Turner Strike Stuns the League Leaders
Parkway v Uxbridge | Match ReportPlymouth Parkway defeated Uxbridge 3-1, in a thrilling encounter under the lights at Bolitho.
Rocky Neal’s 13th goal of the campaign gave Parkway the opener, before Ed Palmer opened his account in yellow with a 30 yard stunner. However, it will be Hayden Turner who will take the headlines, after his magical strike from the halfway line in the dying moments of the game secured the victory for Karl Curtis and his side.
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League leaders Uxbridge were the visitors to Bolitho Park, as Parkway looked to return to winning ways after suffering defeat to Hanworth Villa at the weekend.
A midweek game under the lights is the perfect place to bounce back from defeat. Certainly at home, a place where the Yellows are yet to be beaten in the league.
With the historic FA Cup tie less than a week away Curtis mixed up his eleven, but a strong side was named. Ed Harrison kept his place in midfield after his impressive outing on Saturday and was partnered by captain on the night Ryan Brett and Callum Hall.
Mikey Williams returned to the starting lineup alongside Toby Down and Ed Palmer in defence, with Jensen Ireland also returning at right wing-back. Both Rio and Carlo Garside dropped to the bench.
Uxbridge got the game underway and immediately put pressure on the home side as they won a corner with their first attack of the game. The resulting corner was pawed at by goalkeeper Aaron Dearing, but was eventually cleared away from danger by Callum Hall.
The Red Dragons continued to be dangerous, especially on the right hand side, creating numerous half chances, but the Parkway defence remained strong in the opening stages.
Curtis’s side began to grow into the game and started to take the game to the league leaders. Some patient play on the left found Mikey Williams, on his return to the lineup. The defender found Will Sullivan after a beautiful give and go. Sullivan delivered an unbelievable cross into Rocky Neal, who was left unmarked in the middle of the box. Rocky made no mistake to find the back of the net and score his 13th goal of the campaign. A beautiful team goal which gave Parkway the opener.
The Yellows continued to press on after taking the lead. Uxbridge looked to respond immediately with a free-kick, but Olly McCoy’s strike didn’t trouble Dearing as it drifted beyond the post.
Some sustained pressure from Parkway began to trouble the away side. Like the opener, some good play on the left side, resulted in Ryan Brett finding the advancing Ed Palmer. The experienced defender let fly from 30 yards out and with all eyes around the ground watching on, the ball flew past the Uxbridge keeper to give Parkway a two goal lead. What a way to get your first goal in yellow.
Curtis’s side looked a completely different side to the weekend, as they continued to cause the Red Army serious problems. Some good work from goalscorer Rocky resulted in his shot being cleared of the line, before the Uxbridge keeper Sam Morris produced another good save to once again deny Rocky the chance to add his second and Parkway’s third of the evening.
As the first half entered its closing stages, Parkway were completely on top. Uxbridge began to end the half how they started with few promising attacks, but none would trouble Dearing in goal. A corner from the Red Army rounded out the first-half as Parkway went into the interval with a deserved lead. A first-half completely different to the weekend and a half Karl Curtis would be immensely proud of.
The second half began with Uxbridge wanting to take the game to Parkway and the away side looked to show the quality within the league leaders. After forcing Uxbridge into rethinking their game plan, in order to try and get back into the game, the Yellows remained untouched as the patient press from Parkway began to cause the Uxbridge attack more problems.
As the game approached the 60 minute mark, Dearing made a magnificent save from point blank to keep Parkway’s two goal lead intact. Some silky skills in the box presented Trevan Robinson with the chance and forced Dearing into a save. The Red Army continued to try and find a way back into the game, but Dearing did what Dearing does and showcased his immense shot stopping skills once again to deny Robinson.
Uxbridge looked to have no answers to breaking down Parkway, as a range of passes weren’t able to unlock the Yellows defence. Curtis used his substitutes for the first time as the strikeforce of Reece Thomson and Rocky Neal were replaced by club captain Rio Garside and Hayden Turner. As Parkway looked to use fresh legs to secure the result, with one eye also on the historic FA Cup tie in six days time.
Will Sullivan also made way for his cousin Joel Sullivan, as the Yellows looked to see out the game and shut up shop. But Uxbridge threw a spanner in the works, after a corner made its way to the edge of the box, where Owen James was waiting. The substitute finished well to give the Red Army a way back into the game, which made the final few moments a little more interesting.
Hayden Turner, who had worked so hard since being introduced, thought he had put the game beyond doubt after firing a shot past Morris in goal, but the striker was unfortunately flagged offside.
Being cheered on by their travelling supporters behind the goal, Uxbridge threw one last roll of the dice with a late corner. Goalkeeper Morris was given the go ahead from his manager to join the attack, as Parkway attempted to defend with their lives. The Yellows defended well and after Hayden Turner picked the ball up 5 yards inside his own half, there was still time for some more magic at Bolitho.
With Morris still advanced, Turner picked his spot and produced a spectacular strike from all of 60 yards. All Morris could do was watch as the ball sailed over his head. Bolitho erupted with Turner’s goal keeping the points in PL5 as Parkway had stunned the league leaders.
Curtis and assistant manager Matt Godfree spoke to Parkway TV following the victory. Curtis said “We were delighted with the first half.” Before Godfree was asked for his thoughts on Hayden Turner’s goal. “These are the spectacles that will grab the headlines and rightly so.” But Godfree also gave immense credit for all the goals on the night including Ed Palmer’s first goal in yellow, “when we signed Ed we knew what he would give us defensively, but he’s an attacking threat as well and it’s a fantastic goal.”
After Parkway’s first 15 games of the campaign the Yellows sit in fourth, having played all the teams in the top seven. “We’re really keen on not dropping our standards, not only us, but the players.” Godfree said. “It is true that this league is so difficult and so challenging, where anyone can beat anyone and that is the message we’ve talked about, we cannot allow ourselves to have an off day.”
Curtis agreed with Godfree saying, “we will never underestimate any team in this league, we’ve had a really good start with the FA Cup run on the side.” The Parkway boss switched focus to Monday night’s occasion where he said, “Let’s now as a club, put the league to the side for a week, let’s enjoy it as we have earnt the right, but on Monday we have got a game to win.”
Curtis finished off by reinforcing the importance of his side embracing the task ahead saying “we’ve got to knuckle down and make sure that we put on a performance again, and we get the result on Monday”.
A flawless victory over the league leaders was the perfect way to kickstart momentum for what is to come.
All eyes now shift to Monday night where Bolitho takes centre stage as the TNT Sports cameras make the trip to PL5, where Parkway take on Berkhamsted in the first round proper of the FA Cup.
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