Parkway look to get it right on home soil
Parkway v Berkhamsted | Match PreviewBy Mike Parrish
Bolitho Park has been far too quiet of late.
Rain has played its part, postponements have stacked up, and home comforts have been difficult to find. But with the weather finally relenting and the fixture list beginning to get congested, Parkway return to home soil this weekend knowing exactly what is required, transfer away form into something similar in Devon.
Recent trips on the road have shifted the status quo. A gritty win at Uxbridge stopped the run of four league defeats, and last weekend’s performance at Bracknell Town went a step further. Two goals, a clean sheet, and a display that carried authority rather than hope. For a side still marooned in the relegation places, it was encouraging. It was also a reminder that encouragement alone will not be enough.
If Parkway are to climb clear, Bolitho Park has to matter again.
Chris McPhee returns home with options. Reece Shanley’s first start in yellow caught the eye at Bottom Meadow, while Taylor Scarff’s second-half impact reaffirmed his importance. Mikey Williams is back in contention after illness, and Gunnar Franke’s return gives Parkway another outlet at the top end of the pitch. Selection, for once, is a puzzle rather than a problem.
There is also unfinished business from September.
Parkway looked to be heading home from Berkhamsted with all three points earlier in the campaign after a quickfire double put them in control, only for an injury-time equaliser to rip victory away. It was an all too familiar story then. One Parkway will be desperate not to repeat now.
Berkhamsted arrive in Plymouth enjoying a solid season following play-off success last term. Sitting comfortably in mid-table, with the play-off picture still just about in view, the Comrades can afford to travel with freedom. A convincing home win over Uxbridge and recent draws against Sholing and Yate Town suggest a side that is competitive, organised, and difficult to breakdown.
But this fixture carries different weight for the hosts.
With rearranged games piling up and the table offering little margin for error, Parkway need points, not performances, at home. Recent away wins have restored belief. Now comes the harder part: backing it up where it matters most.
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