A hard working performance by Parkway against a resilient Sholing outfit
 SholingPlymouth Parkway 
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Full Match Report
Parkway sealed 3 more points on the road against Sholing at the Mackoy stadium to make it back to back away wins. Tom Bath would would be the match winner following his introduction in the second half as Graham Lloyd writes…
Seventh placed Parkway travelled to sixth placed Sholing, a side they had yet to meet this season, looking to build on last week’s narrow victory at Larkhall Athletic. Two changes were made with Mikey Williams replacing Gabby Rogers and Adam Carter starting in place of Tom Bath.
On a cold and blustery day the game got off to a fairly even start with both sides searching each other out. Sholing forced an early corner which came to nothing before on 10 minutes Parkway created a 3 on 1 situation from which they failed to capitalise. From the resultant corner, Carter’s header was comfortably saved by Ryan Gosney. On 12 minutes good link up play between Ethan Mitchell and Ryan Lane saw the latter’s cross cum shot fly narrowly wide. Parkway began to control possession and territory but were unable to penetrate a solid looking Sholing back line. On 15 minutes good play by Mitchell saw him set up Matt Andrew whose snapshot from around 20 yards was easily saved by Gosney. Parkway continued to dictate the pace of the game and on 19 minutes good work between Williams and Andrew along the right set up Billy Palfrey whose shot lacked power and was comfortably saved by Gosney. Parkway continued to dominate possession without creating any clear cut chances with the Sholing defence looking relatively untroubled. Parkway forced a couple of corners and won a series of free kicks in dangerous areas but too often their delivery lacked quality and failed to take account of the blustery wind.
With Sholing playing on the counter and the lively Dan Mason looking threatening, on 23 minutes a break from left to right stretched the Parkway defence who managed to halt the attack denying any goalscoring opportunity. On 26 minutes the hosts Fatah Makhloufi picked up the game’s first yellow card for a foul on Finley Craske. On 27 minutes the imporessive Dan Mason went clear along the left with his low cross to the near post being nudged just wide by Stuart Green. Parkway continued to push forward and control the midfield area but Sholing were proving hard to break down with Gosney rarely being tested. On 28 minutes a 25 yard effort from Lane flew well wide with Lane again shooting wide on 31 minutes after good link up play with Andrew. Sholing continued to look dangerous on the break and on 32 minutes a cross from the right was well cut out by Kyle Moore in the Parkway goal. The host’s next attack on 33 minutes saw Dan Mason break clear only to be denied by a fine covering block tackle by Callum Rose. Parkway continued to probe an opening and on 34 minutes good play between Mitchell and Lane created a half chance which was comfortably dealt with by Gosney. Palfrey became the next player to see yellow after a midfield challenge. Parkway continued to dominate possession and on 37 minutes a neat passage of play between Andrew and Mitchell along the left released Crago whose angled drive ballooned the side netting.
On 41 minutes Sholing had their best chance of the game. A low cross from the left by Brad Targett found the unmarked Dan Mason in the 6 yard area whose scuffed shot was blocked when he probably should have done better. Parkway responded with a chance of their own on 43 minutes when a smart passage of play involving a number of first time passes through midfield eventually found Williams whose trademark curling effort from around 20 yards flew narrowly wide. Just before the break Parkway were forced into a substitution with Gabby Rogers replacing Crago who had picked up a knock earlier in the game from an honest 50/50 challenge and continued the best he could but was unable to continue. The half ended in dramatic fashion with Makhloufi getting his 2nd yellow card for an unnecessary and petulant trip on Williams in a congested midfield area when there was no apparent danger.
A half of few chances with neither goalkeeper being unduly tested with Parkway generally controlling possession and territory but unable make their pressure pay or capitalise on their many set pieces which more often than not lacked quality of delivery. Sholing defended well and looked dangerous on the break with Parkway also looking comfortable at the back.
No changes were made at half time and the host’s 10 men made the much better start to the half. On 47 minutes Targett linked well with Marvin McLean whose dangerous cross into the 6 yard box just evaded Dan Mason. Sholing continued to press and on 50 minutes a shot on the turn from close range by the ever dangerous Dan Mason was parried behind by Moore for a corner. With Parkway now on the back foot, Sholing almost took the lead on 52 minutes. Dan Mason was again involved, setting up Green whose shot was pushed away by Moore at full stretch for a vital save. Sholing continued to threaten and on 54 minutes a shot from Targett flew narrowly over. After the initial onslaught from Sholing, Parkway gradually regained their composure as they looked to reimpose control and improve their ball retention in midfield. On 56 minutes a short corner routine on the left created an opening for Rose whose shot from around 18 yards was blocked with the loose ball falling to Carter who close range effort lacked power or precision and was comfortably saved by Gosney. On 57 minutes good work between Rogers, Lane and Carter saw the latter’s attempted close range flicked effort lack power with Gosney again saving easily.
