For their 4^th pre-season friendly, Parkway travelled to recently promoted Mousehole with a reduced squad due to unavailability of 3 players and a further 3 returning on their first day out of Covid self-isolation.

Parkway started the sharper and a neat exchange between Jack Rhead and Mikey Williams on 2 minutes set up Shane Krac whose shot from 20 yards was well saved by Corey Harvey. Mousehole responded with a break along their right ending with a shot flying well over. Parkway continued to look the more threatening forcing Mousehole on to the back foot with Rhead prominent through the centre of midfield.

On 5 minutes a strong run forward from Rhead set Williams away with his cross just failing to get a final touch. On 6 minutes an aerial challenge between the hosts Mark Goldsworthy and Parkway’s Rob Farkins resulted in a lengthy delay with Goldsworthy receiving treatment eventually being assisted from the field looking decidedly groggy with Silas Sullivan taking his place. The game continued at a fast pace with Parkway generally dominating possession, moving the ball well from side to side and stretching the Mousehole defence. On 15 minutes a Parkway break along the right saw Williams and Harrison Davis link well with the final cross into the danger area being cleared to safety.

With the impressive Rhead, along with Billy Palfrey and Krac working hard in midfield and controlling the game they almost took the lead on 20 minutes, A long ball found Jack Crago clear on the left and his fierce shot from around 15 yards was superbly saved by Harvey. The game continued at a fast pace with Parkway creating openings and looking comfortable at the back and Mousehole working hard to stay in the game. On 22 minutes a Krac long range effort was comfortably saved by Harvey before Mousehole took the lead against the run of play on 23 minutes. A break along their right saw Andrew Elcock release Hayden Turner who shot low across the goal into the far corner from around 15 yards. Play now became more even as Mousehole gained confidence and began to win more possession and look to play long diagonals into space in the wide areas behind the Parkway back line. A Mousehole free kick from 25 yard flew just wide on 25 minutes as the hosts gradually became the more dominant side.

The game took a twist on 32 minutes as Parkway were reduced to 10 men. A break along the Parkway right saw Farkins and a Mousehole player tangle and both go to ground some 25 yards out with the referee deeming a goal scoring opportunity had been denied by the last defender with Farkins being shown a straight red card. The resultant free kick was initially blocked, crossed back into the 6 yard box with Kyle Moore parrying a close range effort and gathering the ball at the second attempt. Krac was then sacrificed in midfield with Aaron Bentley coming on and slotting into the back 4.

The hosts continued to look dangerous as Parkway adjusted their formation looking to get back into the game. On 35 minutes a long diagonal ball from Jordan Copp found Williams wide on the right who cut inside seeing his shot blocked with the lively Rhead pouncing on the loose ball and pulling his shot just wide from around 15 yards. Mousehole increased their lead on 39 minutes after another break along their right saw the ball played into the pacey Turner who cleverly turned his marker on the edge of the 18 yard area and fired a fierce left footed shot into the bottom corner giving Moore no chance. With an additional 7 minutes being played, the hosts continued in the ascendancy forcing a couple of corners with the final action seeing a shot well saved by Moore.

After Parkway had been the dominant side for the first 20 minutes and creating the better chances, Mousehole gradually worked their way back into the game, scoring arguably against the run of play and being the more threatening side for the second period of the half. River Allen replaced Tom Bath at half time with Crago moving into the central striker’s role with Rhead moving to the left flank. Mousehole stretched their lead on 50 minutes with Turner timing his run well, racing clear of the Parkway high back line who unsuccessfully appealed for offside and rounded the exposed Moore for an easy tap in to complete his hattrick. Mousehole continued to look the more composed side with Parkway being forced on to the defensive and unable to gain or maintain any quality possession, offering little threat up front.

On the hour a Mousehole break along their right saw a dangerous cross well gathered by Moore as the hosts continued to create half chances with their impressive fluent passing and movement. Midway through the half play was stopped for around 10 minutes as an ambulance arrived with the unfortunate Goldsworthy leaving the ground on a stretcher. It was decided and agreed that no additional time would be added for the stoppage. Parkway replaced Palfrey and Michael Landricombe with Jordan Bentley and A Trialist on 70 minutes. With players tiring in the heat, play became a bit disjointed and dropped in tempo with Mousehole still looking the stronger and Parkway struggling to retain possession or gain any forward momentum.

On 72 minutes a Mousehole free kick from the right found the unmarked Richards at the back post whose header flew narrowly wide. Mousehole replaced Burt and Turner with Willis and Weeks on 75 minutes with Elcock and Harvey also being replaced in the closing stages. Despite the occasional break forward by Parkway, they were unable to create any clear chances with Harvey and his replacement being relatively untroubled. Mousehole wrapped up their victory in the 80^th minute when substitutes Willis and Weeks combined well to breach the stretched Parkway defence and unselfishly set up Tallen Mitchell for a clinical finish from around 10 yards. A good run out for both sides with the well organised and well drilled Mousehole, after being outplayed for the first 20 minutes, gradually forcing their way back into the game, taking their chances well, controlling the game and running out worthy winners. On today’s evidence, with their style of play and their combination of experienced players and energetic youngsters they should be more than capable of holding their own in the Western League. Lessons will have been learnt by the Parkway management and improvements will be required in their remaining 3 friendlies prior to their opening Southern League fixture at AFC Totton on 14 August.

Parkway could well return to Mousehole in the FA Cup on 21 August should Mousehole overcome Helston Athletic in the preliminary qualifying round. Parkway face ground sharing Truro City at Bolitho Park next Saturday looking for a positive reaction from today’s performance and will have noted Truro’s 5-0 victory at Falmouth Town today. Finally all at Parkway send Mark Goldsworthy their best wishes for a full and speedy recovery.

 PARKWAY Team:

1 Moore, 2 Davis, 3 Copp, 4 Palfrey (A Trialist 70), 5 Farkins (red card 32 mins), 6 Landricombe (J Bentley 70), 7 Williams, 8 Krac © (A Bentley 32), 9 Bath (Allen h/t), 10 Rhead, 11 Crago.  

Substitutes: J Bentley, A Bentley, Allen, A Trialist