Parkway Return Home For A Festive Fixture at the Theatre Of Trees.
Parkway v Tiverton Town | Match PreviewBy Mike Parrish
Plymouth Parkway finally return home in time to catch some festivities in God’s country after being on the road for the past month. A big fixture awaits Chris McPhee’s men as they welcome bottom placed Devon counterparts Tiverton Town to Bolitho Park for a festive test at the Theatre of Trees.
It has been a long hard slog for the squad as they have represented Plymouth superbly on the road and racked up countless miles in their pursuit to climb the table. It hasn’t all gone according to plan, with a few indifferent results that on another day, and with some better decision making, could have seen the Yellows return to Plymouth in a much stronger position.
But that’s football, and at this level, the punishment can be severe. Dan Berry’s 51st minute goal sunk Parkway away to Chertsey when they left it a little too late to get something from the game. A 3-0 defeat and an exit in the FA Trophy was deserved against a very good Chatham Town side. Two Rocky Neal goals secured a fine away win at Weymouth, before a 4-0 defeat to Farnham Town which included a major plot twist and a classic Christmas villain character who was dressed in black.
That now takes us to the preparation, and with the turkey finished off and the wrapping paper put away, Parkway will be hoping for a bumper crowd to welcome them home. Standing in their way is a Tiverton Town side who are desperate to turn their season around, and will look at Bolitho Park as the ideal place to do just that.
Chris McPhee might also have a late Christmas present on his hands in terms of player availability. For much of this season, the manager has had to reshuffle the pack due to injury and other issues, but with Rio Garside, Callum Hall, and Jack Veale set to return, it will be interesting to see how the management team set out to try and collect six points from three league games.
There will be a warm welcome to Bolitho for the visitors who have endured a difficult season to date, but with a new manager at the helm in David Steele, they will arrive with a game plan for not only this festive test, but the remainder of their campaign.
It has been a stop start season for the two-time FA Vase winners, with their home ground Ladysmead out of action for the last four home games due to the wretched Devon weather, despite the best efforts of their tireless voluntary ground staff. Their last game was away to Farnham on December 13th when a fourth minute Beaux Booth goal set the hosts on their way to a 5-0 win at the Memorial Ground. There was also an eye-catching 5-5 draw away to Poole in November, proving they are capable of causing problems despite only picking up eight points from 18 games.
This won’t be a foregone conclusion by any means, and festive football at Bolitho always serves up a treat at the Theatre of Trees. The last time these two sides met over Christmas was during the 2023/24 season when a Jamie Richards 40th minute strike looked set for Town to seal all three points, only for Matt Wright to secure a point for the Yellows in the 97th minute.
Festive football and Bolitho go hand in hand, none more so than arguably one of the greatest non-league goals ever witnessed as Glyn Hobbs danced through the defence on a sodden pitch before lashing home a 20-yarder into the top corner as Parkway edged past Tavistock in a Devon derby classic from yesteryear.
The stage is firmly set for this year’s festive fixture, and with Parkway having been on the road for so long, this one will feel extra special for the returning home faithful.
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