Plymouth Parkway entertained Plymouth Argyle in the now traditional first pre-season friendly in front of a capacity sell-out crowd at a bouncing Bolitho Park. Parkway’s starting eleven included 5 of their 6 close season signings with a number of trialists on the substitutes bench. Argyle fielded a strong starting eleven which included Finley Craske who had spent a successful loan period at Parkway last season with most of the remainder of their first team squad on the bench.

As expected, Argyle dominated possession in the early stages switching play well and providing a number of crosses from both flanks which were dealt with comfortably by the Parkway defence. Parkway looking organised in midfield and strong in defence looked content to play on the break with new signing Ben Seymour showing excellent pace and looking a potential threat. Argyle continued to control the game without creating any clear chances, but it was the hosts who took the lead on 12 minutes with their first meaningful attack. A break along the right involving Mikey Williams and Tyler Ashmead saw the ball played in to Seymour who cleverly chested the ball into the path of the supporting Billy Palfrey who slotted into the far corner with an angled drive from around 10 yards. Argyle continued to have the lion’s share of possession, but their final ball lacked the necessary quality to penetrate a resolute Parkway back line. On 19 minutes Parkway won a free kick on the right with Ryan Lane’s in swinging kick seeing a header go narrowly wide.

On 21 minutes a long ball from the Parkway defence found Seymour racing clear only to be denied getting his shot away by a fine covering tackle by James Wilson. Parkway continued to look dangerous on the break and 23 minutes Palfrey tried an audacious lob from around 40 yards, something he had successfully done more than once last season, only to be denied by the visitor’s keeper Callum Burton who gathered the ball just under his crossbar.