A useful run out for both sides with the quality of Argyle showing come the end
 Plymouth ParkwayPlymouth Argyle 
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Parkway entertained Plymouth Argyle in a pre-season friendly at the new look Bolitho Park with the maximum permitted 900 in attendance. On the newly re-laid pitch providing a perfect playing surface, the game started at a good tempo with, as expected, Argyle dominating the opening exchanges. An early Argyle break on 8 minutes saw Ryan Hardie slice an effort just wide as the Parkway defence came under pressure. Parkway were competing well in midfield as the visitors continued to look sharp with their superior movement and quality of passing but the Parkway defence held firm with Kyle Moore in the Parkway goal relatively untested. Parkway were unable to gain too much forward momentum as Argyle continued to dominate possession without creating many clear chances.
A rare Parkway break down the left on 20 minutes saw a low Ryan Lane cross blocked and cleared to safety. Argyle continued to move the ball well along both flanks with the Parkway defence coming under increasing pressure conceding a series of corners. On 30 minutes a corner from the left was not gathered cleanly by the crowded-out Moore with the ball dropping into a body of players with Brendon Galloway bundling home from close range. Parkway were able to stay in the game by working hard in midfield as Argyle continued to dominate possession rarely looking troubled at the back. Parkway continued to defend well as Argyle looked to increase their slender lead.
A rare Parkway attack on 40 minutes saw Mikey Williams make a strong run down the right only to see his shot blocked and go behind for a corner, Parkway’s first of the game. A decent first half with Argyle dominant and in control with Parkway working hard and competing but unable to cause the visitors too many problems. Michael Landricombe replaced Aaron Bentley in central defence for Parkway at half time with Argyle maintaining their starting eleven. On 47 minutes Shane Krac received the game’s first yellow card for a heavy challenge.as Argyle continued their first half dominance. They increased their lead from the penalty spot on 50 minutes after a foul by Lane with Hardie converting despite Moore guessing the right way and just failing to reach the ball.
Moore then pushed a free kick behind at full stretch on 53 minutes and from the resultant corner Luke Jephcott rose the highest and unchallenged to head home from around 10 yards. On 55 minutes both sides began to introduce substitutes which would continue at frequent intervals for the remainder of the game. Parkway almost pulled a goal back on the hour when a neat passage of play saw River Allen’s curling effort from 18 yard pushed away by Callum Burton for his first meaningful save of the game. With Parkway coming under increasing pressure another Jephcott header crashed against the bar before being cleared to safety. With the game becoming stretched and Parkway beginning to tire, Argyle got their 4th goal on 69 minutes. An under hit back pass left Moore exposed just outside his area with substitute Panutche Camara winning the tackle and running the ball into the unguarded net. Parkway continued to show glimpses of their capabilities going forward forcing a couple of free kicks one of which on 72 minutes saw a Rob Farkins header comfortably saved by Burton. With the tempo of the game dropping Parkway pulled a goal back on 77 minutes with Allen calmly converting a penalty after he had been bundled over by Oscar Massey after a surging run along the left.
They almost scored again on 82 minutes with substitute Craig Veal releasing Tom Bath whose angled shot was blocked by the last defender. Argyle completed the scoring on 84 minutes when substitute Oscar Rutherford broke at pace along the right before cutting inside and firing a low left footed effort into the far corner. A useful run out for both sides with the quality, movement off the ball, timing of runs and overall sharpness of the League 1 outfit clearly superior to that of their step 4 opponents. Parkway held their own for the first half, continued to compete well in the second but were ultimately beaten by the better side. Fitness levels will have been improved and lessons will have been learnt to take into the remainder of their pre-season schedule. This comes next Saturday with a visit to Western League opponents Buckland Athletic with a 1 pm kick off as the build-up continues to the Southern League campaign which begins on Saturday 14 August.
TEAM
1 Moore, 2 Davis (J Bentley 55), 3 Lane (Copp 53), 4 Palfrey (A Trialist 80), 5 Farkins, 6 A Bentley (Landricombe 45), 7 Williams (Rhead 65), 8 Krac © (Hall 53), 9 Bath, 10 Allen (A Trialist 80), 11 Crago (Veal 55
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