Parkway Show Fighting Spirit To Earn A Point
The sun shined brightly at Bolitho as Parkway’s debut fixture in the Southern Premier League South had almost everything!
Did we expect anything else writes Graham Lloyd…
 Plymouth ParkwayChesham United 
2 - 2Full Time |
Full Match Report
In their first ever game at step 3 in the Southern League Premier Division, Plymouth Parkway entertained Chesham United who had finished just outside the playoffs in 6th place last season. A good sized crowd of 575 were in attendance to witness the historic day with 5 new signings making their debuts but with 4 of the regular squad missing due to injury and unavailability.
The visitors made a strong, positive start creating 2 early chances with a Jordan Edwards free kick from around 30 yards on 3 minutes forcing a good save by Kyle Moore. Chesham continued to dominate the early stages with Parkway struggling to get to the pace of the game and being forced on to the defensive by the powerful, strong running visitors. Parkway managed to work an occasional counter attack with Billy Palfrey and Ben Seymour seeing shots from distance fail to hit the target on 11 and 14 minutes respectively. Chesham continued to dictate play forcing a series of corners the 5th of which saw them take the lead on 18 minutes. Parkway failed to clear their lines from a corner on the right allowing central defender Jeanmal Prosper to hook home unchallenged from close range. The visitors looking well organised and at times direct continued to apply pressure with Jake Peck seeing yellow on 20 minutes for a foul on Dan Rooney.
Parkway gradually began to work their way into game by competing well, winning second balls and retaining possession better and looking to play through the wider areas. On 30 minutes good work along the left between Jack Crago and Callum Hall released Ryan Lane whose curling effort landed on the roof of the net. On 32 minutes Chesham almost doubled their lead. A strong run along the left by Francis Jno-Baptise saw his angled drive deflected behind for a corner from which Prospers shot from around 20 yards was parried and then gathered at the second attempt by Moore.
Approaching half time Parkway had their best spell of the game injecting fluidity into their game with some neat passing and moving forcing the visitors to defend in numbers. On 40 minutes a slick move through central midfield saw a Palfrey shot from around 15 yards blocked with the follow up from the rebound also being blocked at close range and cleared to safety. With Parkway sensing an equaliser and creating a couple of half chances, on 41 minutes the visitors George Ademiluyi was their second player to see yellow. The final action of the half saw Parkway create an opening along the left with Crago’s teasing cross being palmed away by Sam Beasant.
After initially struggling to adjust and compete with the visitors strong running and dominance of possession in the early stages, Parkway gradually forced their way back into the game for the last 15 minutes of the half which will have given them some encouragement for the second period.
Parkway substituted the hard working Callum Hall with Jamie Lowry at half time with the experienced substitute making an immediate impact with his range and quality of passing from deep lying positions. On 47 minutes Crago was put clear along the left with his cross being deflected behind for a corner. A Chesham break on 48 minutes saw Moore comfortably gather a lofted effort from Peck with Parkway forcing a couple of corners and Palfrey seeing his shot from around 25 yards blocked.
Despite the early Parkway pressure it was the visitors who doubled their lead on 52 minutes. With Parkway appealing in vain for a foul deep in the Chesham half, the visitors broke clear and a neat exchange of passes along the right caught the Parkway backline flat footed with a deep cross to the far post from Karl Oliyide finding the unmarked Jordan Edwards who coolly slotted home from close range. Parkway regrouped as they went searching for a way back into the game which became a more even affair with Parkway having their fair share of possession as they looked to probe an opening. With Crago and Rio Garside exploiting the wide areas, Palfrey and Rooney working hard in midfield and Seymour showing pace and intelligent movement, Parkway pulled a goal back on 69 minutes. Good link up play between Lowry and Garside along the right saw Garside slip the ball back to Seymour who under pressure from a defender reacted sharply to turn the ball home from around 6 yards. Chesham then made their first change with Ademiluyi being replaced by Miles Mitchell-Nelson. Lowry then saw yellow for a foul as the visitors continued to look dangerous however the Parkway central defensive pair of Michael Landricombe and young Plymouth Argyle loanee Brandon Pursall supported by full backs Reece Shanley and Lane held firm with the visitors unable to create any clear chances.
Play began to open up with Seymour going clear along the left on 73 minutes only to fire his angled drive well over. Chesham responded with Mitchell-Nelson firing narrowly wide after good build play along the right. Landricombe then saw yellow for a foul as the visitors continued to press with the resultant free kick from around 25 yards by Edwards cannoning off the wall for another corner. Rooney was then substituted on 75 minutes by another new signing Theo Simpson who joined Seymour up front to form an attacking pair. On 78 minutes Chesham had a strong appeal for a penalty waved away with Shaquille Hippolyte-Patrick booked for simulation. Jayden Thompson-Brissett then replaced Ino-Baptiste for the visitors and with Parkway working hard and forcing Chesham on to the defensive, they drew level on 80 minutes. Good link up play wide on the right between Simpson and Garside saw the latter hit a well-directed cross to the far post where the ever alert Seymour anticipated well and rose highest to head home from close range.
With neither side seeming happy to settle for a point, Chesham pushed forward forcing Moore into a fine save at full stretch on 82 minutes with the rebound being fired wide from close range. The visitors made their final change on 83 minutes with Richard German replacing the impressive Edwards.
4 minutes of stoppage time were signalled with Chesham looking the stronger side forcing Parkway to defend deep and in numbers which they succeeded in doing with Moore making a game saving point blank stop in the 92nd minute with an instinctive one handed save from a powerfully hit close range effort. Parkway created one final opportunity in the 93rd minute with Simpson seeing his low strike from around 12 yards comfortably saved by Beasant.
An entertaining game against a well organised and street wise Chesham with the draw probably a fair result. As they did on numerous occasions last season, Parkway once again showed the application, desire and attitude not to be beaten and can be pleased with their overall performance in coming from 2 goals down with 25 minutes to play. All the new signings played their part and did not look out of place against a fancied team and with 4 squad players to return, the early signs are encouraging.
Parkway face the first of their many long away days next Saturday with the 452 mile round trip to Beaconsfield Town who were defeated 1-0 at Salisbury today.
PARKWAY STATS
Goals: Seymour (69,80)
Assists: Rio Garside 2
Star Player: Ben Seymour
Chesham United
Goals (Prosper 18, Edwards 52)
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