Parkway survive late drama to sink higher-league Salisbury in a seven-goal thriller
Parkway v Salisbury | Match ReportStorm Claudia had battered Plymouth all week, but bright blue skies broke over Bolitho Park as this FA Trophy Second Round tie delivered everything the competition is loved for: goals, chaos, drama, momentum swings and a fearless Parkway performance to stun National League South opposition.
Chris McPhee made several changes following last weekend’s defeat to Uxbridge. Callum Hall returned to the XI, while Taylor Scarff, Rocky Neal and Shane White remained sidelined through injury. Jake Smith dropped back into midfield, leaving teenager Will Sullivan, the makeshift striker, to lead the line. And from the opening whistle, the youngster repaid that trust.
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The nationwide 15:03 kick-off, marking non-league football’s 3Up campaign, had barely settled the crowd before Parkway drew first blood. Inside two minutes, Hall’s smart press forced panic in the Salisbury back line, and Sullivan pounced to sweep home from six yards—an instinctive finish that set the tone for a fearless opening spell.
Parkway looked reborn after last week’s setback. Watts-Barciela carved open the right flank repeatedly, sending in a teasing cross that Hall almost turned in. Hall’s return added balance and aggression down the left, while Smith’s bite in midfield helped Parkway pen back their higher-league visitors.
Salisbury looked rattled but tried to assert their experience. Winger Josh Keeya and target man Oliver Bray slowly found pockets of influence, yet Parkway’s press remained ferocious, triggered time and again by Hall and Barciela.
On 32 minutes, that pressure brought its reward. Barciela found space in the box and hammered a rising strike off the underside of the bar and in. Smith followed in to make sure, though the goal was correctly awarded to Barciela, Parkway’s youth leading from the front.
But Salisbury clawed themselves back into it. Keeya wriggled into the area and was clipped by goalkeeper Mack Allan, who was booked as Noah Coppin made it 2–1 from the spot on 37 minutes. The goal energised the Whites, who spent the rest of the half pushing Parkway into some tense, last-ditch defending. The whistle arrived at a good time for the hosts after a breathless, top-drawer cup half
With the tie finely poised, Parkway made no changes at the break. Salisbury came out with purpose, Bray flashing a warning shot past the post within moments of the restart. Parkway continued to flirt with a high defensive line—risk vs reward—but the midfield trio of Rio Garside, Carlo Garside and Jake Smith worked tirelessly to plug gaps and keep the tempo high.
Sullivan, showing maturity beyond his years, continued to stretch Salisbury’s centre-backs Ngalo and Morgan, dropping in, battling for scraps and giving them no peace. And whenever Salisbury pushed bodies forward, Parkway looked dangerous on the break, with Hall and Rio Garside timing second-wave runs to exploit the spaces behind.
Yet Salisbury continued to threaten. Bray increasingly resembled an old-fashioned No9, dominating the aerial duels, while Keeya and Coppin ran the channels, forcing Parkway deeper.
But on 65 minutes came a moment of breathtaking quality. Sullivan ripped the Salisbury defence apart with a superb solo run, his low drive smashing off the post. Callum Hall, in the perfect supporting position, calmly tucked in the rebound to restore Parkway’s two-goal cushion—an overdue reward for his outstanding performance.
Salisbury hit back instantly, Allan standing tall to thwart Keeya at the back post. Moments later, McPhee made his first change as Mikey Williams made way for Milimo Nalumango, who slotted in at right-back with Jenson Ireland shifting to the left. Nalumango was called into action almost immediately, producing a superb goalline clearance as Salisbury entered full attack mode.
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And then came the moment the whole of Bolitho has waited for. Another electric break from Barciela split Salisbury open, and he squared for Captain Rio Garside to steer home from 12 yards—his first goal in some time, met with a roar of pure relief and joy from the Theatre of Trees.
But this cup tie refused to calm down. Salisbury struck back after slick build-up play resulted in a scruffy own goal on 81 minutes, breathing life back into the visitors. Barciela departed to a deserved standing ovation shortly after, replaced by Gunnar Franke.
As the fourth official raised five minutes of added time, the game turned again. Salisbury won their second penalty of the afternoon, Coppin stepping up once more. Allan saved brilliantly, but Coppin buried the rebound to make it 4–3 and set up a frantic finale.
Salisbury threw the kitchen sink forward—long balls, second balls, everything into the mixer. Their final chance came as Hedges found space on the edge of the area, but he dragged a tired effort wide, and Parkway clung on for a heroic, morale-boosting cup victory.
What unfolded at Bolitho Park was the full, unpredictable beauty of non-league football. Parkway played with heart, hunger and no shortage of quality, beating higher-league opposition in a seven-goal thriller that swung wildly until the last seconds.
The FA Trophy draw will be made on Monday. For now, Parkway can savour a Saturday evening earned the hard way—and fully deserved.
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