Parkway continued to defend well against the hosts counter attacking style with Eshun and McLeish-White continuing to cause problems but being generally being well marshalled. However the hosts almost pulled a goal back on 38 minutes. A cross cum shot from the left by Reese Jones evaded everyone with Moore seeing it late and at full stretch just managing to palm the ball behind for a corner. However, it was Parkway who created the next chance and on 39 minutes they extended their lead further.

Yet again more incisive build up play along the left saw Lane link well with Crago whose low cross from the close to the bye line found Seymour ghosting in unmarked to clinically finish from around 10 yards. Almost immediately Hartley countered and another cross from the left by Jones found McLeish-White whose header went straight to Moore who made a comfortable save. On 44 minutes Parkway had another narrow escape when a free kick from around 30 yards by Cooksley took a wicked deflection on to the top of the cross bar and behind for a goal kick. 4 minutes stoppage time were indicated with the game continuing to flow from end to end with both defences holding firm up to the half time break.

A pulsating half with Parkway arguably playing some of their best football of the season and although riding their luck on a couple of occasions and at times looking vulnerable at the back, well worthy of their half time lead having created and converted some good chances with their finishing clinical.

Hartley started the 2^nd half strongly and pulled a goal back almost immediately. On 48 minutes good build up play along the right saw Parkway unable to clear their lines with the ball dropping to Teddy Davey on the edge of the 18 yard area who drilled his low shot through a crowd of bodies into the bottom corner. Hartley now playing with more intensity than in the first half continued to press high and on 50 minutes a Cooksley shot was deflected for a corner. He then became the first player to be cautioned as the pressure on Parkway increased forcing them on to the defensive and restricting them to the occasional counter attack. On 54 minutes a long ball from Tyler Ashmead found Seymour racing clear but his angled drive from distance flew well over.

The hosts continued to dominate and rather fortuitously pulled another goal back on 55 minutes. The lively McLeish-White was hauled down by Moore in the penalty area for a no arguments spot kick with Cooksley’s kick hitting the base of the post and rebounding back off Moore with the ball rolling agonisingly over the line.   

Parkway were now being forced to defend deeper and in numbers with the hosts dominating possession and looking increasingly dangerous with Eshun a constant threat with his powerful running and movement. Callum Hall replaced Seymour on 65 minutes in a change of formation with Moore then saving well from a long range effort as the hosts continued to pressurise the Parkway defence.

On 70 minutes Ashmead saw yellow for a challenge just outside the penalty area on the right with Cooksley’s low free kick deceiving everyone and rebounding off the base of the near post and behind for a goal kick. Both sides made substitutions on 72 minutes with Garside replacing Mikey Williams for Parkway and Youel Emmanuel replacing McLeish–White for the hosts. Parkway continued to defend strongly against the mounting pressure but were unable to retain possession in midfield or create too much going forward with Lewington seeing yellow on 75 minutes. Parkway made their final change on 78 minutes with Reece Shanley replacing Ashmead as they looked to hang on to their slender lead. Hartley made their final change on 80 minutes with Shane Hollamby replacing Davey.

Entering the final 10 minutes Hartley continued to push forward looking for an equaliser but Parkway continued to hold firm with at times some desperate defending and the occasional break forward one of which on 87 minutes was cynically halted just inside his own half by Toby Nevile who was rightly cautioned for hauling down Crago.

Lane then also saw yellow as the hosts pressure intensified with them winning a series of corners one of which saw a header scrambled off the line. 5 minutes of stoppage were signalled as Parkway continued to attempt to hang on for the victory but in the final minute of stoppage time the hosts were somewhat contentiously awarded a second penalty. A header back into the area by Hollamby saw Moore and Eshun challenge for the loose ball and collide with Moore adjudged to have committed a foul. After a short delay and numerous protestations which saw Rose booked, Cooksley calmly stepped up to convert into the same bottom corner as his first penalty to grab the equaliser with the final whistle being sounded shortly after to conclude an enthralling game.

The proverbial game of 2 halves with Parkway fully deserving their half time lead but despite defending manfully, unable to withstand a second half onslaught by the hosts who fought back hard with the draw probably a fair outcome on the overall balance of play. Parkway will be disappointed and frustrated not to have successfully managed the game out to gain their elusive first league win with the next chance to do so coming on Tuesday when Steve Claridge’s 6^th placed Salisbury, who beat Bracknell Town 2-1 today, are the visitors to Bolitho Park.