Bracknell confirm second spot as Parkway slip to defeat on final weekend of the season
With both sides starting their 4th game in 8 days, Parkway entertained 2nd placed and promotion contenders Bracknell Town. Parkway named an unchanged starting 11 from Thursday’s 1-1 draw with North Leigh.
 Plymouth ParkwayBracknell Town 
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Full Match Report
Images by Tom Finnie
The visitors got off to a sharp start forcing a couple of corners with Mickel Platt glancing a header narrowly wide in the 2nd minute and they took the lead in the 4th minute.
Parkway conceded possession in midfield allowing Bracknell to break along the left with a deep cross finding the unmarked Platt at the far post who volleyed home crisply from around 10 yards giving Jack Arthur no chance. Parkway responded well with Ben Seymour firing just over on 5 minutes.
On 8 minutes Callum Hall and Mikey Williams combined well along the left to force a corner from which Jack Crago won a header with Michael Eacott in the visitor’s goal saving well from a Williams follow up shot. Play continued at a fast pace with Eacott gathering well at his near post just ahead of Crago after a good cross from the right by Harrison King on 13 minutes.
Parkway began to dominate the midfield exchanges and on 17 minutes a long ball behind the visitors defence saw Eacott forced to head the ball outside the 18 yard area with Seymour just unable to reach the loose ball.
With both sides playing with intensity and displaying high energy levels, the well organised visitors pressed and closed down Parkway in midfield not allowing them too much time or space on the ball. On 21 minutes Bracknell were forced into an early change with Ethan Burden replacing Elliot Legg who appeared to have picked up an injury.
Parkway began to find more space moving the ball at pace and on 21 minutes won a free kick on the left which was cleared to safety. On 25 minutes Bracknell broke clear along the left with Ryan Lane doing well to clear a dangerous cross.
With play switching from end to end Parkway broke clear along the left on 26 minutes with George Knight picking up the game’s first yellow card after bringing down Crago to deny him going clear.
Parkway gradually began to dominate possession and on 28 minutes a forceful run from deep by King saw him cut inside but drag his shot narrowly wide from around 18 yards.
Hall and King then linked well on 30 minutes with a cross from the right gathered low down by Eacott just ahead of the advancing Seymour.
Parkway continued to threaten with the visitors defending well under pressure but unable to create too much going forward. Crago then saw a shot from around 18 yards well saved after linking well with Seymour.
On 35 minutes good build up play between Hall and Crago along the right forced Eacott into another save just manging to palm over Hall’s shot to concede a corner.
Parkway continued to look the more threatening side with the visitors remaining compact and organised and content to absorb pressure and play on the counter. Approaching half time Williams, Hall and Lane linked well along the left with Eacott doing well to push away Hall’s long range shot.
In the 2 minutes of added time Parkway won another free kick with King almost catching Eacott out with a low curling effort to the near which the keeper just managed to scramble away.
After getting caught cold and conceding the early goal Parkway recovered well to become the more dominant side creating the better chances with Eacott the busier of the 2 goalkeepers. Bracknell however continued to compete strongly, remain well organised and defend solidly to retain their narrow lead.
Parkway made a good start to the 2nd half and on 47 minutes a dangerous cross from the right by Rio Garside picked out Seymour whose close range header was blocked and cleared away.
Bracknell then created a period of pressure with English going clear along the left but overhitting his cross. On 55 minutes a cross from the left from Hall was deflected behind for a corner which was headed away for another corner as Parkway continued to apply pressure.
Parkway made their 1st change on 57 minutes with Jamie Lowry replacing Dan Rooney. On 58 minutes Seymour did well to win the ball wide on the right and square a cross to Lane who with his weaker foot shot straight at Eacott who saved comfortably. Bracknell continued to concede free kicks with Parkway capitalising on one in the 60th minute and deservedly drawing level.
A well flighted delivery by Lane from wide on the right reached Toby Down at the far post who headed powerfully home. Bracknell immediately made a change with Joe Grant replacing Ben Harris. On 63 minutes a long ball from Austen Booth released Crago wide on the right but his hurried cross lacked control and flew well over.
