Crago the difference as Parkway sink Gosport
After last Saturday’s below standard performance and defeat at Hendon, Parkway returned to Bolitho Park to face 17th placed Gosport Borough in the first of 4 consecutive home games over the next 12 days. 2 changes were made to the starting line up with Aaron Goulty replacing the unavailable Harrison King and Callum Hall in for Tom Bath.
A depleted squad with only 1 fit substitute available also necessitated a formation change from Saturday.
 Plymouth ParkwayGosport Borough 
2 - 0Full Time |
Full Match Report
Parkway made the sharper start with Goulty seeing his shot blocked on 5 minutes. Gosport gradually got to the pace of the game but on 11 minutes a Parkway free kick on the right was only cleared as far as Dan Rooney whose volley from around 18 yards was blocked and cleared. Parkway continued to apply early pressure and from another free kick on 13 minutes Jack Crago headed just wide.
Parkway’s bright and energetic start saw them deservedly take the lead in the 17th minute. Persistence by Crago saw him win the ball wide on the right and after linking well with Rio Garside he drove into the 18 yard area with his low shot cannoning off the base of the near the post and rebounding across the 6 yard area where Ryan Lane following in steered the ball home from close range.
Parkway continued to dominate possession in midfield with Rooney influential and Hall and Gabe Billington working hard to break up play, win second balls and maintain a high tempo. Parkway won series of corners and on 19 minutes almost doubled their lead with Garside’s header cleared off the line. Gosport although competing well in midfield continued to come under pressure and were being forced to defend in numbers offering little attacking threat.
On 21 minutes a Hall shot was palmed away for a corner by Pat O’Flaherty in the visitor’s goal as Parkway continued to press and create further chances. Gosport were being forced to play on the counter and on 23 minutes a break along the right saw Abdulai Baggie go clear with his cross cum shot pushed over by Harrison Lee for his first meaningful action of the game.
The visitors then gained an element of forward momentum with a cross from the left being comfortably gathered by Lee with the central defensive trio of Austen Booth, Callum Rose and Toby Down commanding at the back, winning the aerial exchanges and giving little away.
Parkway continued their patient build up through midfield moving the ball well and applying pressure forcing a series of free kicks and corners as the visitors continued to come under pressure.
On 29 minutes another Parkway corner from the left reached Rose at the far post with his header going just wide. On 31 minutes a determined challenge by Lane deep in his own half saw him power forward and link well with Rooney whose shot from distance was gathered low down at the second attempt by O’Flaherty.
A rare Gosport break on 34 minutes saw them make good progress along the left and create a scoring opportunity with the ball flashing across the 18 yard area with Rooney doing well to read the situation and clear the danger.
Booth then shot wildly over from distance on 36 minutes as Parkway continued to dominate play with Gosport continuing to come under pressure.
Approaching half time the tireless Crago won the ball from Matt Briggs deep in the Gosport half with the defender being shown a yellow card after crudely hacking Crago down from behind around 25 yards out to prevent him going clear on goal.
An impressive, energetic, disciplined half from Parkway creating a few half chances forcing Gosport to defend deep and in numbers, restricting them to the occasional counter attack. The Parkway defence remained solid and composed with Lee rarely tested in the home goal.
Gosport made a double substitution at half time with Kyal Williams and Brett Williams replacing Briggs and Bradley Tarbuck respectively meaning the visitors now had 3 Williams’ on the pitch with another on the bench for Parkway!
Parkway started the half strongly with the irrepressible Crago pressuring the goalkeeper into a mishit clearance, pouncing on the loose ball himself and combining with Garside to win an early corner for the hosts. The resultant corner saw the ball cleared to Booth whose powerful effort was blocked and cleared.
On 50 minutes Lane and Hall linked well along the left forcing another corner with Rory Williams seeing yellow after a poor challenge.
Play went through a scrappy phase as Gosport attempted to get back into the game and on 54 minutes a beak along their left ended with a Parkway goal kick with Dan Wooden seeing yellow for contesting the decision. A member of the Gosport staff also went into the book presumably for remarks directed at the officials.
