Three in a row as Parkway see off Poole
Parkway v Poole Town | Match ReportBy Mike Parrish
Plymouth Parkway made it three wins on the spin as they continued their impressive start to the season with a professional 2–0 victory over Poole Town at Bolitho Park.
Rocky Neal’s seventh goal in six games gave Parkway the lead before Callum Hall’s trademark left-footed finish secured the points in front of another strong Bank Holiday crowd in PL5.
The victory sees Karl Curtis’ side move onto 13 points from their opening six games and remain second in the Southern Premier League South, while Parkway’s perfect home record remains intact.
 Plymouth ParkwayPoole Town 
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After Saturday’s 3–1 victory at Evesham United, Curtis was forced into changes for the second half of the Bank Holiday weekend.
Aaron Dearing and Ed Harrison were unavailable, while Taylor Scarff remained absent. On-loan goalkeeper Leo McCormick made his first competitive start since arriving from Plymouth Argyle, with Ryan Brett dropping into the back three.
Carlo Garside returned to the starting XI, while Ethan Wright was handed his first full start of the campaign in place of Joel Sullivan.
There was also a familiar face in the opposition goal, with former Parkway favourite Adam Parkes returning to Bolitho as Poole’s goalkeeper.
The opening five minutes were quiet as both sides looked to settle into the contest, but Parkway soon began to find openings. Rocky had the first real chance approaching the seventh minute when a deflected header fell kindly for the number nine, but his low effort was well saved by Parkes.
Hall then tested his former teammate from distance, with his left-footed effort from around 25 yards narrowly clearing the crossbar.
Poole arrived in Devon with confidence after Saturday’s win over Yate Town and, despite the early pressure, the Dolphins looked accomplished in possession.
Harvey Slade attempted to establish a rhythm for the visitors, while both sides looked to work the flanks without either finding the consistency in their passing to take full control of the game.
There were appeals for a Parkway penalty on 18 minutes, but referee Tim Burley waved away the protests. Wright, making his first full start, continued to look lively and found space inside the Poole half, although his effort again cleared the crossbar.
Parkes was called into more serious action on 22 minutes when Rio Garside picked up possession on the edge of the area before finding Reece Thomson. The striker’s instinctive effort looked destined for the top corner, but Parkes produced a fine save to tip the ball over.
Poole were being forced to soak up increasing pressure, but the visitors remained dangerous when they could break forward.
Slade’s inviting header back across goal on 25 minutes found Ezio Touray, but the striker could only send his effort over. Parkway continued to look the more likely side to break the deadlock, and their persistence was rewarded ten minutes later.
Ryan Brett found space just outside the area before producing a delicious delivery into the box. Thomson’s clever flick-on sent the ball into the danger area and Rocky was perfectly placed to meet it from six yards, heading beyond Parkes to give Parkway the lead.
It was another milestone for the striker, taking his tally to seven goals in six games.
Poole looked to respond before the interval, with Parkway needing to remain alert from a series of set pieces. Ik Hill was beginning to grow into the contest, with a lively battle developing between the Poole attacker and Jensen Ireland down Parkway’s right.
But the hosts held their advantage into the break. Poole made a change at half time, introducing Selim Saied, who had caused Parkway plenty of problems during last season’s heavy defeat on the road.
Parkway continued to look positive after the restart, with Williams almost finding himself in a dangerous position before being flagged offside.
The visitors, however, looked brighter and began to establish greater control.
After Rio Garside was booked, another Slade delivery found its way across the Parkway area, with Touray this time getting his effort on target.
McCormick was equal to it, making a composed save to protect Parkway’s lead.
Parkway almost doubled their advantage on 54 minutes when a wayward Poole header threatened to loop over Parkes, but the former Parkway goalkeeper clawed the ball away with an excellent save.
Curtis made his first change soon afterwards, with Joel Sullivan replacing Wright following an encouraging first full start of the season.
Poole were now enjoying the majority of possession, with Saied beginning to link effectively with Slade as the Dolphins searched for an equaliser.
Their best chance came on the hour.
A corner found Sam Jackson, whose header appeared destined for the net until McCormick produced an outstanding one-handed save, diverting the ball onto the crossbar before Parkway scrambled the danger clear.
The pressure continued, with Poole making further changes as they looked to force their way back into the game.
Toby Down, Mikey Williams and Brett were being worked hard at the heart of the Parkway defence as the visitors pressed forward.
But Parkway found the response they needed.
Good work from Neal created the space for Hall to make one of his trademark third-man runs.
The number eight cut back onto his left foot and, with the outcome almost inevitable, produced another trademark finish beyond the helpless Parkes to double Parkway’s advantage.
It was a goal that arrived at exactly the right moment.
Poole had enjoyed their best spell of the afternoon, but Hall’s finish shifted the momentum back towards the hosts.
Both sides made further changes as Parkway entered a more controlled period of the contest, but the Dolphins never stopped looking for a way back.
With 15 minutes remaining, Parkway knew full concentration would be required to preserve the two-goal advantage.
Thomson continued to work tirelessly at the top end of the pitch, providing an outlet and constantly asking questions of the Poole defence.
His performance earned him the Man of the Match award from the match sponsors, a deserved recognition not only of his contribution on Monday but of an excellent opening six games.
The striker eventually made way for Hayden Turner as Curtis looked to manage the closing stages.
Parkway remained disciplined and professional as the clock wound down, seeing out the remaining minutes to secure a third consecutive victory.
The final whistle confirmed another important three points for Curtis’ side.
Three wins in a row. Thirteen points from six. Second place in the table.
And, with another home victory, Parkway’s perfect record at Bolitho remains intact.
After the attacking fireworks against Bracknell, the resilience shown at Bath, the character at Chippenham, the hard-fought victory at Evesham and now a professional display against Poole, Parkway continue to find different ways to win.
There is now a week without league action, with the FA Cup providing the next challenge as Parkway travel to Gosport Borough.
After that comes Sholing, a County Cup tie against Elburton Villa and then Gloucester City, before Parkway return to Bolitho on September 22 to face Frome Town.
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