Parkway Turn the Tide at the Theatre of Trees
Parkway v Wimborne Town | Match ReportOn another sodden evening in Plymouth, Plymouth Parkway returned to the Theatre of Trees hoping to begin a run of three home fixtures with victory against a difficult Wimborne Town side.
It had been a busy few days for interim manager Stuart Dudley, who secured the services of former Parkway striker Reece Thomson along with Plymouth Argyle apprentice Fletcher Poole and Mousehole forward Ryan Downing. Thomson and Downing were handed immediate starts, while Milimo Nalumango returned in defence. Tylor Love-Holmes, Jack Veale and Will Sullivan dropped to the bench alongside the fit-again Reece Shanley as Dudley looked to introduce greater attacking intent.
 Plymouth ParkwayWimborne Town 
3 - 2Full Time |
Full Match Report
Images: Tom Pinder
In difficult conditions, it was the visitors who created the first opening. Lewis Williams found space on the edge of the area but dragged his effort wide when well placed.
Parkway looked to build down the left through Callum Hall, operating in a wing-back role. Thomson took up a position behind the front pairing of Rocky Neal and Downing, attempting to link play on his return to Bolitho Park.
Hall’s running soon provided Parkway with their first opportunity, his delivery finding Thomson inside the area, but the returning forward could not make clean contact with his effort.
The opening goal arrived on 13 minutes. After Parkway struggled to clear a series of early corners, Sam Roberts found space inside the area and stabbed home to give the Magpies the lead.
Wimborne sensed an opportunity to press further and Cam Munn soon forced a save from Frankie Phillips with a dipping effort from distance. The visitors continued to show urgency, often arriving first to loose balls as Parkway adjusted to their reshaped side.
Ryan Brett thought he had brought Parkway level on 26 minutes, only for Oscar Abbotson to produce a fine save. Moments later Phillips was called into action at the other end, producing a sharp double stop as Wimborne countered quickly.
Josh Carmichael again caught the eye for the visitors, dictating play from midfield and providing the platform for Wimborne’s attacks.
Parkway gradually began to find their way into the contest and another surging run from Hall created space for Neal on the edge of the area, but the striker’s effort grazed the top of bar.
As the half progressed the game became increasingly scrappy, with wind and rain disrupting both sides’ rhythm and leaving Wimborne’s early goal the difference at the break.
There were no changes for Parkway at half-time and, kicking towards the clubhouse end, they attempted to build the momentum that had been missing in the opening period. The home crowd briefly thought an equaliser had arrived early in the half, but Thomson’s effort flashed into the side netting.
Dudley made a double change as Love-Holmes and Veale replaced Nalumango and Downing. Wimborne continued to threaten sporadically, with Ajani Burchall skipping past two challenges before firing over.
With the pitch becoming heavier by the minute, the contest turned increasingly physical as both sides struggled to maintain any passing rhythm. Just past the hour mark, the mood around Bolitho reflected another frustrating night for the home support.
Then the game changed.
Thomson was brought down on the edge of the area, giving Neal the opportunity from a central free-kick. His effort was well saved by Abbotson, but the rebound fell kindly for Jenson Ireland who struck first time to level the score and register his first goal for the club.
Moments later Abbotson produced a superb double save, first denying Neal before keeping out Mikey Williams on the rebound.
Wimborne recovered well from the setback and continued to pose problems, Carmichael firing over from a free-kick when a delivery into the area looked the better option.
On 79 minutes Parkway turned the contest around. Love-Holmes worked space down the left and delivered into the area where Williams rose to head home and give the hosts the lead.
The momentum had shifted and within minutes Parkway struck again. Ireland collected possession and his cross-shot flew into the net to give Parkway a two-goal cushion.
In the space of seven minutes, what had looked like a sixth consecutive league defeat was transformed. Parkway found belief, momentum and the cutting edge that had been missing in recent weeks to put themselves firmly in control against a well-organised Wimborne side.
Wimborne did pull a goal back with the final kick of the evening when Will Fletcher finished from close range, but it proved little more than a late consolation as Parkway held on to secure an important victory.
Attention now turns to Saturday when fellow strugglers Yate Town arrive at Bolitho Park. This time Parkway go into the fixture with renewed confidence after a rain-soaked night at the Theatre of Trees produced a result they badly needed.
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