Veale and Rocky Seal Safety on Final Home Curtain Call
Parkway v Hanwell Town | Match ReportThe curtain would fall on Parkway’s final home game of the season with the knowledge that a single point against Hanwell Town — or results elsewhere — could confirm safety ahead of next weekend’s final trip to Gosport Borough.
Interim manager Stuart Dudley made four changes as the sun finally shone on matchday, with Rio Garside, Will Sullivan, Jamie Dudley and Jensen Ireland restored to the starting XI. Club captain Shane White passed a late fitness test to take his place in the squad.
 Plymouth ParkwayHanwell Town 
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Hanwell arrived in a similar position, sitting one place behind Parkway and one point adrift, knowing a positive result would edge them closer to safety, while also carrying the confidence of an unbeaten record against Parkway across seven previous meetings.
In front of a healthy crowd, Parkway began sluggishly as Hanwell immediately deployed Elijah Oladunjoy’s long throw to test the home defence. The visitors forced a series of early set pieces as their physical presence set the tone in the opening exchanges.
Parkway gradually looked to find rhythm, and neat link-up play between Jensen Ireland and Reece Thomson produced the first effort on goal, forcing Sam Beasant into action with a sharp save.
The game settled into a steady tempo, with Ryan Brett dictating play for Parkway and Seidou Sanogo doing likewise for Hanwell. Rio Garside, returning to the starting XI, proved influential in breaking up attacks while also attempting to drive Parkway forward with intelligent passing.
Hanwell’s Edward Cooper tried his luck from distance, but his effort drifted harmlessly over, while Parkway continued to look most threatening down the right-hand side through Ireland, though the final delivery remained inconsistent.
Chances remained limited for both sides in a half that often felt flat, with neither side showing urgency in the final third. There were moments of quality, Oladunjoy flashed an effort wide inside the box, while Taylor Scarff produced calm and assured defending against Hanwell’s physical front line.
Just before the interval, Parkway found the breakthrough. A flowing move saw Thomson link with Rocky Neal before the ball eventually broke to centre-back Jack Veale, who found space inside the box and finished well to give Parkway the advantage heading into the break.
Hanwell responded after the restart by increasing the aerial pressure and forcing a series of corners. Harvey Bradbury missed a golden opportunity from six yards, while Luke Cook also tried his luck from range but failed to test Luke McCormick.
Parkway’s defensive unit, marshalled by Toby Down, Veale and Scarff, stood firm against the growing pressure, supported by tireless work from wing-backs Jensen Ireland and Will Sullivan, who sacrificed attacking intent to help manage the game.
Their discipline would soon be rewarded. Rocky Neal broke beyond the final defender and finished calmly to double Parkway’s lead and spark relief around Bolitho Park, confirming that the Yellows would remain in the division for another season.
Substitutions followed as Carlo Garside replaced the hardworking Sullivan to bring further control in midfield, while James Watts-Barciela added attacking threat as Parkway continued to manage the closing stages professionally.
At the final whistle, a crowd of over 600 rose to applaud their side as the reality of survival settled in, the hard work of the past two months delivering the outcome Parkway had fought so hard to achieve.
It has been a season of reflection and learning, but recent weeks have shown what this group is capable of, and if lessons are taken into next season, there is every reason to believe that brighter days lie ahead.
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