Final Act Awaits on the Road
Gosport Borough v Parkway | Match PreviewBy Mike Parrish
Parkway now prepare for one final away day safe in the knowledge that Southern League Premier South survival has been secured following last Saturday’s 2-0 victory over Hanwell Town at a colourful Bolitho Park.
However, interim manager Stuart Dudley and his players will not be travelling to make up the numbers. Instead, attention turns to finishing the season strongly and continuing the positive run that has transformed the club’s fortunes in recent weeks, with early planning already underway ahead of the new campaign.
Goals from Jack Veale and Rocky Neal secured a sixth home win in seven matches, a remarkable turnaround that has reignited belief around PL5 and shown that Parkway are capable of competing higher up the table rather than looking over their shoulders in the closing weeks of the season.
Gosport Borough will also be keen to end the campaign on a high following a strong season that sees them sit eighth in the table. The Boro’ recently parted ways with manager Glen Howes, but they remain on course to better last season’s 12th-place finish. A recent run of defeats against Berkhamsted, Uxbridge, Havant & Waterlooville and Yate Town ended any realistic hopes of a late play-off push, but they will still want to reward their supporters with a positive final-day performance.
Parkway are expected to travel with close to a full squad available. There will be late decisions over the fitness of Shane White, who could make his final appearance for the club, while Mikey Williams will also be assessed ahead of the trip.
There is also a significant milestone on the horizon, with Rio Garside set to make his 200th appearance for the football club after successfully completing 90 minutes on his return from injury last weekend.
While attention across the division will remain on the final battles at both ends of the table, Parkway’s focus will remain firmly on their own performance as players and supporters make the journey to the AEI Stadium in celebratory mood, but still determined to finish the season with three more points on the board.
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