Parkway make it three wins from four at Bulpit Lane

Plymouth Parkway v Swindon Supermarine | Match Report

Due to ongoing issues with the Bolitho Park pitch and at the request of the league, the fixture was moved with Hungerford Town agreeing to host it albeit meaning a 354 mile round trip for the “home” side Parkway and just 44 miles for the away team!

Not a happy hunting ground for Parkway who lost 7-0 to Hungerford on the opening day of the season with Ryan Lane being sent off at the start of the 2nd half. 3 changes were made to Monday’s win over Poole Town with Shane White and Callum Hall, both returning from injury, and Reece Thomson replacing Matt Wright, Rio Garside and the unavailable Cameron Sangster.

4 - 1
Full Time
Graham Lloyd

Full Match Report

Images: Dave Crawford

In a strong, swirling wind both sides took time to adjust to the conditions with Parkway playing against it for the 1st half. Callum Hall had a close range effort saved in the 2nd minute with Marine then pumping a long ball forward which Adam Parkes easily gathered.

Dylan Jones then shot well wide from distance in the 10th minute. With little pattern to the game and far too many long balls going astray in the difficult conditions it was the visitors who took the lead on 14 minutes after being gifted an opportunity by Parkway. Callum Rose carelessly conceded possession to George Dowling just outside the penalty area then brought down the striker in attempting to recover the situation for a no arguments penalty which was confidently converted by Jake Andrews with Rose receiving a yellow card for his actions.

Marine were the more dominant side at this stage forcing a free kick on 18 minutes which was blocked for corner with Zac Kotwica then flicking an effort just wide after good work by Michael Fernandes on the left.

On 20 minutes a fine run by Jones wide on the left got in behind the Marine back line with his cross picking out Thomson whose shot from around 18yards lacked power allowing Fiachra Pagel to save comfortably. Jack Crago then made a strong run along the left with Parkway gradually forcing their way back into the game by adjusting better to the conditions and they drew level on 24 minutes.

A neat passage of play along the left resulted in a cross into the 18 yard area where Thomson was bundled over for another nailed on penalty which White calmly converted. Play continued to be evenly contested with Marine creating the clearer chances but Parkway defending solidly in the swirling wind. Marine almost retook the lead on 29 minutes with the dangerous Dowling going clear one on one with Parkes who did superbly to save with his feet with the ball flying narrowly wide and behind for a corner.

Marine continued to apply pressure and on 32 minutes Parkes again denied Dowling, this time pushing his shot behind at full stretch. From the resultant corner the ball was cleared and recycled to Dave Sims-Burgess who lobbed his effort narrowly with Parkes beaten.

Andrews then drove a free kick from around 30 yards just over as Parkway continued to come under pressure but managed to hold firm. Arguably against the run of play they then took the lead on 38 minutes.

A patient passage of play through midfield from left to right forced Marine on to the defensive and persistence from Jones wide on the right saw him win possession and fire in an angled half volley from around 25 yards beating Pagel at his near post.

Marine responded well with Dowling lobbing Parkes on 39 minutes with the effort ruled out for offside. Parkway finished the half strongly and on 41 minutes another good passage of play through central midfield set up Jones who was crowded out by some solid defending. With Parkway now forcing the pace and looking dangerous, on 45 minutes they won a free kick just outside the 18 yard area on the right with Ryan Campbell being cautioned for the challenge. Up stepped Jones to curl a superbly whipped in kick around the wall again beating Pagel at his near post. With 6 minutes of added time Parkway remained in control for the remainder of the half.

A fairly even half in difficult conditions which at times led to scrappy phases of play. Marine had the better of the first 20 minutes being gifted a goal and creating the clearer chances.

However a combination of wasteful finishing and solid goalkeeping and defending from Parkway denied them further goals. With Parkway responding quickly to going behind with a penalty of their own, they worked their way back into the game by adapting better to the conditions with two sublime strikes from Jones altering the complexion of the game going into the break.

Attendance
0

Parkway started the 2nd half brightly with Tom Purrington linking well on 52 minutes with Jones who curled an effort narrowly wide of the left hand post from wide on the right.

Parkway made an early change with Rio Garside replacing the hard working Thomson on 53 minutes and now having an extra man in midfield. Parkway gradually began to gain control of midfield with Purrington and Hall energetic and prominent in breaking up play and supporting the front players.

