Rio Responds as Parkway Earn Valuable Point on the Road
Evesham United v Parkway | Match ReportParkway took to the road with the sunshine still in tow as they travelled to the Spiers & Hartwell Stadium for another basement battle against Evesham United.
With Mikey Williams and Mitch Beardmore unavailable through injury, interim manager Stuart Dudley made three changes, recalling Rio Garside, Jenson Ireland and Rocky Neal. Club captain Shane White and Jack Veale were both named among the substitutes.
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Kicking towards the sun in the opening period, Parkway looked to use the conditions to their advantage, sending early balls forward towards Neal and Reece Thomson. However, the tactic handed early possession to the hosts, who quickly grew into the contest with their pressing and work rate catching the eye.
Parkway struggled to gain a foothold in midfield and, with the pitch making fluid football difficult, neither side found much early rhythm. Evesham, though, remained purposeful and their pressure paid off on 22 minutes. A neat flick from Andre Wright released captain Amer Awadh, who calmly slotted beyond Frankie Phillips to give the hosts the lead.
The Robins continued to threaten down both flanks, with full-backs Liam Hutt and Owen Foye providing width and forward intent. Just before the break, Ireland picked up a booking that forced a rethink from the Parkway bench.
At half-time, Ireland was replaced by Shane White, allowing Ryan Brett to move into central midfield, a change that quickly had an impact.
Parkway started the second half with renewed intent and found an equaliser on 49 minutes. After a difficult first half, Rio Garside reacted quickest to a goalkeeping error from Alex Harris to level the score.
The goal lifted Parkway and they enjoyed their best spell of the afternoon, with Thomson increasingly involved in forward areas. Both sides remained cautious, aware of the importance of the contest, but chances did come at either end. Neal almost turned home at the back post, while Evesham rattled the crossbar from a corner during a tense closing period.
Substitutions followed as both sides looked to manage the closing stages, but neither could find a decisive moment. At the final whistle, both managers appeared satisfied to take a point from a contest that offered few clear chances but plenty of effort.
Attention now turns to Tuesday evening, when Parkway host play-off chasing Farnham Town at Bolitho Park. Dudley will assess his squad after a number of niggles, but insisted afterwards that his side should embrace the challenge that lies ahead.
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