Turning Point Time Again At Bolitho
Parkway v Gosport Borough | Match PreviewBy Mike Parrish
Match Day 23 in the Southern Premier League South sees Plymouth Parkway return to Bolitho Park, and for Chris McPhee’s side it feels like a fixture that has to mean something more than just another Saturday.
Parkway head into this one on the back of two damaging results. First, a 2-1 defeat at home to bottom side Tiverton Town over the festive period, a game Parkway had in their hands before a disastrous late capitulation. Then, an afternoon to forget in Dorset as third place Poole Town ran riot, scoring seven and leaving Parkway with plenty of questions to answer.
And now, those questions only grow louder. Parkway head into the weekend sitting 19th and inside the bottom four, with the league campaign now entering a run where every point feels important. McPhee spoke after the Poole defeat about a lack of heart, and with seven days to reflect, Parkway supporters will demand a response on home turf.
The challenge, though, is considerable. Gosport Borough arrive in Plymouth with very different objectives. They sit 5th in the table and remain inside the play-off places, despite a mini festive blip that has seen defeats against Farnham Town, Havant & Waterlooville, and Walton & Hersham. With their season still in a strong position, Boro will view a trip to Bolitho Park as the perfect opportunity to steady the ship, and to settle a score.
Because Gosport haven’t forgotten the Trophy tie earlier in the season. Parkway, struggling away from home at the time, trailed 2-0 in that match before producing a performance full of fight and belief to claim a 3-2 win. It was the type of moment that flipped Parkway’s momentum, sparking a run of just one defeat in eleven games and it stands as a reminder of what this side can be when the mood is right.
Parkway will need something similar again, because January brings little sympathy. After a midweek County Cup trip to Exmouth Town, McPhee’s men travel to Uxbridge before returning for back-to-back home games against Wimborne Town and Farnham Town. A difficult month ends with a trip to Bracknell Town, and with the fixtures piling up, Parkway need to find points quickly, starting here.
Gosport will arrive for revenge. Parkway return home for a reaction.
And at Bolitho Park this weekend, both teams have a reason to believe they can get what they want.
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