After last weeks postponed game, Parkway returned to league action at Lymington Town fielding an unchanged starting 11 from that which beat Hampton and Richmond Borough in the FA Trophy 2 weeks ago. Jack Rhead, on his recent return from the USA, replaced the unavailable Callum Hall on the substitute’s bench. The game started at a lively pace with the hosts looking the sharper and having a strong penalty shout waved away on 6 minutes.

Nathan Hurst then saw his shot comfortably saved by Kyle Moore on 7 minutes. Adam Biss picked up an early yellow card on 10 minutes and from the resultant free kick by River Allen, the ball was cleared to Matt Andrew whose 20 yard drive was deflected behind for a corner. With the game continuing at a high tempo, Parkway gradually began to gain control in midfield and good link up play along the left between Allen, Andrew and Jack Crago ended with a dangerous cross being well defended. On 15 minutes a long diagonal pass from Rio Garside found Ryan Lane sprinting clear on the left with his cross being headed on by Crago to Rhys Shirley whose header could only find the side netting.

Parkway’s early pressure saw them take the lead on 18 minutes. A fast break along the right saw Garside link well with Finlay Craske forcing a corner which was cleared only as far as Allen whose shot from 18 yards could only be parried away by Ross Casey in the home goal with Shirley reacting the quickest and slotting home the rebound from close range. Parkway continued to dominate possession in midfield with Allen, Andrew and Billy Palfrey all prominent, restricting the hosts to the occasional counter attack. On 27 minutes another free kick by Allen was punched away to safety by Casey as Parkway continued to create chances. Luke Churchill saw yellow for a nasty challenge on Garside on 33 minutes with Allen also seeing yellow after driving into the penalty area on 35 minutes and being cautioned for an alleged dive. The hosts then had a period of pressure forcing a couple of corners which saw them draw level on 39 minutes.

A corner could only be punched clear by Moore in a crowded 6 yard area with the ball falling to Walker whose rasping drive from around 20 yards crashed against the underside of the bar and cleared behind. From the second corner Parkway were again unable to clear their lines with the unmarked Biss driving his shot home from the edge of the 18 yard area past an unsighted Moore. Parkway now looked to regain their composure and control with Garside and Crago again linking well along the left on 42 minutes with the cross flying across the 6 yard area with no one able to apply a finishing touch.

Approaching half time the industrious Andrew saw yellow presumably for remarks made to the referee. After a stuttering start, Parkway gradually took control, creating a few half chances and defending solidly however they will be disappointed by the manner in which they conceded the equaliser from the hosts only real period of pressure of the half. With rain beginning to fall and conditions deteriorating, Parkway started the second half with intensity forcing an early corner with an Allen shot being punched away by Casey on 48 minutes. Lymington’s Walker then saw yellow for persistent dissent as Parkway continued to remain patient and look to work openings with Shirley seeing his shot on 54 minutes being well held by the increasingly busy Casey. A rare breakaway by Lymington on 55 minutes saw Callum Rose cautioned for a crucial challenge as Harry McGrath broke clear with the free kick from around 25 yards fizzing narrowly wide. Moore then saved well from McGrath on 57 minutes after another counter attack by the hosts.

With Parkway looking to regain control, Adam Carter replaced the hard working Shirley on the hour. On 61 minutes a neat exchange between Garside and Crago set up Andrew whose effort from 20 yards was comfortably saved by Casey. With Parkway now dominating possession and looking to switch play at every opportunity and stretch the hosts along the flanks, a period of sustained pressure saw Casey save shots from Craske and the increasingly influential Allen. A raft of substitutions on 65 minutes saw Mikey Williams replace the hard working Garside and Arshia Sheibatzadeh and Dylan Walker replace Callum Davies and Freddie Bullard respectively for the hosts.

After Lymington’s Ryan Fuller was then booked, the introduction of Williams made an almost immediate impact. On 68 minutes, excellent link up play wide on the right between Allen and Craske saw the impressive Plymouth Argyle loanee drive forward, do well to stay on his feet in evading a couple of challenges and reach the bye line where he astutely pulled the ball back to the supporting Williams who slotted home from close range at the near post past the diving Casey. With Parkway now in dominant mood, they increased their lead on 75 minutes. Another flowing move through midfield saw play switched to the left with the ball finding Lane who, on yet another penetrating run, cut inside his marker and fire a low, angled drive with his weaker right foot from around 18 yards beating Casey at his near post. With Parkway now playing their best football of the game and the hosts struggling to stem the tide, they almost increased their lead on 78 minutes. Another swift passing move through midfield released Allen whose fierce shot from around 25 yards crashed against angle of bar and post being eventually cleared to safety. However Parkway were not to be denied and did increase their lead further on 80 minutes.

Carter and Williams combined well with Williams sliding a cute pass inside the full back to the overlapping Lane who pulled back a pinpoint cross to the unmarked Crago who finished clinically from close range. Both sides made their third substitutions as the game entered its final stages with Thomas Man replacing Samuel Shearer for Lymington and Harrison Davis replacing the influential Allen who had put in an excellent shift. The final action saw Davis set up Crago whose shot was well saved by Casey as Parkway saw the game out for a deserved victory with a particularly impressive second half display against doughty opponents who competed well throughout but were unable to match the individual or collective quality of their visitors. Although they will be disappointed to have conceded a goal from a set piece again, a dominant overall performance by Parkway who displayed creativity in midfield, clinical finishing and defensive solidity with the defence once again being well marshalled by the imposing Michael Landricombe.

The management will also have been encouraged by the solid performance of Matt Andrew who completed his first full 90 minutes for a sometime as he looks to regain full fitness after a series of niggling injuries. The victory sees Parkway climb a place to 9^th with games in hand over every team above them as they now face a demanding week. Larkhall Athletic, who had an impressive 4-2 victory at Winchester City today, are the visitors to Bolitho Park on Tuesday in a rearranged fixture with National League South (step 2) side Dulwich Hamlet the visitors for the eagerly awaited FA Trophy 3^rd round tie next Sturday. Hold tight!

 Line Ups:   Parkway

1 Moore, 2 Craske, 3 Lane, 4 Allen (Davis 85), 5 Rose, 6 Landricombe ©, 7 Garside (Williams 65), 8 Palfrey, 9 Shirley (Carter 60), 10 Andrew, 11 Crago

Substitutes: 12 Davis, 14 Bentley (unused), 15 Rhead (unused), 16 Williams, 20 Carter.

Lymington

1 Casey, 2 Davies (Sheibatzadeh 65), 3 Churchill, 4 Hurst ©, 5 S Walker, 6 Fuller 7 Shearer (Man 83), 8 Biss, 9 McGrath, 10 Dennett, 11 Bullard (D Walker 65).

Substitutes: 12 Man, 14 D Walker, 15 Sheibatzadeh, 16 Brookes (unused), 17 Coombes (unused)