On 55 minutes a Marine break along the right ended with Sam Turl’s cross only finding the side netting as Parkway now with the strong wind at their backs continued to defend solidly. On 57 minutes a smart link up on the right between Purrington and Garside set up White whose dangerous cross into the 18 yard area was cleared.

Play continued to be well contested with Marine looking to work their way back into the game and on 61 minutes Oscar Halls was cautioned for a foul wide on the left with the free kick into the 6 yard area being prodded wide by Dowling.

Marine continued to press forward with Parkway working hard in midfield to break up play and on 64 minutes another effort by the ever dangerous Dowling flew narrowly wide. Marine made their 1st change on 65 minutes with prolific striker Harry Williams replacing Kotwica.

Parkes then saw yellow for delaying taking a goal kick shortly before Parkway increased their lead on 66 minutes. A long ball into the right hand channel saw Jones and Crago link well with a deep cross beyond the last defender reach the incoming, unmarked Hall who steered home from around 15 yards, a just reward for busy midfielder’s enterprising performance.

On 68 minutes the increasingly influential Purrington made a penetrating run forward with his shot from around 20 yards being saved low down by Pagel. Matt Wright replaced Crago on 70 minutes with Parkway content to absorb pressure and play balls on the wind into the wide channels.

Fernandes picked up a yellow card on 72 minutes for an unnecessary challenge as Marine continued to look for a way back into the game. However the Parkway defence held firm with Toby Down alongside Rose outstanding in his reading of situations and winning the majority of his aerial exchanges with his no nonsense style of defending.

Both sides made changes on 75 minutes with Alex Cairo replacing White for Parkway and James Edge and Liban Ibrahim replacing Fernandes and Andrews for the visitors.

Marine continued to look to probe openings but Parkway generally remained in control with their 3 goal cushion as the game entered it’s final stages.

On 84 minutes Parkway forced a corner on the right with Wright’s header well saved by Pagel. With the tempo of the game dropping and Parkway content to see the game out and absorb Marine pressure, Dowling cut in from the left on 86 minutes with Parkes saving well and then gathering confidently from a corner. The final action in the 6 added minutes saw Sims-Burgess fire wide in the 95th minute with Parkway seeing the game out for a well deserved 3 points that had looked unlikely after 20 minutes.

In trying circumstances 180 miles from home and in a strong wind, an accomplished all round performance by the players for whom it cannot be easy with the uncertainty of when and where games are to be played.

Their application and commitment today was first class. After their customary shaky start Parkway grew into the game, adjusted better to the conditions and the 2 stunning strikes approaching half time altered the course of the game allowing a more measured approach in the 2nd half.

The win sees Parkway extend their unbeaten run to 4 games with 10 points gained from the last 12 enabling them to climb out of the drop zone up to 15th place on goal difference from 3 other clubs on 42 points and 2 points clear of the final relegation place.

The next 6 days sees 3 more games with 21st placed Harrow Borough due to visit Bolitho Park on Tuesday followed by 3rd placed Salisbury City on Thursday. At the time of writing it is uncertain as to where those games will be played. It is believed Hungerford would be prepared to host again if convenient and required. The week concludes on Saturday with a visit to already relegated Didcot Town. Hold tight!

Match Info

Line-ups:

Plymouth Parkway

1 Parkes, 2 Halls, 4 Purrington, 5 Rose ©, 6 Down, 7 M Williams, 8 White (Cairo 75), 9 Thomson (Garside 53), 10 Hall 11Crago (Wright 70), 12 Jones

Substitutes:

14 Cairo, 15 Bray-Evans (unused), 16 Garside, 17 Wright

Swindon Supermarine

1 Pagel, 2 Turl, 3 Campbell, 4 Liddiard, 5 Bower, 6 Andrews © (Ibrahim 75), 7 Kotwica (H Williams 65). 8 Tumelty, 9 Sims-Burgess, 10 Fernandes (Edge 75), 11 Dowling.

Substitutes:

12 Edge, 14 Richards (unused) 15 Spalding (unused), 16 Ibrahim, 17 H Williams

Attendance: 137 (20 Parkway, estimate 30 Swindon)

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