Parkway look ahead to the weekend, and the visit of Hungerford Town
Willand Rovers V Plymouth Parkway | Match ReportBy Graham Lloyd, 18 January 2024
WILLAND ROVERS 3 (Baker 4, Camilo 42, 72)
PLYMOUTH PARKWAY 1 (Lane 82)
Parkway travelled to Southern League Division 1 Willand Rovers for the quarter final of the Devon St Lukes Bowl, the tie having been switched from Bolitho Park some time ago by mutual consent. Two changes were made from Parkway’s 1-1 draw at Gosport Borough on Saturday with the injured Cameron Sangster and the unavailable Callum Hall being replaced by Matt Wright and under 18 debutant Ethan Wright.
On a frosty evening the hosts got off to the perfect start by taking the lead in the 4th minute. Confusion in the Parkway backline allowed Josh Baker to pounce on a loose ball and slot home at close range from a tight angle. Clearly up for the encounter, Willand dominated the early stages with their chasing and pressing not allowing Parkway any time on the ball or to get any rhythm or flow into their play.
The hosts continued to force the pace and on 11 minutes a break along the right saw Parkes do well to gather a dangerous cross. Willand were forced into an early change on 15 minutes with Josh Searle replacing Ashton Hewitt who appeared to have taken a knock. The lead was almost doubled on 16 minutes when a deep cross from the left by Nathan Byrne bounced off the top of the cross bar eventually being cleared.
Willand continued to look the sharper side, competing well, and winning most of the second balls and midfield exchanges. Parkway looked edgy with too many passes lacking quality or direction with the host’s defence coping comfortably with numerous long balls into the wide channels.
On 18 minutes a Willand free kick from the left delivered with quality was cleared behind for a corner as the Parkway defence continued to come under pressure. Parkway were creating little in the final third but on 23 minutes a rare break forward saw Ethan Wright deliver a dangerous cross into the 18 yards with Parkway unable to capitalise.
 Willand RoversPlymouth Parkway 
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Willand continued to play with intensity denying Parkway time or space on the ball and looked the more threatening going forward. However, Parkway created their first real opportunity on 26 minutes with Rio Garside’s free kick finding Reece Thomson whose looping header from around 10 yards was gathered comfortably by George Burton for his first action of the game.
Willand continued to dictate the pace of the game, controlling the midfield area with Parkway unable to gain or retain any quality possession and lacking composure in the final third. Parkway continued to come under pressure with Willand utilising the flanks to good effect and they doubled their lead on 42 minutes. A break along the left saw a cross into the 6-yard area find the unmarked Douglas Camilo who nodded home from close range for a simple finish.
A half generally dominated by Willand with Parkway second best in most areas and unable to get any pattern or flow into their play with the hosts deservedly ahead at the break.
Ryan Lane, returning from injury, replaced Thomson at the break with Parkway making a sharper start to the half.
On 50 minutes good link up play between Jack Crago, Matt Wright and Garside saw the latter’s cross pick out Crago whose free header flew narrowly wide. However, Willand began to reimpose themselves on the game looking the more creative and threatening forcing Parkway to defend deep and in numbers. Camilo became the first player to be cautioned as Willand continued to press and force the pace.
On the hour mark Charlie Wright for the hosts cut in from the left with his angled drive flying narrowly wide. Wright was in the action again on 66 minutes firing just over from around 20 yards as the hosts continued to create chances. Parkway were still unable to create any real forward momentum with Willand continuing to deny the visitors time or space on the ball with their defence looking solid and Burton rarely called into action.
On 67 minutes Parkway made their second change with Teddy Hobbs replacing Tom Purrington who appeared to have picked up an injury. On 72 minutes Willand extended their lead. A free kick on the left rebounded off the defensive wall with the impressive Camilo picking up the loose ball, driving forward and rifling home a powerful, angled drive from around 25 yards.
With the pace of the game now dropping and Willand seemingly content to slow the pace, this allowed Parkway to have their best spell of the game as they gradually gained more possession looking to force their way back into the game. Both sides made substitutions on 77 minutes with Freddie Chapman replacing Alex Cairo for Parkway and Leighton Green replacing Baker for the hosts.
With Parkway now applying pressure and looking more dangerous, on 80 minutes a foul wide on the left on Crago developed into an unseemly fracas involving numerous players with the eventual outcome seeing Crago and Searle receiving yellow cards. Camilo was immediately replaced by Braydon Morris as Parkway continued to push forward and they pulled a goal back on 82 minutes. A long ball forward saw Matt Wright flick on a header with Lane latching on to the loose ball, going clear unchallenged and neatly lobbing Burton from the edge of the 18-yard area.
Parkway continued to create further chances and on 84 minutes good build up play along the right released Garside whose shot was blocked. Matt Wright then headed just wide from a cross from the right with Parkway now looking the more dangerous and Willand defending their 2-goal advantage. Approaching the 3 minutes of added time Crago shot narrowly wide after good work by Ethan Wright along the left. Despite applying further late pressure, Parkway had left themselves too much to do with Willand seeing the game out and securing their place in the semi-final.
Notwithstanding their understrength squad, a below par Parkway were generally out run, out fought, and not allowed to be at their best by a determined, committed, and compact Willand who were worthy winners. Parkway now return to league action at Bolitho Park on Saturday when 5th placed and in form Hungerford Town are the visitors. A much-improved performance will be expected and required if Parkway are to extend their unbeaten league run.
Line-ups:
Willand Rovers
1 Burton (C), 2 Kelly, 3 Guppy, 4 Laird, 5 Edwards, 6 Moyes, 7 Camilo (Morris 80), 8 Hewitt (injury Searle 15), 9 Baker (Green 77), 10 C Wright, 11 Byrne
Substitutes:
12 Ford (unused) 14 Searle, 15 Green, 16 Morris
Plymouth Parkway
1 Parkes, 2 Cairo (Chapman 77), 3 E Wright, 4 White, 5 Rose (C), 6 Down, 8 Purrington (injury Hobbs 67), 9 Thomson (Lane 46), 10 Garside, 11 Crago
Substitutes:
12 Hobbs, 14 Lane, 15 Chapman, 16 Williams (unused)
Attendance: Unknown but estimate 30 away
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