks volumes about their spirit, their goalkeeping, and the willingness throughout the group to fight for the badge. Now the key is turning that spirit into something more proactive earlier in games, easing the pressure on the back line by finding their attacking stride sooner.
The league table adds weight to the challenge. Parkway sit 17th, two places above the drop after 18 games, and while the broader run of form isn’t disastrous, just two defeats in 12 matches, too many of those have ended in draws. Away from home, the picture remains stark: no wins in nine league trips and only four points gathered. With a long month on the road ahead, this feels like a timely moment in the season to make the journey count.
There is good news on the squad front. Taylor Scarff returns after suspension and will be keen to kick-start his season following injury disruption, while Mikey Williams is edging closer and remains in the conversation as he continues his recovery. Striker Rocky Neal has been carefully managed in recent games and could be ready to lead the line again, a boost given the difference his introduction made last weekend. Long-term issues persist for Jenson Ireland, Jake Smith, and Shane White, all of whom may miss large parts, if not all of this demanding December schedule.
Parkway will also take confidence from positives within the Chertsey defeat. Young centre-back Milimo Nalumango impressed, and once Parkway committed bodies forward in the second half, especially after Rocky’s arrival, they looked a different side, carrying real threat and asking difficult questions of their hosts. Manager Chris McPhee acknowledged as much post-match, and now turns to shaping a gameplan for the Powerday trip.
Hanwell Town, though, are never a simple assignment. A settled Southern Premier League South outfit with strong backing and a habit of getting the job done, the London Geordies continue to prove themselves a reliable Step 3 presence. They sit 14th in the table, one point better off than Parkway with a game in hand, but arrive on their own patchy run. Their last league win came in early November, a 2–0 home success over Tiverton, followed by a draw with Wimborne and an eye-catching FA Trophy win away at high-flying Merthyr Town. League defeats to Chertsey and Bracknell have checked their momentum, and there’s also been disruption at home, their last two fixtures at the Community Stadium were called off due to a waterlogged pitch, so conditions may be a factor again.
History at this ground is another layer Parkway are determined to peel away. Recent trips to Hanwell have been bruising: a 2–1 defeat on the final day last season, a 4–0 humbling in 2023/24, and a Conor Lynch winner two seasons ago. In fact, Hanwell have dropped only two points against Parkway across the last six meetings, the lone bright spot for the Yellows being a 1–1 draw at Bolitho in 2022/23. The hosts will take confidence from that record, Parkway will need to treat it as motivation.
So what does a shift look like? For Parkway, it starts with the first whistle. Too often away from home the early pattern has been survival rather than assertion. If they can stem the initial barrage, get a foothold in midfield, and blend their defensive grit into the attacking options within the squad, the form book and the history don’t have to dictate what happens next.
A long road month is here. This is the sort of away day that can either deepen a worry or spark a turnaround. Parkway head to London aiming to make sure it’s the latter.
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