Parkway eye County Cup run
Parkway v Stoke Gabriel & Torbay Police| Match PreviewBy Thom Cooper
Plymouth Parkway vs. Stoke Gabriel & Torbay Police
Devon St Luke’s Bowl Preview
Tuesday, 7:30 p.m
Bolitho Park
Plymouth Parkway switch their attention from league action to a fresh challenge tonight as they welcome Stoke Gabriel & Torbay Police to Bolitho Park in the Devon St Luke’s Bowl.
Chris McPhee’s side are enjoying a good run of form, unbeaten in four across league and cup competition. Saturday’s 1–1 draw away to Hungerford Town extended that run, though it came with a sting in the tail. Parkway had led deep into stoppage time through a gritty, disciplined display before an injury-time penalty denied them all three points.
At home, Bolitho has steadily become a difficult place for visiting sides. The Yellows have gone four unbeaten on home turf, with a thrilling 3–3 draw under the lights against Dorchester Town followed by victories over Gosport Borough, Bracknell Town, and Taunton Town.
Opponents Stoke Gabriel & Torbay Police, nicknamed The Bees, make the trip buoyed by a strong start to their own campaign. Sitting seventh in their league with five wins from nine, they arrive in good spirits after a resounding 6–0 League Cup victory over Ilminster Town at the weekend. Confidence, therefore, won’t be in short supply.
The sides haven’t met since the 2017/18 season, when Parkway lifted the South West Peninsula League title, winning both fixtures that year by 4–0 scorelines. This encounter offers a fresh chapter between two clubs now at different stages of their footballing journeys.
While Parkway boast two previous triumphs in the Devon Bowl, their recent record in the competition has been modest. Not since 2017/18 have they lifted the Bowl, and last year’s campaign ended in penalty frustration against Ivybridge Town. With a key FA Trophy clash looming this weekend, McPhee may use tonight’s tie to rotate the squad and hand opportunities to some of the club’s promising youngsters.
Even so, Parkway will be keen to maintain momentum and keep the winning habit alive. A cup run, however modest the stage, can add more confidence to a dressing room already riding a wave of belief.
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