The Wizard proves the difference as Parkway keep the points at Bolitho
Starting a run of 3 home games in the next 5 days Parkway entertained 16th placed Winchester City in a much rearranged fixture. Two changes were made from Saturday’s narrow defeat at Hayes and Yeading with Dan Rooney and Jack Crago starting in place of Ryan Lane and Tom Bath respectively.
 Plymouth ParkwayWinchester City 
1 - 0Full Time |
Full Match Report
Images by Tom Finnie
The game started off at a lively pace and with high intensity with both sides working their way into the game but neither able to gain control. The visitors applied an early spell of pressure with the Parkway defence dealing comfortably with the aerial threat.
The game developed into a midfield battle switching from end to end with defences remaining on top and little being created in the final third. Despite both sides being in mid table, out of contention for a playoff place and safe from relegation, the game was being keenly contested and continued at a high tempo. With 20 minutes gone neither keeper had been tested other than to gather a couple of routine crosses as both defences remained solid and strong.
The first half chance came on 25 minutes with a quickly taken Parkway free kick by Rio Garside being curled low to the near post with Valero doing well to push the ball away to safety.
Parkway gradually began to dominate possession with Mikey Williams making strong penetrating runs from the back looking to create openings. On 27 minutes a Parkway break along the right saw Callum Hall link well with Jack Crago whose cross was blocked. Crago then fired a shot just over as Parkway continued to look the more dangerous and the visitors being restricted to playing on the counter.
On 29 minutes a long ball in behind the Parkway back line saw Ollie Balmer and Parkway keeper Jack Arthur collide just inside the 18 yard box with Balmer being booked for the challenge and Arthur require lengthy treatment.
On 30 minutes the lively Balmer again went clear along the left with his angled drive only finding the side netting. Winchester had a spell in controlled possession with a cross from the right by Jack Torniainen being blocked by Toby Down. Play continued to be confined to the midfield area as both sides looked to create openings with defences remaining on top.
A period of pressure from Parkway saw Ben Seymour and Crago link well on 37 minutes with Valero doing well to smother a low cross. The next Parkway attack saw good build up play along the right with Harrison King going clear and winning a corner from which Crago won a header at the far post which Valero did well to save with his feet.
From the resultant corner on the left Parkway broke the deadlock on 40 minutes with Williams ghosting in at the near post to glance home a neat header into the opposite corner. In the minute of added time Arthur did well to gather a cross from Balmer at the near post after a sharp passage of Winchester play along the left.
A fairly even half of few chances with defences generally in control and neither side able to dominate with Parkway holding a slender lead which they just about deserved with neither keeper being unduly tested.
Both sides made changes at half time with Ryan Lane replacing Aaron Goulty for Parkway and Josh Bertie coming on for Max Smith for the visitors.
Parkway made the early running in the second half with good work along the right between Hall and King on 50 minutes setting up Seymour whose shot on the turn was cleared for a corner.
Seymour was in action again shortly after, heading just over after a cross from the left. Parkway continued to apply pressure but lacked composure in the final third with the Winchester defence being stretched but holding firm. The visitors continued to look to counter attack and on 53 minutes broke away along the right with Booth doing well under pressure to shepherd the ball behind for a goal kick.
Winchester made their second change on 58 minutes with Henry Brooks replacing Torniainen. Parkway continued to threaten and on the hour a neat passage of play along the right involving Hall, King and Crago ended with a deep cross just failing to reach the unmarked Seymour in the 6 yard area. Winchester then made their third change with Ollie Griggs replacing Rob Jamison on 67 minutes.
Play continued to be keenly contested in midfield with Hall picking up a yellow card for a foul on 69 minutes with neither side able to create too much with both keepers remaining relatively untroubled.
Winchester forced a corner on 70 minutes which came to nothing with the Parkway back 3 forming a strong unit and clearing comfortably. On 71 minutes Lane raced clear along the left but sliced his cross horribly wide. Winchester responded immediately with Bertie racing clear only to be denied a shooting opportunity by a last ditch .perfectly timed tackle in the 18 yard area by the impressive Down. The resultant corner was easily dealt with by the Parkway defence.
Parkway continued to attack switching flanks with King and Hall linking well along the right on 74 minutes with the effervescent Hall being tripped just outside the 18 yard and Lane’s well directed free kick being headed narrowly over.
Parkway continued to dominate possession with Winchester competing and defending well and cutting out a long through which just failed to reach Crago. On 78 minutes a sweeping diagonal ball from Dan Rooney released King wide on the right who raced clear but again lacked the necessary composure and blasted his angled drive high and wide. Winchester continued to press forward in search of an equaliser but were unable to penetrate the strong Parkway defensive unit which remained solid.
On 81 minutes Garside and Lane linked well along the left with Crago heading just wide. Parkway continued to create half chances with Seymour and Crago just failing to get final touches on crosses into the danger area after good build up play. Parkway almost doubled their lead on 84 minutes. A well flighted free kick from King from the right cleared everyone and smacked against the far post with Booth reacting quickest to the loose ball but unable to hit the target from around 8 yards.
Approaching full time play became scrappy but on 86 minutes a long clearance found Seymour clear on the right with his tempting cross picking out the unmarked Crago whose first touch let him down with the ball being cleared away.
Parkway made a couple of late changes with Tom Bath replacing Crago on 87 minutes and young Dylan Jones from the under 18’s making his debut coming on for Garside in the 90th minute. 5 minutes of added time were indicated with Winchester continuing to compete strongly as they looked for the equaliser with Griggs and Barron picking up yellow cards in the closing stages.
The final action saw the visitors force a couple of corners with the Parkway defence, as they had all game, dealing comfortably with the threat with Arthur in the home goal rarely called into action.
A keenly contested game of few chances with Parkway creating the clearer ones but lacking the necessary composure or quality in the final third to make the win a more comfortable one.
Winchester competed strongly, battled well throughout and defended well but were unable to break down the solid Parkway defensive unit. Parkway remain in 11th place equal on points and with the same goal difference as Beaconsfield Town having played a game less.
Parkway return to Bolitho Park on Thursday for their penultimate game of the season when they entertain 21st placed North Leigh in what is certain to be a competitive game with the visitors requiring nothing but a win if they are to stand any chance of avoiding the drop.
Match Info
Line-ups:
Plymouth Parkway
1 Arthur, 2 H King, 3 Hall, 4 Goulty (Lane 46), 5 Down, 6 Booth ©, 7 Williams, 8 Rooney, 9 Seymour, 10 Garside (Jones), 11 Crago (Bath 87)
Substitutes:
12 Billington (unused), 14 Lane, 15 Bath, 16 Jones, 17 Hillson (unused),
Winchester City
1 Valero, 2 Baughan, 3 D King, 4 Nolan, 5 Jamison (Griggs 67), 6 Willcox, 7 Torniainen (Brooks 58), 8 Barron ©, 9 Hill, 10 Smith (Bertie 46), 11 Balmer
Substitutes:
12 Griggs, 14 Brooks, 15 Bertie, 16 Hodan (unused), 17 Traynor (unused)
Attendance: 367
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