With Parkway now back in the ascendancy and dominating possession, Sholing replaced Rob Nicholls with Owen Roundell on 62 minutes. On 65 minutes a Parkway move along the left saw a cross from Lane gathered by Gosney who continued to display assured handling of crosses. Sholing were now forced to defend deeper and play on the counter and on 67 minutes a long clearance from defence, aided by the strong wind, forced Moore to come a long way from his goal area to clear the ball into touch. On 68 minutes Parkway made a double substitution with Callum Hall, returning after a 5 game absence through suspension and unavailability, and Bath replacing Andrew and Carter respectively. The 10 men continued to look dangerous on the break and on 69 minutes Green raced clear with his squared ball being read and intercepted by the imposing Michael Landricombe who yet again displayed his experience and leadership qualities. On 70 minutes Ryan Cluett became the next player booked as Parkway continued to apply pressure, switching play from flank to flank but were still unable to breach the solid Sholing back line. On 72 minutes neat play between Rogers, Williams and Lane saw the latter’s shot from around 18 yards blocked with Palfrey pulling his shot narrowly wide shortly after. Sholing continued to compete well and Craske saw yellow on 75 minutes for a foul. Parkway continued to move the ball well, remain patient and switch play as they looked to unlock the host’s defence, however at times their final ball lacked the necessary quality to do so. On 79 minutes a Rogers shot from distance went wide as the Parkway pressure intensified.
The constant pressure finally paid off with Parkway taking the lead on 85 minutes. Mitchell and Lane combined well on the left to win a corner from which Gosney, surrounded by a host of players at the back post, was unable to gather cleanly allowing Mitchell to head the loose ball against the bar from close range with the ball dropping to Bath who, under pressure from close defenders, hooked the ball into the roof of the net. After a prolonged protest by the home players and a consultation between the referee and his assistant, the goal was awarded. Parkway continued to launch further attacks and on 88 minutes Hall shot over from around 20 yards after good work by Rogers.
With 6 minutes of stoppage time being indicated and Sholing throwing players forward, on 91 they almost grabbed an equaliser. A free kick to the far post saw a header flash across the 6 yard box with no one able to apply the finishing touch. On 93 minutes Parkway then broke away with Williams releasing Rogers who went clear one on one with Gosney who spread himself well to make a fine save. Rogers was not to be denied and in the 95th minute claimed an assist as he latched on to a long ball along the left, got to the bye line and showing excellent close control and quick feet beat 3 defenders and squared the ball to the unmarked Bath who calmly slotted home from around 12 yards to wrap up a hard fought but ultimately deserved victory with a second consecutive clean sheet.
A hard working performance by Parkway showing determination, patience and application to keep playing their flowing football until the end against a strong Sholing oufit who, despite playing the second half with only 10 men, proved resilient, hard to break down and dangerous on the counter attack.
The strength of the Parkway squad was again in evidence with all the substitutes making valuable contributions which sees Parkway remain in 7th place but having gained ground on all the teams in the top 6 who, with the exception of Cirencester Town who had no game today, either lost or drew.
Parkway will hope to make further progress on Tuesday when bottom club, the recently much strengthened Barnstaple Town visit Bolitho Park with Parkway looking to avenge their penalty shootout League Cup defeat earlier in the season. Barnstaple had a narrow 2-1 victory today over fellow strugglers Mangotsfield United courtesy of 2 Owen Howe penalties.
Line Ups:
Parkway: 1 Moore, 2 Craske, 3 Lane, 4 Mitchell, 5 Rose, 6 Landricombe ©, 7 Williams, 8 Palfrey, 20 Carter (Bath 68), 10 Andrew (Hall 68), 11 Crago (Rogers 44)
Substitutes: 12 Davis (unused), 14 Bath, 15 Bentley (unused), 16 Hall, 17 Rogers
Sholing: 1 Gosney, 2 Cluett, 3 McLean, 4 Batt, 5 Miller, 6 Nicholls (Roundell 62), 7 Green, 8 Byron Mason ©, 9 Daniel Mason, 10 Makhloufi (sent off 45), 11 Targett.
Substitutes: 12 Whiteley (unused), 14 Deacon (gk unused) 14 Cope (unused), 15 Roundell, 16 Mann (unused)
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