As is often the case sides are at their most vulnerable just after they have scored and on 65 minutes Bracknell regained the lead.
The dangerous Platt broke clear along the right, did well to hold off his marker and pulled the ball back from the bye line with Knight stabbing home from close range. Parkway looked to recover and respond and on 70 minutes a long ball from Lowry picked out Hall who cut inside from the right and curled a shot just wide.
Parkway then made a double substitution with Dylan Jones and Aaron Goulty replacing Crago and Garside respectively with Magnus Abisogun coming on for English for the visitors.
Parkway continued to apply pressure and pushed forward in search of a 2nd equaliser. On 75 minutes Eacott did well to gather a cross under pressure from King’s cross and on 78 minutes a long ball found Jones whose cross was cleared behind for a corner.
With gaps beginning to appear at the back as Parkway looked to push men further forward, on 79 minutes Bracknell broke clear along the right with Grant displaying good skill to force a corner.
On 80 minutes Abisogun saw yellow for a foul with the game continuing to be hotly contested.
On 82 minutes Bracknell forced a corner with King clearing an effort off the line with the ball being recycled and Platt shooting from just inside the 18 yard area forcing Arthur to make a superb save at full stretch.
Arguably his first real save of the half. With Bracknell looking to slow the game down and manage it out, play became frenetic with King being cautioned for a foul on 84 minutes.
Parkway continued to press and on 88 minutes King received his marching orders after picking up a contentious 2nd yellow card with a member of the Parkway staff getting a red card for the subsequent protest. With 8 minutes of stoppage time added, Parkway continued to press for the equaliser with Lane seeing yellow on 91 minutes.
Parkway managed to maintain forward momentum and forced another corner in the 94th minute which was cleared and with no cover at the back Grant raced forward and crossed to Darryl Sanders who finished clinically past the exposed Arthur to seal the game giving it a slightly flattering scoreline.
A pulsating game between two fully committed sides with Bracknell showing why they are where they are in the league in their first season at this level. Parkway matched their opponents throughout, did well to recover from the early setback, dominated possession for much of the game, defended well and created a few chances but came up just short against a tough, resilient, uncompromising Bracknell outfit.
To finish 10th in the league in their first season in the Southern League Premier Division (step 3), the highest level at which they have ever played after accruing only 2 points from their first 7 games has to be considered a successful season. Tough decisions had to be made along the way with personnel and formation changes making a significant impact and to finish above some established clubs at this level is a great achievement and should not be underestimated.
Progress made in the FA Cup and FA Trophy is also noteworthy eventually going out to National League (step 2) side Oxford City in the Cup and in the Trophy to National League (step 1) side Barnet who are currently in a playoff position.
The season has been a steep learning curve and many lessons will no doubt have been learnt with planning for next season already underway.
Match Info
Line-ups:
Plymouth Parkway
1 Arthur, 2 King, 3 Lane ©, 4 Hall, 5 Down, 6 Booth, 7 Williams, 8 Rooney (Lowry 57), 9 Seymour, 10 Garside (Goulty 71), 11 Crago (Jones 71)
Substitutes:
12 Billington (unused), 14 Goulty, 15 Bath (unused), 16 Jones, 17 Lowry
Bracknell Town
1Eacott, 2 Fraser, 3 Legg (Burden 21), 4 Oau, 5 Bayliss |©, 6 Tack, 7 Platt, 18 Knight, 19 Harris (Grant 60), 10 Sanders, 11 English (Abisogun 71).
Substitutes:
12 Esprit (unused), 14 Grant, 15 Burden, 16 Lodge (unused), 17 Abisogun
Attendance: 350 (Seasons average 517 – 4th highest in league).
FOOTNOTE
The author has reported on all 52 Parkway games this season. 42 League, 5 FA Cup, 4 FA Trophy and 1 Devon County Cup travelling just short of 9,000 miles in doing so. I have enjoyed the journey immensely and hope all those at home and abroad who have followed the clubs progress have enjoyed reading the reports as much as I have enjoyed compiling them. All being well I’ll be back next season.
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