Parkway up and running with victory over Salisbury
After an agonising stoppage time equaliser at Hartley Wintney last Saturday, Parkway finally broke their duck in the league as they bounced back to record their first league victory of the season writes Graham Lloyd…
 Plymouth ParkwaySalisbury 
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Full Match Report
On a wet and windy evening and playing their first league game at Bolitho Park since Monday 29 August Parkway, still looking for their first league win of the season, entertained 6th placed Salisbury who had won 5 and lost 3 of their previous league games. 3 changes were made from Saturday’s 4-4 draw at Hartley Wintney with Callum Hall, Rio Garside and debutant Harrison King (on a 1 month work experience loan from Exeter City) starting in place of Michael Landricombe, Jack Crago and Tyler Ashmead.
Salisbury made the sharper start with Mikey Williams blocking a goalbound effort in the 2nd minute with the visitors switching play well and looking to stretch the Parkway back line. Parkway gradually got their game going with Billy Palfrey, Hall and Garside working hard in midfield pressing the visitors and looking to use the flanks to good effect. However on 13 minutes a Salisbury break along the right, after Parkway had conceded possession in midfield, saw Kyle Moore bravely block a low cross under pressure from Dan Fitchett with both players requiring treatment after the collision.
With both sides now playing at a high tempo, Parkway began to control possession and on 15 minutes Garside was bundled over wide on the left with the free kick coming to nothing. Parkway continued to press and on 18 minutes Garside’s cross from the right was well gathered by Gerard Benfield in the Salisbury goal.
Parkway’s early pressure soon paid off as they took the lead on 19 minutes. A weaving run by the elusive Williams from deep in his own half saw him link well with Hall whose goal bound angled strike found the predatory Seymour who, showing a strikers instinct, guided the ball home from close range.
Play continued to be keenly contested with the Parkway defence, well marshalled by the impressive Callum Rose, holding firm. Parkway continued on the offensive playing with intensity and on 30 minutes the energetic Hall saw his shot from around 25 yards fly narrowly wide. On 32 minutes Parkway almost doubled their lead. A strong run from the back through midfield by the imposing Austen Booth saw the ball played into the unmarked Seymour around 18 yards out who unfortunately slipped on the greasy surface at the vital moment and was unable to get clean contact with Ryan Lane latching on to the loose ball and shooting just wide.
Parkway continued to dominate possession and control the pace of the game with Salisbury working hard in midfield and forced to defend well. Parkway managed to create a couple of half chances which were comfortably saved by Benfield. The visitors were now being forced to play more on the counter and on 44 minutes a quick break along their left ended with a deep cross being overhit and going behind for a goal kick.
With 3 minutes of stoppage time being indicated Parkway almost increased their lead on 48 minutes. Another penetrating, flowing passage of play saw Booth, Lane and Seymour link well with Seymour being denied his 2nd goal by a terrific flying one handed save at full stretch to his right by Benfield.
A fairly even half with Parkway looking the more threatening and creating the better chances with the visitors looking dangerous on the counter but being denied any clear chances by a solid, well organised Parkway defence as they retained their slender half time lead.
Salisbury made a strong start to the 2nd half forcing Parkway back with Garside picking up a caution for a foul on 48 minutes. The visitors forced a couple of early corners with Darren Mullings heading just over on 50 minutes. Parkway quickly picked up the pace of the game again and on 54 minutes a strong run along the right by Jared Lewington saw him reach the bye line with his cross on the run clipping the top of the bar and drop behind to safety.
Palfrey then saw yellow for a foul in the congested, combative midfield area as play continued to flow from end to end. On 57 minutes a swift Parkway move along the left saw Garside link well with Seymour with Lewington heading the resulting cross to the back post narrowly wide.
Parkway continued to threaten and on 58 minutes a neat exchange of passes along the left between Lane and Williams set up Palfrey whose 25 yard effort was well saved by Benfield. Salisbury made a double substitution on the hour with Devon Arnold and Josh Wakefield replacing Antonio Diaz and Sam Ashton respectively. Salisbury began to apply some pressure and on 63 minutes a strong run forward by Josh Sommerton saw him link well with the impressive Josh Carmichael who shot narrowly over from around 25 yards. Back came Parkway with Hall breaking forward from midfield and finding Lewington whose shot from around 18 yards was deflected just wide of the post for a corner.
