Hall Hat-Trick Keeps Parkway Marching On
Parkway v Basingstoke Town | Match ReportIt would be the name of Callum Hall that proved the difference for Parkway, as the midfielder grabbed his first-ever hat-trick to give the Yellows all three points in the battle between 14th and 15th in the Southern Premier League South.
 Plymouth ParkwayBasingstoke Town FC 
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Images: Thom Pinder
With anticipation and nervous energy building ahead of this Good Friday fixture, supporters were forced to wait an extra hour with kick-off delayed due to heavy Bank Holiday traffic affecting the visitors, with play eventually getting underway shortly after 4pm.
Interim manager Stuart Dudley restored Carlo Garside, Ryan Brett and Callum Hall to the starting XI, with Hall asked to play further forward due to injuries to Rocky Neal and Mitch Beardmore, leaving Reece Thomson as the only recognised striker available.
With rain circling the city once again, floodlights were required before kick-off as both sides adjusted to the later start. Parkway looked to begin on the front foot, but it was the visitors who enjoyed more of the early possession, with Josh Green looking composed in midfield. Ryan Brett picked up a needless early booking, leaving the influential midfielder walking a tightrope for much of the afternoon.
Oreofe Bello tested the returning Luke McCormick with the first meaningful effort, but the Parkway goalkeeper dealt with the attempt comfortably. Despite Basingstoke’s control of possession, Parkway remained compact and disciplined, with Taylor Scarff, Jack Veale and Toby Down forming a solid defensive platform.
On 16 minutes, Parkway struck with their first meaningful attack. Rio Garside surged forward from midfield before releasing Carlo Garside, whose cut-back found the onrushing Hall, who made no mistake in firing home to give the hosts the lead.
Parkway’s defensive work continued to impress, with Brett and Carlo Garside working tirelessly ahead of the back line. The second goal arrived just before the half-hour mark following a fortunate moment, as a wayward throw-in fell kindly to Hall, who showed composure to curl a left-footed effort beyond Simon Grant.
Basingstoke continued to see plenty of the ball but struggled to trouble McCormick, and Parkway went into the break with a two-goal advantage.
The second half followed a similar pattern, with Basingstoke searching for a route back into the contest but finding Parkway difficult to break down. Parkway remained patient, knowing their defensive structure was limiting the visitors to half chances.
Hall completed his hat-trick on 78 minutes in style. Picking up possession on the right, the midfielder cut inside onto his favoured foot and delivered a trademark strike that curled into the far corner, a moment that allowed the home faithful to relax and enjoy the closing stages.
It has been some time since supporters inside Bolitho Park could watch the final minutes with the comfort of knowing the points were secure, but Parkway saw the game out professionally to seal an important victory.
On reflection, it felt like Parkway wanted it more, working tirelessly to win second balls, chase down loose possession and show quality when it mattered. Hall provided the headlines, but the collective effort from back to front underlined the importance of the result.
With other results already confirmed, Parkway supporters left Bolitho knowing their side had climbed to 12th place, now eight points clear of the drop zone with four games remaining. Attention now turns to Easter Monday and the trip to Tiverton Town, where victory could go a long way towards securing survival and continuing Parkway’s impressive late-season surge.
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