Parkways winning streak ended as Cirencester take the points
 Cirencester TownPlymouth Parkway 
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Full Match Report
Images: Dave Harry
Parkway travelled to third placed Cirencester Town looking for their eleventh consecutive win which would consolidate their position at the top of the league. A tough challenge was expected with the hosts boasting an impressive home record having suffered only one home league defeat on the leagues only 3g surface.
After a bright start Parkway fell behind in the fourth minute when Cirencester’s first attack saw a cross from the left glanced in from close range by Joe Shepherd. After this early setback, Parkway regrouped and the game became an even affair with play switching from end to end. On 15 minutes a Michael Landricombe shot from 25 yards was deflected behind for a corner which was cleared only as far as Billy Palfrey who shot narrowly wide. Play continued with intensity at a high tempo with Parkway looking to build through midfield with the hosts adopting a more direct approach. On 17 minutes a Cirencester break along the right saw Tom Anderson go clear only to be halted by a strong covering tackle in the 18 yard area by Callum Rose. Cirencester continued to have the majority of possession looking to hit long diagonal balls but the Parkway defence held firm with Kyle Moore rarely tested.
Play continued to be cagey with neither side able to dominate or gain control with few clear chances being created and defences on top.
On 30 minutes after a period of Parkway pressure a Jack Crago shot from around 12 yards was blocked with Mikey Williams pouncing on the rebound and seeing his effort deflected for a corner from which Landricombe’s header was headed off the line and Rose’s follow up shot blocked. On 32 minutes the hosts Shayne Anson picked up the game’s first yellow card for a strong challenge on Crago. A series of niggly fouls broke up play with a number of free kicks being given one of which on 34 minutes saw Palfrey pull his effort well wide. On 42 minutes good build up play between Matt Andrew and Palfrey set up Ryan Lane who shot just over from 25 yards. Another flowing Parkway attack in first half stoppage time saw Lane’s final ball just fail to find Williams who was well placed.
An even half of few clear chances played at a high tempo with Parkway responding well to the early setback and competing well but unable to breach a solid Cirencester defence.
Cirencester forced an early second half corner with the dangerous Shepherd heading just over on 49 minutes with Parkway replacing Gabby Rogers with Tom Bath on 50 minutes. Shepherd then headed straight at Moore on 56 minutes after a dangerous cross from the right as the hosts looked to increase their lead. Parkway gradually forced their way back into the game by building through midfield and started to look the more cohesive side with Andrew influential supported by the strong running Ethan Mitchell. With Crago and Williams finding and creating spaces on the flanks, the hosts were being forced to defend in numbers as Parkway looked to probe openings. Cirencester made their first substitution on the hour with Aiden Bennett replacing Ben Whitehead.
With Parkway now controlling the game and stretching the hosts they deservedly drew level on 62 minutes. A free kick centrally around 30 yards out saw Palfrey fire a stunning strike into the top corner giving Alex Harris no chance. The goal gave Parkway added impetus with Williams cutting in and seeing his angled shot blocked on 64 minutes with the resultant corner seeing Palfrey’s shot saved low down at the near post by Harris. With Parkway now looking the better side and forcing the pace, Cirencester replaced Anson, who had been booked earlier, with Jordan Morris. Another Parkway corner on 68 minutes saw Crago rise highest and head straight at Harris with Crago again testing the keeper on 69 minutes forcing him into another good save.
Cirencester continued to play on the counter and on 71 minutes a well delivered free kick from the right by Jake Mawford was initially cleared with Moore superbly pushing over a rebounded shot from around 12 yards. Parkway continued to press and broke clear on 73 minutes with Mitchell and Crago linking well with Mitchell’s header from around 10 yards being well saved.
With play now opening up, on 75 minutes a long ball from Cirencester saw the lively Josh Grace-Parsons get in behind the Parkway defence with the imposing Rose doing well to block the top scorers shot. From the corner a Cirencester header flew just wide. On 76 minutes Palfrey chased a long ball forcing a throw in from which Crago released Finley Craske who drove forward only to see his on target angled drive from around 18 yards pushed behind by Harris. On 77 minutes Bath then saw his shot on the turn saved after good work by Lane.
With play continuing at a fast pace, gaps began to open up at both ends with neither side appearing to settle for a draw and looking to force a winner. The hosts forced another good save from Moore on 78 minutes with Parkway then breaking with Andrew and Mitchell combining well with Crago who released Palfrey who sliced a shot just wide.
Both sides made substitutions on 81 minutes with Harrison Davis replacing Williams and Levi Irving coming on for Mawford for the hosts. Crago then saw yellow for a foul some 30 yards out with the resultant free kick being well defended.
Entering the final stages of the game, the hosts looked the more threatening and they took the lead on 87 minutes. Parkway conceded possession in midfield allowing Grace-Parsons to go clear on the right and pick out the unmarked Irving wide on the left who drove forward with his shot from around 15 yards getting a slight deflection to beat the diving Moore. Parkway immediately replaced midfielder Mitchell with striker Adam Carter but on 90 minutes they went further behind. With Parkway pushing forward looking to get a late equaliser the hosts capitalised on the space at the back which saw two of the substitutes combine with Bennett going clear along the right and crossing to Irving who headed home from around 8 yards to seal the game.
As befitting of two of the top three sides in the league, an enthralling, highly competitive game generally played in a good spirit. After a fairly even first half, Parkway looked the better side for much of the second half but were unable to convert their chances with Cirencester finishing the game the stronger and taking their chances with their early and late goals ultimately deciding the outcome and substitute Irving making an immediate impact.
With second and fourth placed sides Frome Town and Bristol Manor Farm drawing 0-0, Parkway remain top with a goal difference of plus one from Frome with Cirencester a point further back in third with Parkway having a game in hand on both. That game takes place at Bolitho Park on Tuesday when tenth placed Highworth Town are the visitors. Manor Farm and Winchester City occupy the final two play-off positions, four and five points adrift of Parkway respectively with both having played more games. No doubt a few more twists and turns are yet to come as the season reaches its exciting climax.
Parkway’s final three games are against teams currently in the bottom three with Mangotsfield United the visitors on Easter Saturday, an away trip to Barnstaple Town on Easter Monday and the final game on Saturday 23 April at home to Cinderford Town.
The day was rounded off on a brighter note for your correspondent when he won the players/supporters coach Grand National sweepstake ££££! Cheers Tom Bath.
Line ups:
Cirencester: 1 Harris, 2 Anson (Morris 66)), 3 Handley, 4 Turley, 5 Lee ©, 6 Dunton, 7 Anderson, 8 Shepherd, 9 Whitehead (Bennet 60, 10 Grace-Parsons, 11 Mawford (Irving 81)
Substitutes: 12 Pook (unused), 14 Nelms (unused), 15 Bennett, 16 Morris, 17 Irving
Parkway: 1 Moore, 2 Craske, 3 Lane, 4 Mitchell (Carter 88), 5 Rose, 6 Landricombe ©, 7 Williams (Davis 81), 8 Palfrey, 9 Crago, 10 Andrew, 11 Rogers (Bath 50).
Substitutes: 12 Davis, 15 Bath, 16 Smith (unused), 20 Carter
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