Parkway record back to back league wins with six of the best against Hendon

After a turbulent few weeks, Parkway looked to have turned a corner as they backed up last weeks 1-0 away win with a fine home performance against Hendon, writes Graham Lloyd…

The leagues bottom two clubs met with Parkway looking to build on last week’s away victory at Harrow Borough from which one change was made to the starting line up with Jack Crago starting in place of Jared Lewington who had recovered from injury and reverted to the bench.

Prior to kick off a minutes silence was impeccably observed as a mark of respect and in memory of the late Gordon Sparks, legendary broadcaster, Plymouth Argyle fanatic and frequent, welcome visitor to Bolitho Park. The Football Club and the Supporters Club did not sell their normal 50/50 and raffle tickets but instead carried out a collection for Mustard Tree Macmillan Cancer Support, a charity very close to “Sparksy” and his family. A terrific gesture by all concerned.

The game got off to an even start with the sides feeling each other out and neither able to gain control. The visitors Giovanni Palmer saw an early effort deflected behind for a corner which Adam Parkes confidently claimed in a congested 6 yard area. On 10 minutes a Parkway break along the left forced a free kick with Ben Seymour just failing to connect with Crago’s back post header into the 6 yard box.

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.

Hendon’s main striker Joseph White was replaced by Bagname Keita at the start of the 2nd half. Parkway quickly picked up the tempo of the 1st half by applying early pressure with Rohdell Gordon receiving a caution on 50 minutes for a foul on King with the referee initially incorrectly booking Palmer with his assistant pointing out his error vociferously supported by some members of the eagle eyed crowd!  On 55 minutes Parkway went further ahead with Booth linking well with King whose quality low cross into the 6 yard was turned home by the predatory Seymour to complete his hattrick. With Parkway remaining in total control and moving forward relentlessly in numbers they almost increased their lead on 58 minutes. A strong run forward by Lane saw him link well with King whose low cross from wide on the right found Seymour whose close range effort was blocked with Lane pushing the loose ball narrowly when well placed. Parkway made their first change on the hour with Rio Garside replacing Hall who once again had put in an energetic, wholehearted shift.

Parkway continued to threaten with their patient build up play with Stephens quietly impressive in midfield prompting and probing and displaying a good range of long and short distance passing. On 64 minutes another quality passage of play along the right saw King’s dangerous cross deflected behind for a corner as the pressure on the Hendon defence increased. Hendon looked to introduce fresh legs with Robbie Buchanan replacing Gordon on 65 minutes with damage limitation seemingly now their main aim however their defence was breached again on 67 minutes. An astute ball from Palfrey through the heart of the visitors tiring defence saw Seymour time his run to perfection to beat the offside trap and go clear, calmly slotting home into the bottom corner from around 10 yards for his 4th goal of the game. Aaron Goulty then replaced the industrious Palfrey with Parkway continuing to dominate and look threatening with every attack and it was no surprise when they forged further ahead on 67 minutes. A superbly flighted cross field ball by Stephens found Lane wide on the left who continued his run with his whipped in cross to the back post finding Crago who spectacularly volleyed home from close range. Quality build up and a quality finish.

On 70 minutes Lewington replaced Seymour who left the field to a well deserved round of applause. Despite the pace slowing, Parkway continued to dominate and threaten and on 75 minutes another neat passage of play involving Booth, Stephens and King saw the latter’s cross cleared. Hendon eventually managed to gain some forward momentum as the tempo dropped but Booth and Callum Rose at the heart of the Parkway defence dealt capably and comfortably with the visitor’s attacks with Parkes remaining a virtual spectator, rarely being called into action. Parkway continued to dominate possession moving the ball around at will under little pressure from the visitors with Garside shooting just over on 77 minutes after good work by Williams. Stephens then shot narrowly wide on 79 minutes after being set up by Lane after a strong run along the left.

6 - 0
Full Time

With the game entering the final stages and the 3 points clearly secured by Parkway, Hendon were content to slow the game down denying Parkway further scoring opportunities however this did not deter Parkway who created a couple of half chances in the closing minutes. Lewington saw his shot deflected on 85 minutes with the resultant corner seeing his header fly just over and in the 1st minute of the 2 minutes of added time, the final Parkway attack saw Williams head just wide after good approach play between Garside, Goulty and King.

A confident, comprehensive, much improved all round performance by Parkway who made the most of the dismissal of the Hendon keeper with a relentless attacking display backed up with clinical finishing. With back to back wins and 2 successive clean sheets, there were encouraging signs of Parkway’s capabilities and potential of which they had shown in glimpses in previous games but were unable to turn into victories. Today’s win sees them climb 2 places to 19th and still in the danger zone but if they can continue to build momentum and gain confidence from recent performances, they should be capable of moving up the table.     

The action continues on Wednesday at Bolitho Park with a much anticipated Devon derby in store against 10th placed Tiverton Town, who won 2-1 at Beaconsfield Town today, the visitors. With the game being switched, kindly agreed by Tiverton, from Tuesday to Wednesday to avoid clashing with Plymouth Argyles home game with Shrewsbury Town, it is hoped for a bumper attendance in what should be a well contested game between 2 clubs who have often met in pre season friendlies and Devon Cup ties but rarely in competitive league fixtures. 

Match Info

PLYMOUTH PARKWAY 6 (Seymour 23, 28, 55, 67, Hall 25, Crago 69)

HENDON 0

Parkway:

1 Parkes, 2 King, 3 Lane ©,Brz 4 Stephens, 5 Rose, 6 Booth, 7 Williams, 8 Palfrey (Goulty 68) 9 Seymour (Lewington 70), 10 Hall (Garside 59), 11 Crago

Substitutes:

12 Goulty, 14 Garside, 15 Lewington, 16 Lowry (unused)  

Hendon:

1 Brzozowski, 2 Diedhiou, 3 Palmer, 4 Forbes, 5 Brewer ©, 6 Moore-Azile, 7 Bawling (Dawodu 22), 8 Iontton, 9 White (Keita 46), 10 Brooks, 11 Gordon (Buchanan 65).

Substitutes:

12 Dawodu, 14 Keita, 15 Buchanan, 16 Sambou (unused), 17 Lucien (unused)

Attendance:  478

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