Parkway in undoubtedly their best display since resumption of games
Plymouth ParkwayClevedon Town
2 - 1Full Time |
Parkway entertained fellow Western League side Clevedon Town behind closed doors at Coach Road Newton Abbot in the 4th round of the FA Vase. Prior to the kick off a minutes silence was impeccably observed as a mark of respect to HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Parkway made one change from last week’s victory over Fareham Town with the experienced Jamie Lowry starting in place of the injured Callum Hall. Parkway made a blistering start and could have taken the lead in the first minute. A break on the right saw Matt Wright go clear only to see his angled shot blocked by Harley Wilkinson in the visitor’s goal. Parkway continued on the front foot forcing a couple of early corners and on 4 minutes a surging run forward by Harrison Davis saw his cross headed just over by Mikey Williams despite being flagged just offside. Parkway continued to play at a high tempo and control the game forcing the visitors on to the defensive and denying them any forward momentum.
On 8 minutes Ryan Lane powered forward only for his angled shot from around 20 yards to be deflected behind for a corner. Clevedon did manage to break forward on 10 minutes with Will Gould, lacking support, pulling his long range effort well wide. With Billy Palfrey and River Allen and Lowry controlling the midfield with their movement and range of passing, it was no surprise that Parkway took the lead on 13 minutes. A fine diagonal ball from Palfrey found Williams in space wide on right and his first touch, trickery and pace took him past his marker and into the 18 yard where he deftly sidefooted across Wilkinson into the far corner for a fine solo goal.It was all Parkway as they threatened to overrun the visitors, dominating possession, looking dangerous with every attack and forcing Clevedon into some desperate defending. They should have increased their lead on 14 minutes. A deep cross from the increasingly influential Lowry found the unmarked Wright whose free header flew agonisingly wide. Lowry himself then saw his shot from around 25 yards fly narrowly over as the visitor’s goal bore a charmed life. On 18 minutes Lane saw his fierce shot pushed behind by Wilkinson with Rob Farkins header from the resultant corner being cleared off the line. Parkway continued to threaten with the impressive Lowry prompting and probing from central midfield with his range and weight of passing constantly finding the spaces between the visitor’s lines. On 22 minutes another long, accurate ball by Lane in behind the Clevedon back line put Allen in the clear only for his delicate lob over the onrushing keeper to drift just wide of the right hand post. Little was seen of Clevedon in their attacking third as they struggled to get men forward with the Parkway defence looking solid and in control with keeper Kyle Moore rarely being tested.
Clevedon began to show their frustration with Callum Gould picking up the game’s first yellow card on 29 minutes after a reckless challenge. With the Clevedon defence being continually stretched by the constant pace and clever movement of Ryan Richards and Williams on the flanks and the domination of possession in midfield, Parkway continued to create chances. On 34 minutes another period of pressure resulted in Davis seeing his shot from 25 yards fly narrowly wide. A rare Clevedon break on 36 minutes saw Will Gould go clear on the right but again he lacked support as his cross into the danger area was comfortably defended.
Liam Dempsey then saw his tame effort easily gathered by Moore. On 41minutes Parkway doubled their lead as their pressure finally paid off. A superb cross field 50 yard ball from Lowry found Williams wide on the right and after a sublime first touch he outpaced his marker and showing good awareness picked out the supporting, unmarked Allen at the far post who tapped in easily from close range. An outstanding half from Parkway who controlled and dominated the game from the start creating numerous chances. Only some fine goalkeeping and desperate defending by the visitors kept the score line at 2 and with more clinical finishing Parkway could and should have been 4 or 5 goals ahead. Clevedon made a double change at half time with Ethan Feltham and Sam Iles replacing Finlay Biggs and Callum Gould.
Clevedon made a more determined start to the half but it was Parkway who created the first chance on 49 minutes with Wright’s flicked header finding Richards whose angled drive was deflected behind for a corner from which Farkins again headed narrowly wide. Clevedon gradually came more into the game with Parkway unable to replicate their first half performance. On 51 minutes a Clevedon shot found the side netting before on 53 minutes a break along the right saw them force their first corner of the game. The game developed into a much more even affair as Clevedon pressed harder denying Parkway the space or time on the ball that they had enjoyed in the first half. However on the hour mark a neat interchange between Lowry and Richards released Williams whose shot was pushed behind by Wilkinson. With Parkway less dominant and guilty of conceding possession in midfield too often and Clevedon competing much better, play went through a scrappy phase with fewer chances being created.
A period of Clevedon pressure saw an Elliot Nicholson shot on 68 minutes deflected for a corner after a vital block by Michael Landricombe followed by a break along the right ending with a Syd Camper shot flying just wide. Parkway made their first change on 71 minutes with Craig Veal replacing Wright. The game continued to be more even with Clevedon seeing more of the ball in midfield and putting the Parkway defence under a period of pressure with Moore being called into action more frequently. On 76 minutes neat interplay between Veal and Richards set up Williams who twisted and turned inside the 18 yard area with his shot being pushed away by Wilkinson at full stretch. The visitors continued to create chances of their own and on 78 minutes Camper and Glen Hayer combined well with the latter firing just over. On 80 minutes a powerful run forward from Lane set up Richards whose scuffed shot was comfortably saved by Wilkinson.
Steve Colwell replaced Allen on 82 minutes as Parkway looked to run the clock down and manage the game out. Landricombe then headed just wide from a corner. Morgan Williams replaced Camper on 84 minutes as Clevedon continued to press with Parkway looking a bit nervy and edgy. Palfrey was replaced by Shane Krac for his first appearance of the season on 88 minutes and as full time approached Feltham blasted a good chance over after good work by Will Gould. Clevedon’s improved second half performance was eventually rewarded in the second minute of stoppage time when substitute Williams hooked home from close range shortly before the full time whistle. An outstanding first half performance by Parkway in undoubtedly their best display since resumption of games with a much more determined display by Clevedon in the second resulting in the score line being much closer than it should have been. However it’s Parkway who progress to the 5th round (last 16) next Saturday when they will entertain Hellenic league Flackwell Heath from Buckinghamshire who went through 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw with Lancing. Flackwell Heath were top of their league having played only 7 games losing just once before their season was curtailed. In the last 16 Parkway join near neighbours Tavistock who went through after beating Bridgwater 1-0 on Friday evening. Tavistock will entertain United Services Portsmouth who also went through on a penalty shootout today.
Unused substitutes: Jordan Bentley, Levi Landricombe