A game of fine margins as Parkway exit FA Cup
Another last minute goal, another learning curve but Parkway continue to impress writes Graham Lloyd…
Plymouth ParkwayOxford City
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Full Match Report
After Saturday’s 1-1 draw in the FA Cup 3rd round qualifying tie in which Oxford City had grabbed a 90th minute equaliser, the sides met in the replay at Bolitho Park.
Both sides made changes with Tyler Ashmead starting in place of Reece Shanley and Zac McEachran and Charlie Rowan replacing Alfie Potter and Olly Sanderson for the visitors.
Oxford made the sharper start forcing 2 early corners with Canice Carroll heading just over on 6 minutes. The visitors continued to press with Lewis Coyle firing narrowly over on 10 minutes. The game settled into a similar pattern to Saturday with Oxford dominating possession and Parkway looking to play on the counter.
On 14 minutes a flowing move from Oxford along the left saw Coyle’s cross find Williams-Bushell whose close range volley was superbly saved by Kyle Moore.
After weathering the early storm Parkway gradually worked their way into the game with a neat exchange between Ryan Lane and Callum Hall along the left forcing a corner which was well defended.
Oxford continued to dominate possession with the outstanding McEachran at the heart of their midfield, dictating and controlling the tempo of the game. Parkway continued to work hard, pressing and closing down with the visitors unable to penetrate the solid Parkway back line.
On 25 minutes a Billy Palfrey shot from around 25 yards drifted over the bar after good approach play by Parkway who were more than holding their own as the half progressed.
On 31 minutes Oxford broke along the left with former Plymouth Argyle product Klaidi Lolos seeing his low shot from around 30 yards deflected for a corner.
The game was now becoming a more even affair with Parkway seeing more of the ball in midfield and beginning to stretch the visitors. On 34 minutes their best move of the game saw Jared Lewington and Rio Garside link well along the right to release Ashmead who squared the ball to Palfrey whose low drive from around 20 yards was well saved by Ben Dudzinski.
With Parkway now looking the more threatening, they took the lead on 36 minutes. A strong run forward by Callum Rose saw him link well with Lewington and Seymour with Seymour’s angled drive being blocked by Carroll for a corner. Dudzinski failed to get any distance on his punch with Palfrey reacting smartly to the loose ball and coolly looping a header over a crowd of bodies into the top corner from around 8 yards.
Play continued to switch from end to end at a high tempo through the midfield area as both sides looked to create openings but both defences remained firm with few clear chances being created. McEachran continued to catch the eye with his ability to find space and quality when in possession but Parkway worked hard to match his movement and close him down at every opportunity with the industrious Hall seemingly here, there and everywhere.
Parkway almost doubled their lead on the stroke of half time. A penetrating, mazy run from Lane deep in his own half saw him move forward diagonally from left to right before cutting back inside and unleashing a drive from around 25 yards which flew narrowly over.
A tight affair played with intensity and at a high tempo with Oxford making the sharper start with Parkway gradually matching their higher league opponents stride for stride. Clear chances were few and far between mainly due to resolute defending by both sides with Parkway taking one of the few chances they created.
Parkway started the 2nd half brightly and on 47 minutes the energetic Hall broke clear on the left with his inviting cross into the 6 yard area finding Seymour who was just unable to apply the finishing touch.
Oxford responded with Charlie Rowan fizzing his cross just beyond the far post. On 51 minutes Parkway conceded a free kick centrally on the edge of the D which Coyle fired wildly over. Play continued to flow from end to end and on 53 minutes a Parkway counter attack along the left featuring Lane and Seymour got in behind the visitors to set up Hall who shot just over from around 20 yards.
McEachran continued to be the inspiration in all Oxford’s attacking moves and was proving a constant threat and hard to contain. However Parkway continued to compete strongly all over the pitch and on 56 minutes Coyle was booked for a crude challenge on Ashmead which prevented the youngster from continuing his penetrating run along the right. Palfrey also then saw yellow after kicking the ball away in frustration.
On 58 minutes Parkway were forced into a substitution with Jack Crago replacing Seymour who appeared to have picked up an injury. The visitors also made a change with Jean Baptiste-Fischer replacing Aaron Williams-Bushell who had earlier been warned, but not cautioned, for persistent infringements.
A forceful run along the right from Ashmead after making a good first touch to a long diagonal ball saw his cross on the run headed behind for a corner from which a Parkway header flashed narrowly wide.
The game continued at a pace with neither side able to gain total dominance and on 67 minutes Parkway almost doubled their lead. A free kick centrally around 25 yards out by Palfrey forced Dudzinski into a superb save diving full stretch to his right and conceding a corner.
Lewis Miccio replaced Coyle for the visitors on 72 minutes as they began to apply pressure and force Parkway to defend deeper with Rose and Austen Booth excelling by winning numerous headers and defending solidly.
