Parkways homecoming falls flat with draw against Hanwell
On a bright but cool spring day Parkway entertained 15th placed Hanwell Town, who had also been promoted into the league this season, in front of a good crowd of 544 which included Plymouth Argyle’s newly found Japanese superfan @Tatsumakibones who drew much attention from adults and children alike.
Parkway made 3 changes from their midweek defeat at Swindon Supermarine. Jack Arthur replaced Jordan Duffey in goal, Gabe Billington came in for Callum Hall and Aaron Goulty started in place of Harrison King who this week was awarded his first professional contract with Exeter City. Parkway were also forced to make a late change with Toby Down starting at short notice in place of Callum Rose who unfortunately pulled up with an injury during the warm up.
 Plymouth ParkwayHanwell Town 
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Full Match Report
The game got off to a slow, scrappy start with little between the sides and neither able to get a foothold in the game.
Jack Crago made a break on 11 minutes with his cross being comfortably defended. The visitors began to look more threatening and on 12 minutes a long ball found Dan Carr who was unable to control the loose ball under pressure from Jack Arthur in the Parkway goal.
Parkway were unable to gain any decent possession in midfield with too many overhit long balls being easily dealt with by the Hanwell defence with Dwayne Duncan particularly impressive. The first clear chance of the game came on 15 minutes with a Hanwell cross from the right dropping to Carr who fired just over from around 15 yards. Hanwell continued to look the more composed side and began to control the pace of the game forcing Parkway on to the defensive.
On 24 minutes a quick free kick to Imran Kayani caught the Parkway defence napping with Arthur spreading himself well to block Kayani’s shot from around 6 yards.
Hanwell continued to look the better side with Parkway unable to gain or retain any quality possession and still guilty of playing too many long balls. On 34 minutes the visitors almost took the lead after a quick break along the left saw Kian Adom’s angled drive saved by the outstretched leg of Arthur and be hacked to safety.
Hanwell continued to apply pressure with Parkway being forced to defend with Arthur again called into action in the 36th minute saving well from Callum Duffy’s low shot. A rare Parkway attack on 36 minutes saw Dan Rooney link well with Mikey Williams who sent Ryan Lane clear along the left with his cross only finding the side netting.
Parkway continued to defend under pressure with the visitors remaining in the ascendancy and controlling the tempo of the game. On 43 minutes a Hanwell free kick from the left into the danger area saw a header flash narrowly wide. The game continued to be a scrappy affair and after 3 minutes of added time, remained goalless at the break.
A half lacking any real quality with the compact, well organised visitors working hard and generally controlling the game creating 2 or 3 good opportunities with Arthur keeping Parkway in the game by making some crucial saves.
In contrast Parkway created nothing with Arthur’s opposite number Max Merrick in the Hanwell goal a virtual spectator.
The first action of note in the second half saw Rio Garside booked for a foul in the 47th minute and from the resultant free kick by Carr, Arthur displayed strong hands to push the ball away diving to his left at full stretch. Parkway started the second half with more intensity and purpose and almost took the lead on 51 minutes.
A close range effort from Ben Seymour was superbly saved by Merrick and with the ball ricocheting around the 6 yard area with follow up close range shots by Crago and Aaron Goulty somehow being blocked and cleared away. Parkway were now looking far more threatening as the visitors continued to come under pressure with Parkway taking the lead in the 59th minute.
An Austen Booth header from a corner on the left was deflected behind for another corner from which Toby Down emphatically powered home a bullet header.
With Parkway now looking the better side and playing with more intensity and energy, Tom Bath replaced Seymour on 58 minutes. On the hour another Parkway flowing passage of play released Garside along the right who with his weaker right foot fired well over.
Hanwell continued to compete well in a congested midfield with Matt Mackenzie picking up a booking for a foul in the 63rd minute followed by one Exeter City loanee replacing another with Harrison King coming on for Gabe Billington.
Hanwell were forcing their way back into the game with Adom firing over from long range on 75 minutes. They made a double substitution on 76 minutes with Lewis Cole coming on for the busy Carr and Jacob Gardiner –Smith replacing Adom. Hanwell continued to press and on 77 minutes a cross from the left to the near post saw Duffy’s close range header clip the outside of the post and go behind.
The visitor’s next attack in the 79th minute saw them draw level. Another long throw in, many of which had caused problems for the Parkway defence all afternoon, was only partially cleared and after possession had once again been too easily conceded, the ball was chipped back into the danger area by Mackenzie with Duffy looping a header over the outstretched Arthur.
Parkway responded by almost retaking the lead with Bath just unable to get on the end of a dangerous cross by Crago with the ball being guided behind for a corner from which Down headed narrowly over. Goulty then fired well over as Parkway pushed forward in the 4 added minutes with Bath firing a speculative long range effort over in the 91st minute.
The final action saw a cross from Williams find the unmarked Bath whose wild shot from around 15 yards flew harmlessly over.
A generally flat, uninspiring Parkway first half performance against well organised and determined opponents who could have gone into the break a couple of goals ahead.
An improved second half display saw Parkway control much more of the game and take the lead with Hanwell fighting back well to equalise with the draw being a fair outcome. Parkway will be content with the point which takes them to 50 and remain in 11th place with the visitors remaining in 15th place probably considering themselves unfortunate not to be returning to London with all 3.
Parkway now face 2 tough local derbies within 48 hours. Easter Monday sees them “away” at Bolitho Park to their tenants, 3rd placed and promotion contenders Truro City followed on Wednesday by a rearranged visit to 12th placed Tiverton Town who they head only on goal difference. A vastly improved performance will be required if they are to get anything from either game.
Match Info
Line-ups:
Plymouth Parkway
1 Arthur, 2 Goulty, 3 Lane ©, 4 Billington (King 63), 5 Down, 6 Booth, 7 Williams, 8 Rooney, 9 Seymour (Bath 58), 10 Garside, 11 Crago.
Substitutes
12 Hall (unused), 14 King, 15 Bath
Hanwell Town:
1 Merrick, 2 Olorunfemi, 3 Cheshire, 4 Rush ©, 5 D uncan, 6 Duffy, 7 Carr (Cole 77) 18 Mackenzie, 9 Kayani, 10 Seidu-Osman, 11 Adom (Gardiner-Smith 77)
Substitutes
12 Cole, 16 Gardiner-Smith, 17 Robinson (unused|), 19 West (unused)
Attendance: 544 (estimate 30 away fans and 1 from Japan)
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