Brett’s header brings the sunshine inside Bolitho as Parkway make it back-to-back wins
Parkway v Bracknell Town | Match ReportPlymouth Parkway found just enough incision to turn a blue-sky afternoon into a golden one, edging past bottom-placed Bracknell Town thanks to a second-half header from Ryan Brett.
It wasn’t pretty and it didn’t need to be. On a rare October day that felt like late summer, the Theatre of Trees finally had a finish to match the weather: three points, a clean sheet, and the perfect appetizer ahead of Tuesday evening.
 Plymouth ParkwayBracknell Town 
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Parkway kept faith with last week’s XI, Taylor Scarff and Carlo Garside back among the substitutes, and began in the same passing rhythm that defined the Trophy comeback. The first half was chess not chase: a congested midfield, Referee Rowan Clarke the busiest man on the pitch, half-shouts for a home penalty waved away and little to separate the sides beyond intent. Bracknell looked content to sit and spring through Francis Amartey, with skipper Seb Bowerman leading most of their left-side forays against young Yellows full-back Jenson Ireland. Parkway’s best from range saw Ryan Brett bring a dropping ball under control and clear the bar; at the other end Joe Grant dragged wide on 37 and Amartey’s late break was snuffed out by Jack Veale. All square at the break; the crowd, around 500 and curiously subdued , wanted more tempo and a faster route to goal.
They got it after the restart. The young matador James Watts Barciela began to impose himself, his flair found an opening that ended with a Jack Veale cross and Mikey Williams blazing over, a tell that Parkway were starting to land punches. Moments later came the difference: a neat move around the box, angle found, cross delivered, Brett ghosting in to nod home on 55 minutes. Experience, isn’t it? The celebration felt louder than the soundtrack had all afternoon.
There was a wobble. Bracknell stitched together a spell of pressure, but disciplined blocks, bodies in the right places and a couple of wayward finishes kept Mack Allan largely untroubled.
Then came chaos at the other end, a Parkway corner pinballing on the line, nobody quite sure how it stayed out, Rocky Neal crashing the rebound against the bar amid the pile-up. Ireland leathered a difficult chance into the stand, and chances came and went as the game opened up. The home end rose with it: chants for Rio and Taylor circling Bolitho as Parkway started pouncing on Robins errors, Callum Hall snapping into a press that teed up Barciela to swerve just over.
In the end, the margin had to be managed. Parkway held firm, smarter with decisions in the final minutes than they’ve sometimes been this season, and saw out a league win that felt long overdue.
It could have been easier had those late chances gone, but nobody in yellow was quibbling at full time.
Not a classic; a checkmate all the same.
Back-to-back victories reframe the mood and validate the recent insistence on composure and game management. The table will look a touch healthier and, more importantly, the confidence reads genuine rather than borrowed. Next up is Taunton Town on Tuesday night, a quick turnaround and another chance to prove this reset has legs.
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