On 74 minutes Carroll once again headed wide from a corner having ghosted in unmarked at the far post. On 75 minutes Oxford almost equalised after a Josh Parker effort from close range bobbled around in the 6 yard area before being hacked clear to safety. Parkway were then forced to make a 2nd injury substitution with Shanley replacing Ashmead who had been subjected to a couple of strong challenges and was unable to continue.
Oxford continued to apply pressure pinning Parkway back deep inside their own half with the hosts defending manfully but with Moore rarely being tested.
However on 77 minutes a long kick from Moore almost caught Dudzinski out with the keeper misjudging the bounce of the ball which flew just past the right hand post.
Oxford continued to dominate possession and look threatening but it was Parkway who almost increased their lead on 87 minutes with a gilt edged opportunity which would surely have wrapped up the game.
Crago latched on to a long ball and showing determination and pace got just beyond the last defender to go one on one with Dudzinski only to push his shot from around 10 yards agonisingly wide of the right hand post. Oxford continued to push men forward with Parkway hanging on but unable to break out of their 18 yard area or clear their lines and in the 2nd minute of stoppage time Parker struck home the loose ball from around 10 yards for, just like Saturday, another late equaliser. Déjà vu!
Oxford had further efforts in stoppage time and almost clinched the game but Parkway managed to remain secure to send the tie into extra time with Andre Burley replacing Rowan for the visitors at the break.
Somewhat fortuitously Oxford then took the lead for the first time in the tie in the 3rd minute of extra time. A low angled drive from Lolos from around 10 yards slipped through Moore’s grasp close to the base of the post, just rolling over the line.
On 101 minutes Parkway were forced into their 3rd injury substitution with Michael Landricombe replacing the unfortunate Rose who appeared to pull up after stemming another Oxford attack. With Oxford now dropping deeper, Parkway pushed forward and on 104 minutes a Crago cross from the left was well smothered by Dudzinski.
Parkway’s next attack on 105 minutes saw Lane shoot wide as they desperately searched for the equaliser. At the extra time break, Aaron Goulty replaced Hall who had almost run himself to a standstill with his wholehearted display. With Parkway continuing to press by throwing more men forward,
Oxford were content to play on the counter attack and on 108 minutes Lolos broke clear but pulled his shot wide. McEachran then forced Moore into another terrific save as Parkway began to look exposed at the back with Moore called into action again on 112 minutes with another fine save. Oxford continued to defend deep and look to wind the clock down and Parker was booked for kicking the ball away on 117 minutes. Parkway despite their best efforts were unable to breach the Oxford defence and it was Parker who wrapped the game up in the final minute of extra time by going clear unchallenged from the halfway line and giving Moore no chance with a clinical strike from around 18 yards to give the scoreline a slightly flattering look for the visitors.
A compelling cup tie spread over 2 games and 210 plus minutes in which Parkway, although being bitterly disappointed at conceding goals so late in both games, can be extremely proud of their performances against a very accomplished step 2 side. In the humble opinion of your correspondent, Oxford are the best all round team he has seen in his 12 years watching non league football with the talented Zac McEachran a standout midfield performer. To have pushed a step 2 side to the wire in both games is no mean feat and everyone on and off the pitch should be very proud of their efforts. They have also created club history by getting to the 3rd round qualifying for the first time ever, having to do so with 3 consecutive away trips to Oxfordshire.
Parkway now need to quickly regroup, recover and react positively before Saturday’s visit of fellow Southern League side Dorchester Town in the 3rd qualifying round of the FA Trophy. The earlier league meeting at Dorchester saw the hosts run out 3-1 winners after Parkway had taken a first half lead only to concede 2 goals in the last 17 minutes.
Match Info
PLYMOUTH PARKWAY 1 (Palfrey 36)
OXFORD CITY 3 (Parker 90+2, 120, Lolos 93)
Parkway:
1 Moore, 2 Ashmead (Shanley 75), 3 Lane ©, 4 Palfrey, 5 Booth, 6 Rose (Landricombe 101), 7 Williams, 8 Hall (Goulty 106), 9 Seymour (Crago 58), 10 Lewington, 11 Garside.
Substitutes: 12 Shanley, 14 Goulty, 15 Landricombe, 16 Crago, 17 Mead-Crebbin (gk) (unused)
Oxford City:
1 Dudzinski, 4 Ashby, 6 Rowan (Burley 90+2), 7 Coyle (Miccio 72), 8 Fleet ©, 10 McEachran, 11 Lolos, 14 Parker, 15 Harrison, 18 Williams-Bushell (Baptiste-Fischer 58), 19 Carroll
Substitutes: 3 Miccio, 15 Burley, 16 Potter (unused), 17 Baptiste-Fischer, 20 Humphrey-Ewers (unused)
Attendance: 319
STATS
Corners
Parkway 7
Oxford City 11
Throw-Ins
Parkway 24
Oxford City 37
Offside
Parkway 2
Oxford City 5
Goal Kicks
Parkway 16
Oxford City 16
Free Kicks
Parkway 13
Oxford City 10
Shots
Parkway 13
Oxford City 19
Shots on Target
Parkway 8
Oxford City 11