Parkway continued to apply pressure and doubled their lead on 65 minutes after forcing another corner after determined play by King who was making a quietly impressive debut. Lane’s inswinging delivery from the right found Williams at the far post whose downward close range header from a narrow angle beat the diving Benfield.
Salisbury responded almost immediately by upping their tempo and committing more men forward and reduced the arrears on 68 minutes. After winning a challenge in midfield, a slick move along the right saw the ball crossed into the danger area and with Parkway unable to clear their lines, Charlie Davis latched on to the loose ball and fired home an effort in off the inside of the near post.
Salisbury then had a period in the ascendancy with Brandon Goodship lifting a shot just over on 73 minutes. Parkway were now being forced on to the defensive with Salisbury switching play to good effect but Rose and Booth remained dominant in the air and continued to win most of the ariel challenges denying the visitors any clear chances.
Goodship saw yellow on 75 minutes for dissent as Salisbury continued to press but Parkway continued to battle well and defend in numbers but were now being forced to play more on the counter. Parkway introduced Crago for the hard working Lewington on 76 minutes with Leo Seokjae replacing Sommerton for Salisbury who continued on the offensive with Moore making a superb stop on 79 minutes to deny the visitors an equaliser only to subsequently receive a yellow card for time wasting.
Parkway continued to come under pressure but the defence remained solid and on 87 minutes a counter attack was halted by a cynical trip on the marauding Hall by Ethan Sutcliffe who was rightly booked. Garside’s strike from the free kick centrally around 25 yards out was deflected behind for a corner which was cleared to safety. Parkway seemed to have weathered the Salisbury period of pressure as 5 minutes of stoppage time were signalled with Aaron Goulty being sent on to replace the lively Garside as they looked to manage the game out. As with many Parkway games this season stoppage time is never uneventful! Salisbury continued to attack as they searched for an equaliser and forced a 93rd minute corner with a near post scramble seeing Parkway defend heroically and ending with a Parkway free kick from inside the 6 yard area.
In the 96th minute one final Parkway counter attack sealed the game. A long ball out to left saw Seymour, who had put an tremendous shift all game, show remarkable energy and desire at this late stage to outpace the last defender, show terrific skill and composure to cut inside and fire in an angled drive which Benfield could only parry into the path of the supporting Crago who gleefully slammed the ball home from around 6 yards into the empty net. A fitting way to end the game.
An excellent, gritty, hard working all round team performance by Parkway against a strong, well organised side to gain their first league victory of the season and extend their unbeaten run to 6 in all competitions. Other results on the night and on Monday see Parkway move up 1 place off the foot of the table on goal difference from Yate with the bottom 5 clubs now all on 5 points.
After a short recovery period, Parkway go back on the road on Saturday and return to FA Cup action in the 3rd round qualifying when they make their 3rd consecutive trip in the competition to Oxfordshire and face Oxford City of the National League South, one step higher in the pyramid. Whilst the league must remain the priority, tonight’s performance and result should instil confidence and belief and something to build on as they look to extend their unbeaten run.
Match Info
PLYMOUTH PARKWAY 3 (Seymour 19, Williams 65, Crago 90+6)
SALISBURY 1 (Davis 68)
Line-ups:
Parkway:
1 Moore, 2 King, 3 Lane ©, 4 Palfrey, 5 Rose, 6 Booth, 7 Williams, 8 Hall, 9 Seymour, 10 Lewington (Crago 76), 11 Garside (Goulty 90)
Substitutes: 12 Shanley (unused), 13 Mead Crebbin (gk)(unused) 14 Goulty, 16 Landricombe (unused), 16 Crago, 17 Ashmead (unused) 18 Borges (unused)
Salisbury:
1 Benfield, 2 Davis, 3 Sommerton (Seokjae 76), 4 Carmichael, 5 Roberts, 6 Sutcliffe, 7 Ashton (Wakefield 60), 8 Mullings, 9 Fitchett, 10 Goodship, 11 Diaz (Arnold 60).
Substitutes: 12 Thomson (unused), 13 Matthew (gk) (unused), 14 Arnold, 14 Seokjae, 16 Wakefield.
Attendance: 403
Stats
PPFC
Corners: 3
Throw-Ins: 17
Free-Kicks: 17
Goal-Kicks: 11
Offside: 3
Shots: 12
On Target: 5
Bookings: 3
Salisbury
Corners: 6
Throw-Ins: 31
Free-Kicks: 7
Goal-Kicks: 10
Offside: 2
Shots: 8
On Target: 2
Bookings: 2
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