Parkway learning on the job following second consecutive away defeat
Parkways Southern Premier League learning curve continues following a 3-1 defeat at the Avenue as Dorchester produced a fine second half performance to take all three points writes Graham Lloyd…
Dorchester TownPlymouth Parkway
3 - 1Full Time |
Full Match Report
Parkway travelled to Dorchester Town looking to bounce back from Saturday’s defeat at Beaconsfield Town with their 2nd successive away game on a 3g surface. Four changes were made with Callum Rose, Tyler Ashmead, Aaron Goulty and new signing Jared Lewington in the starting line up with Michael Landricombe, Brandon Pursall, Callum Hall and Jack Crago reverting to the substitute’s bench.
The hosts made a positive start with an early free kick being smothered by Kyle Moore at the second attempt. In the 6th minute Parkway created their first chance after good link up play along the left between Goulty and Dan Rooney saw Rooney’s shot from the edge of the 18 yard area blocked with Ryan Lane firing the loose ball into the side netting.
Play became frantic with neither side able to gain control with few chances being created. Parkway continued to have their fair share of possession, looking to switch their points of attack but too often their final ball lacked the necessary quality to trouble the solid looking home defence. Dorchester looked to be more direct and aggressive in their approach but again were unable to stretch the Parkway back line with Moore relatively untroubled. The game continued at a high tempo but neither side were able to dictate play, both lacking composure on the ball and too often conceding possession in midfield. Parkway continued to look to exploit the wide areas with Rio Garside and Ashmead linking well along the right and Goulty and Lane along the left but were unable to penetrate the home defence.
On 18 minutes a lengthy stoppage saw Seymour receive treatment for an arm injury having fallen awkwardly after a hefty challenge from behind. Rooney was prominent in midfield seeing plenty of the ball and looking to set up Parkway attacks with his clever movement and range of passing with Jordan Ngalo also catching the eye for the hosts in midfield. Parkway began to apply some pressure and on 25 minutes a break along the left saw Rooney’s cross cleared with another break along the left on 29 minutes seeing Goulty’s cross cleared behind for a corner.
Dorchester almost took the lead on 33 minutes. A free kick centrally 20 yards out cannoned off the wall with Parkway unable to clear the danger with the ball being recycled back into the 6 yard area causing confusion in the Parkway defence but eventually being hacked clear off the line. Parkway continued to look to work an opening with the host’s robust defence holding firm and dealing comfortably with the occasional threat. On 37 minutes Alex Moyse became the first player to be booked after a heavy challenge in midfield as Parkway began to impose themselves more and they duly took the lead on 38 minutes. Good pressure and determination by Rose along the right forced a corner from which debutant Lewington rose highest at the far post with his downward header just managing to elude Lee in the home goal. Play continued to switch from end to end with neither side able to dominate or create any further chances as the half came to a close.
An even, rather scrappy affair lacking any great quality with neither side able to gain control and guilty of being wasteful in possession and too often lacking composure in the final third with neither goalkeeper being unduly tested.
Parkway started the second half brightly playing at a high tempo but it was the hosts, who had also upped their intensity, who drew level on 56 minutes. A break along their left saw a low cross crash against the base of the far post with the ball being deflected behind for a corner from which central defender Kieran Douglass rose highest to plant a firm header past Moore. The setback seem to unsettle Parkway with Dorchester gaining the upper hand and now looking the more threatening. Lane saw yellow for a foul on 59 minutes as the pressure increased with Matt Neale replacing Alex Moyse for the hosts around the hour mark. Dorchester almost went ahead shortly after when a cross from the right was headed against the bar as Parkway struggled to stay in the game. They made a double substitution on 61 minutes in an attempt to stiffen the midfield and introduce fresh legs with Crago and Hall replacing Goulty and Seymour who had clearly been struggling with his earlier injury.
Dorchester continued in the ascendancy and on 65 minutes a free kick deep to the far post was headed back across goal which found the unmarked Olaf Koszela whose close range header flew narrowly wide. Parkway looked to regain their composure and get back into the game and on 67 minutes Rooney did well to create space for himself but his shot from 25 yards flew just wide. A period of Parkway pressure saw Douglass see yellow on 68 minutes but despite this pressure they were unable to create any clear chances with their final delivery still lacking quality. Dorchester made a double substitution on 70 minutes with Shaquille Gwengwe and Oliver Griggs replacing Ngalo and Alfie Stanley. This had an almost immediate impact with Gwengwe going clear on 73 minutes only to be denied a shooting opportunity by a well-timed covering tackle by Austen Booth in the 18-yard box with the ball going for a corner from which Dorchester took the lead. Moore did well to get distance on his punched clearance however the ball fell to the unmarked central defender Buckley around 20 yards out who drilled a first time shot low through a crowd of bodies into the bottom corner.
Parkway quickly looked to get back on level terms but with the hosts now dropping deeper and looking to play on the counter, were unable to turn their possession into any clear chances. On 78 minutes a Dorchester attack exposed the Parkway defence with Douglass lofting a close range effort just over when well placed. They did however increase their lead on 80 minutes after Parkway conceded possession in midfield allowing the speedy Gwengwe to race clear and finish clinically with an angled drive from around 15 yards giving Moore no chance. Parkway were now forced to push forward in attempt to claw something back but were still unable to penetrate the hosts back line. Griggs saw yellow on 84 minutes with the free kick being worked to Billy Palfrey who shot just wide from around 20 yards.
With 3 minutes of stoppage time indicated, Dorchester created further chances with both Koszela and Ollie Balmer seeing their shots fail to hit the target as they managed to see the game out.
In a game lacking too much quality it was almost a carbon copy of Parkway’s defeat at Beaconsfield on Saturday with them taking a first half lead but being unable to build on that with a second goal or consolidate. This allowed Dorchester to get back into the game with a strong second half performance in which Parkway were unable to break the home side down with the hosts coming out deserved winners.
Harsh lessons are being learnt at this early stage of the season against three strong, physical sides with Parkway now returning to Bolitho Park on Saturday hoping to improve their fortunes when Merthyr Town are the visitors who will arrive off the back of an eye catching 2-0 win over Tiverton Town tonight.
Match Info
Parkway Goal: Jared Lewington (38)
Assist: Rio Garside