The game took a dramatic turn on 16 minutes. A long ball was flicked on by Seymour to Crago with the visitor’s goalkeeper Marcin Brzozowski racing from his line to gather the ball just ahead of Crago. After the referee consulted with his assistant, the keeper was adjudged to have handled just outside the 18-yard area and was shown a straight red card. With no substitute goalkeeper on the bench, defender and captain Tommy Brewer went in goal and was quickly called into action as he made a fine save pushing the ball behind for a corner from the resultant free kick from Billy Palfrey. The corner was punched clear by Brewer with Austen Booth pouncing on the loose ball with his shot from around 12 yards being deflected behind. The visitors made a substitution on 23 minutes with Oluwakoyajo Dawodu replacing Alfie Bawling as they looked to reorganise. Parkway quickly increased their tempo and took full advantage of the extra man by scoring 3 goals in a devastating 5-minute spell.

 On 23 minutes a flowing passage of play along the right saw Callum Hall’s low cross into the danger area tucked away by Seymour from close range. Straight from the kick off Parkway regained possession in midfield and patient build up play along the left cut through the visitor’s defence with Ryan Lane’s cross picking out the unmarked Hall who finished coolly from close range. With Parkway now rampant and Hendon looking shell shocked, the lead was increased further on 28 minutes. A neat exchange of passes along the right opened up the visitor’s defence with Palfrey releasing Seymour who cut inside firing a low angled drive into the far corner from around 18 yards.

With Parkway now in total control and dominant in midfield, Hendon dropped deeper offering little attacking threat with the occasional long ball forward being comfortably dealt with by the Parkway back line. Parkway continued to dominate possession looking to build patiently from the back and create further scoring opportunities. On 32 minutes a nasty challenge on Mikey Williams in central midfield by Arthur Iontton sparked an unseemly melee which halted play. Once order had been restored, Iontton was booked for the challenge with teammates Kieron Forbes and Dava Diedhiou also cautioned for their part in the fracas. After lengthy treatment, Williams was fortunately able to continue.

Parkway continued in the ascendancy with Palfrey, Toby Stephens and Hall dictating the pace of the game from midfield with wing backs Lane and Harrison King a constant threat in the wide areas. On 36 minutes another sharp passage of play saw Williams and Crago link well with Williams penetrating cross headed narrowly wide by the elusive Seymour.  Increasing Parkway pressure created a chance for Hall whose shot from around 18 yards was blocked by a now overworked Hendon defence. The one way traffic continued with Seymour racing clear on 41 minutes only to see his goal bound shot blocked. A neat exchange along the right between Palfrey and King on 44 minutes forced more desperate defending by the visitors as Parkway continued to create half chances. In the 3rd of 6 minutes of stoppage time, King showing skill and tenacity along the right fired in a telling cross which was cleared with the loose ball being recycled back into the danger area with no one able to apply a finishing touch.

A scintillating half from Parkway undoubtedly aided by the sending off with the 3 goal burst a reward for their desire and determination coupled with no shortage of skill and clinical finishing. Little was seen of Hendon in attacking areas after being reduced to 10 men with the Parkway defence looking calm and assured but under little pressure and Parkes a virtual spectator.