Winchester drew level almost straight from the kick off on 46 minutes. A robust 50/50 challenge around halfway saw both sides claiming a free kick with the referee waving play on and the ball cleared deep into the Parkway half.

A moment of hesitancy and miscommunication between Halls and Parkes allowed Tommy Wright to latch on to the loose ball between the two, round Parkes and steer the ball home into the empty net. Winchester continued in the ascendancy with Wright and Jamie Barron both having shots blocked forcing corners with the hosts having loud appeals for a handball in the penalty area on 52 minutes waved away.

Winchester made their first change on 56 minutes with Simba Mlambo replacing Warren Bentley and they almost took the lead on 57 minutes. A whipped in cross by Ik Hill was met by Caborn and superbly saved at point blank range by Parkes.

Rio Garside then replaced Hall on the hour as the game began to become a more even affair switching from end to end and beginning to open up. On 63 minutes smart link up play between Williams and Purrington set up Thomson whose snapshot was deflected for corner from which Halls headed narrowly over. Parkway began to look the more threatening and on 65 minutes a long ball along the right reached Crago who linked well with Garside setting up Purrington whose shot was blocked and cleared.

The game continued at a high tempo and with intensity with the hosts Ollie Griggs seeing yellow for a late challenge in midfield on 66 minute with Ollie Balmer replacing Hill for the hosts shortly after.

On 70 minutes Parkway created a good opportunity with Thomson battling well to win the ball wide on the right and releasing Garside whose low cross from the byeline was gathered low down by Cairney with Crago waiting to pounce. With the game remaining highly competitive, McCormick became the next player cautioned for a shove on Williams halting his forward run as Parkway increased the pressure going forward. On 73 minutes Matt Wright replaced Crago with Parkway continuing to play 2 up front and not seemingly not content to settle for the draw.

Play continued to fluctuate with few chances created with Parkway replacing Thomson with Dylan Jones for the last 10 minutes.

On 82 minutes Winchester almost took the lead for the first time with Tommy Wright being put clear only to see his powerful angled drive superbly saved by Parkes. In a frantic last few minutes plus the 6 added, both sides continued to attack looking for a winner and not content to settle for a point with the best chance falling to Winchester with Caborn, now operating on the left, firing narrowly wide in the 92nd minute.

Parkway responded only to be caught narrowly offside from a promising attack with the final action seeing Cairney punch clear through a crowd of bodies from a Parkway free kick. The final few minutes also saw a flurry of yellow cards for the hosts with Rose, Nolan and the Winchester manager all being cautioned for a variety of offences.

An entertaining, full blooded, keenly contested affair as has become the normal between the 2 sides with Winchester the more dominant in the first half but with Parkway displaying the defensive side of their game to good effect.

The second half was a more even affair with clear cut chances few and far between with Parkway being disappointed in the manner in which they conceded the goal but pleased with their overall performance from back to front to earn a hard fought but well deserved point with the draw probably a fair result. The point sees Parkway remain in the bottom 4 but climbing a place to 19th on 8 points.

Parkway now return to Hampshire on Saturday as they enter this season’s FA Trophy at the 3rd round qualifying stage with a visit to AFC Totton who currently lie 8th in the table on 16 points. It was noted the AFC manager and staff were interested onlookers tonight.