In front of a very good attendance of 330, Parkway returned to a much changed Bolitho Park for their first competitive match there since December 5 2020 in their first ever Southern League home game. Prior to kick off a minutes silence was impeccably observed in memory of the victims and families of last week’s tragic incident in Plymouth. Moving tributes were also paid to long time and ardent supporters John “Mac” McCoy and Graham Nicholas who had sadly passed away earlier this year and were fondly remembered. Family members of both were in attendance.

Parkway made two enforced changes from Saturday’s narrow 1-0 defeat at AFC Totton with Aaron Bentley replacing the injured Callum Rose in central defence and Jack Crago replacing the unavailable Matt Andrew in midfield. Frome started the game at a blistering pace swarming all over Parkway and it was no real surprise when they took the lead after just 5 minutes. A slick move along the left saw the ball fall to Jonathan Davies who turned sharply just outside the 18 yard area and fired low into the corner giving Kyle Moore no chance.

On 8 minutes a strong run forward by Ryan Lane into the 18 yard box was halted by the Frome defence as they generally continued to control the game. A Frome corner on 10 minutes set up Kane Simpson whose 25 yard shot was pushed behind by Moore. Another quick break along the right by Frome on 11 minutes saw Moore in action again saving well from an effort by Joseph O’Laughlin.

The early onslaught by the visitors spurred Parkway into action and they drew level on 14 minutes. Good work by Callum Hall set up Jack Crago who went on a determined forward run beating two retreating players before firing past James Carey from around 12 yards for his first league goal for the club since arriving in the close season.

Play now became more even as Parkway grew into the pace of the game increasing their tempo and forcing the visitors back. On 17 minutes a strong run by Billy Palfrey released Crago whose powerful shot forced a good save from Carey. With Parkway now beginning to control the midfield with River Allen, Mikey Williams and Palfrey prominent, a free kick on the left found Michael Landricombe at the far post heading back into the danger area with Frome just managing to clear their lines. Parkway continued to apply pressure and on 24 minutes the visitors Warren Maidment became the first of many subsequent bookings for a foul on Crago.

Parkway’s continued pressure paid off as they took the lead on 24 minutes. A long diagonal ball from Harrison Davis found Crago clear on the left and his strong run into the penalty area saw him brought down with Allen confidently thumping home the resultant spot kick. Play continued at a fast pace with Lane being the next player booked on 28 minutes after an innocuous looking coming together with the lively Simpson. On the half hour a Frome break saw the impressive Davies go clear with Bentley putting in a timely block tackle to deny a scoring opportunity. From the resultant corner Hall cleared a glancing header off the line for another corner which was successfully defended.

Frome now had a period on top and on 33 minutes a powerful shot into the crowded 18 yard area saw them appealing vehemently for handball which was not given with George Rigg the only player to be booked after prolonged protests. Another free kick by Allen on 37 minutes saw Carey punch the ball behind with Tom Bath then seeing his angled 35 yard shot fly just wide after good link up play with Hall. Parkway finished the half in the ascendancy and had a goal ruled out for offside on 44 minutes after a flowing move along the left had prised open the visitors defence.

The final action of the half saw Palfrey balloon a shot wildly over after a neat passage of play between Williams and Bath. After weathering the early storm, Parkway showed character, determination and no lack of quality to force their way back into the game which was turning into an intriguing encounter. The second half continued at a good tempo with Frome the more dominant and only a fine double save by Moore on 53 minutes denied Rex Mannings an equaliser after being one on one with the keeper. On 55 minutes another Parkway free kick was only cleared to Landricombe whose looping header was grasped just under the bar by Carey. Allen was then yellow carded for protesting a free kick with the visitors making a double change around the hour mark with Matthew Smith and James Ollis replacing Rigg and Mannings.

On 65 minutes Hall was booked for a heavy challenge on Maidment who had to be stretchered away being replaced by Christopher Peck. Frome were now forcing the pace with another corner seeing the unmarked Simpson heading just over. Parkway were being forced deeper with Frome enjoying the better of possession and continuing to look threatening with Parkway remaining strong in defence. Marcus Mapstone became the next player to be booked as the game became feisty with a series of niggling fouls breaking up it’s flow. Parkway now playing on the break saw a Bath shot blocked after good build up play between Allen and Crago.

On 77 minutes Craig Veal replaced the hard working Crago who had put in his best performance for the club to date. Frome continued to look for the equaliser forcing Parkway to defend in numbers and on 80 minutes a cross from Simpson saw Moore save well at close range pushing the ball behind for another corner. As the pressure increased Davis became the fifth Parkway player to be booked for his comments to the officials after conceding a free kick. With Frome continuing to threaten and Parkway defending resolutely, looking to run the clock down they made further late substitutions on 86 and 88 minutes with Jordan Copp replacing Williams and James Simmonds coming on for the hard working Bath.

Entering stoppage time Smith became the fourth Frome player to be yellow carded as the game reached a dramatic climax. On 94 minutes a long ball forward by Parkway saw Simmonds win a flicked header which released Veal along the right. He cut inside the 18 yard area and curled in a superb angled effort which crashed against the bar and dropped to Copp some 10 yards out who spooned the rebound narrowly over which had it gone in would surely have secured the 3 points. From the goal kick, Frome responded immediately and broke away along the right with a low cross finding it’s way through a congested 6 yard box to the predatory Davies who converted from close range despite some desperate Parkway defending with the referee ending the game shortly afterwards.

A fair result with Parkway showing resolve, resilience and the desire to get back into the game after a chastening start against a very good, well organised, physical Frome side. They will have been disappointed to concede so late but overall an encouraging Parkway performance against a side who will probably be among the front runners as the season progresses. Attention now turns to the FA Cup with Parkway visiting Western League Mousehole in the preliminary round this Saturday before returning to league action at Mangotsfield United on Saturday 28 August. Once again your correspondent was delighted to meet up with an old Royal Navy colleague Phil Hayter who was on holiday in the area visiting relatives. This is becoming a habit!

Line Up:

1 Moore, 2 Davis, 3 Lane, 4 Palfrey, 5 Bentley, 6 Landricombe ©, 7 Williams (Copp 86), 8 Allen, 9 Bath (Simmonds 88), 10 Hall, 11 Crago (Veal 77),

Substitutes.

12 Veal, 14 Copp 15 Simmonds, 17 Coombes (gk)