Another period of Parkway pressure saw them double their lead in the 58th minute. Once again sheer persistence by Crago in the 18 yard area caused confusion and hesitancy in the Gosport defence with Crago poking home the loose ball from close range.
Gosport continued to compete well and enjoyed a period of possession but offered little threat with a series of crosses and diagonal balls from deep into the 18 yard being comfortably dealt with by the Parkway defence who continued to dominate the aerial battles. With Parkway dropping deeper, on 70 minutes Gosport won a corner on the right with a header low down to the near post being confidently saved by Lee.
Play switched to the other end with the tireless Crago going clear along the right only to be brought down by Noa Boutin some 30 yards out. Boutin was booked for the challenge with Garside firing the free kick harmlessly into the wall.
The tempo of the game began to slow with neither side creating too much and Gosport continuing to fire crosses into the 18 yard area from deep being their main route of attack.
Parkway continued to defend comfortably, control the midfield area and stretch the Gosport backline but were unable to create any further clear chances.
Billie Busari replaced Danny Hollands for the visitors in the 80th minute with Bath coming on shortly after for young Billington who had put in a quietly effective, neat and tidy shift in midfield and did not look overawed.
Gosport created a half chance on 82 minutes with Brett Williams volleying just wide after seizing on a loose clearance from a corner. Crago continued to display a terrific work rate until the end with his chasing and harrying defenders and on 85 minutes his persistence yet again saw him win the ball deep in the Gosport half.
He then linked well with Lane who raced clear with his cross being deflected for another corner with Garside picking up the loose clearance with his curling effort from around 18 yards being headed narrowly over by the ever alert Crago. With 3 minutes of added time Gosport had one last chance with a deep cross from the right being touched over the bar by Lee and from the corner a Gosport header was saved easily by Lee with the final whistle being sounded shortly after.
A competent, efficient display from Parkway who, with a severely depleted squad, did well to bounce back with a vastly improved performance from last Saturday. They controlled large parts of the game without creating too many chances but clinically took the few that came their way.
Although working hard and competing well throughout, Gosport created little with the Parkway defence remaining resolute and solid and Lee remaining relatively untested.
With their games in hand now gradually being ticked off, Parkway climb a place to 12th, 13 points clear of the drop zone and 14 points outside the play off places which is almost certainly beyond them now. Parkway next entertain an in form 6th placed Swindon Supermarine on Saturday who will arrive off the back of a 6-1 away win at Winchester Town last Saturday which stretched their unbeaten run to 9 games and sees them 2 points outside the play off positions.
They also have the league’s leading scorer in Harry Williams with 27 goals, 4 clear of his nearest rival Truro City’s Tyler Harvey. Another tough game is envisaged.
A slightly disappointing below average attendance no doubt due to Plymouth Argyle being at home with another sell out crowd with their game also live on TV, Champions League on TV, the inclement weather and very few away supporters. Hopefully there will be an increased attendance on Saturday.
In his post-match interview the Parkway manager dedicated the win to Bar Manager George Lyth who unfortunately suffered a medical episode at the ground last Saturday and currently remains in hospital under observation.
All at Parkway wish George a swift and full recovery.
Match Info
Line-ups:
Parkway:
1 Lee, 2 Goulty, 3 Lane ©. 4 Billington, (Bath 81) 5 Rose, 6 Booth, 7 Down, 8 Rooney, 9 Crago, 10 Garside, 11 Hall
Substitutes:
12 Seymour (unused), 14 M Williams (unused), 15 Bath
Gosport Borough:
1 O’Flaherty, 2 Kavanagh, 3 R Williams ©, 4 Kinsella, 6 Briggs (K Williams 46), 15 Boutin, 19 Hollands (Busari 80), 10 Hunt, 9 Wooden, 17 Baggie, 7 Tarbuck (B Williams 46).
Substitutes: 5 Medway (unused), 11 Busari, 8 Rew (unused), 12 B Williams, 20 K Williams
Attendance: 228
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