PRE SEASON FRIENDLY
0 - Plymouth Parkway 2 - Truro City (Neal 61, 69)
For their fifth pre-season friendly Parkway entertained ground sharing Truro who were experiencing their new temporary home at Bolitho Park for the first time. Prior to kick off Parkway Chairman Mark Russell broadcast a moving and heartfelt tribute to the Parkway stalwart and club legend 94 year old Charlie Baggott who sadly passed away earlier in the week. This was followed by a minutes silence impeccably observed by the appreciative and respectful crowd of 323. The game got off to a lively start with an early strike from the visitors Rio Garside being parried and gathered at the second attempt by Kyle Moore.
Parkway responded almost immediately with Jack Crago going clear and firing an effort just over. The game continued at a high tempo with both sides moving the ball well and probing through midfield but with both defences looking comfortable, few clear chances were being created. On 14 minutes the lively Garside broke clear along the right with his dangerous cross being well read and pushed away by Moore. Truro continued to look the sharper in possession dictating play with Parkway working hard to compete in midfield but unable to threaten the visitors back line. On 16 minutes a quick break along the Truro left saw Andrew Neal fire just wide. Parkway forced their first corner on 20 minutes with the ball being cleared and the follow up shot being blocked and eventually cleared to safety.
Davis then picked up the game’s first yellow card for remarks made to the referee and on 24 minutes a Truro free kick some 40 yards out found James Richards at the far post whose on target header was pushed away by Moore and cleared. Truro continued to have the better of possession with Parkway continuing to press in midfield with River Allen and the industrious Billy Palfrey competing well but unable to provide the quality to penetrate a solid looking Truro defence where Cheick Diabate looked calm and composed. Parkway should have taken the lead on 29 minutes. A loose square pass across the Truro back line went straight to the unmarked Crago some 18 yards out who was unable to convert a golden opportunity with the visitor’s keeper James Hammon spreading himself well to block the effort. With both sides showing good energy and looking to create openings, defences continued to generally remain in control. On 35 minutes Parkway unnecessarily conceded possession in midfield with Ryan Brett going clear but being denied a shot by some resolute Parkway defending.
The visitors were forced into an injury substitution on 38 minutes with Ryan Dixon replacing Tyler Harvey. Parkway then had a short period of pressure with Palfrey, Mikey Williams and Shane Krac combining well down the right to release Davis whose inviting cross was well intercepted by Hammon. On 41 minutes Krac became the second player to be booked after a robust challenge in midfield. As half time approached a Truro break along the right saw Neal neatly cut the ball back to Dixon who blasted over from around 15 yards with the final action of the half seeing a Parkway free kick laid back to Krac whose shot was well blocked by the Truro defence. An entertaining, competitive half in hot, humid conditions with Truro generally looking the sharper but Parkway defending strongly and competing well in midfield with little to choose between the sides. Callum Hall replaced Krac for the hosts at half time with Jamie Lowry coming on for Allen on 51 minutes as the second half settled into a similar pattern to the first.
The first chance of the half came on 52 minutes with Hall making a strong run down the right with his cross finding Crago in a good position only for his shot from close range to be well blocked by Hammon and cleared to safety after a melee in the 6 yard box. Parkway continued a period of pressure with Lowry seeing plenty of the ball and on 59 minutes his well flighted free kick found Michael Landricombe whose header was just off target. However it was Truro who took the lead on 61 minutes. A quick break along the left saw a curling cross from the elusive Garside find the unmarked Neal at the far post who nodded home from close range. On 67 minutes another Parkway free kick on the right picked out Tom Bath whose shot was well blocked with Truro then doubling their lead on 69 minutes.
A quick break along the right saw the nippy Neal time his run well to stay onside, get beyond the Parkway defence and cleverly beat the onrushing Moore with a delightfully angled chip from around 25 yards. Both sides then made further substitutions with George Tucker replacing the Truro trialist and Jack Rhead replacing Crago for the hosts. Neal almost completed his hattrick on 72 minutes when one on one with Moore only to be denied by a fine stop by the keeper. Truro continued to look the stronger with Parkway working hard to restrict their visitors to any further chances. Approaching the last 10 minutes both sides made further changes with Jordan Bentley replacing Landricombe and Kayden Dunn coming on for Shane White for the visitors. On 81 minutes a good link up between Connor Riley-Lowe and Neal saw the latter’s shot fly just wide. Parkway continued to push forward and on 83 minutes the impressive Palfrey won possession in midfield and released Ryan Lane whose dangerous cross was met by on the stretch by Bath whose shot from around 12 yards was again well saved by Hammon.
The final stages saw 2 Parkway trialists replace Bath and the hard working Palfrey with Truro sending on James Swan and Cameron Hirst for Dixon and the impressive Garside. A good pre season work out for both sides and despite the defeat, a much improved performance from last week by Parkway with ultimately the main difference between the two sides being Truro’s clinical finishing. The forecast of thunderstorms and heavy rain never materialised and the game was played out on the recently relaid pristine playing surface well prepared by the Parkway groundstaff. Parkway continue their pre season preparations on Tuesday with a visit to old adversaries Bodmin Town for their penultimate friendly no doubt looking to build on today’s performance, implement lessons learnt from recent games and improve fitness levels.
PARKWAY LINE UP
1 Moore, 2 Davis, 3 Lane, 4 Palfrey (A Trialist 85), 5 A Bentley, 6 Landricombe (J Bentley 78), 7 Williams, 8 Krac © (Hall 46), 9 Bath (B Trialist 87), 10 Allen (Lowry 51), 11 Crago (Rhead 70)
Substitutes: 12 J Bentley, 14 Rhead, 15 Hall, 16 Copp, 17 Lowry, 18 A Trialist, 19 B Trialist, 20 C Trialist
TRURO LINE UP
1 Hammon, 2 A Trialsit (Tucker 70), 3 Riley-Lowe, 4, Diabate, 5 White (Dunn 81), 6 Richards©, 7 Garside (Hirst), 8 Dean, 9, Harvey (Dixon 38)(Swan 84), 11 Brett, 15 Neal
Substitutes: 10 Dixon, 16 Tucker, 12 Yetton, 14 Dunn, 17 Swan, 19 Hirst, 18 Phillips, 13 Coxhead