The second half saw an early yellow card for Gibbons followed shortly after by one for Wright as play quickly picked up the pace of the first half.

The hosts created an early chance with Roberts firing just over when well placed but it was Parkway who retook the lead on 52 minutes. A cross from the left found Purrington who was bundled over in a central position around 30 yards out as he was about to shoot.

From the resultant free kick Garside curled a sumptuous left footed kick into the top left hand corner giving Moore no chance. Chesham made their first change on 55 minutes with Jordan Edwards replacing Lesley Duru.

On 56 minutes Parkway almost increased their lead when a Crago header from a free kick looped over the stranded Moore who backpedalled to claw the ball away before being eventually being cleared by some desperate defending in the 6 yard area.

The hosts made their second change on 58 minutes with Oliver McCoy replacing Rush. Chesham continued to apply pressure without creating too much as play went through a scrappy phase with a series of free kicks conceded by Chesham with Edwards seeing yellow on 65 minutes. Parkway continued to defend well with Callum Rose and Halls commanding in the centre of defence ably supported by Hall and Purrington with Wilson continuing to work hard impressively in breaking up play in front of the back 4.

However the defence was breached in spectacular style on 67 minutes as the hosts again drew level. A long raking diagonal ball to left by Adebiyi found the strong running Hippolyte-Patrick whose sublime first touch saw him cut inside his marker and fire in a powerfully hit angled shot from around 20 yards giving Parkes no chance.

Despite this, Parkway continued to compete well and on 70 minutes a neat through ball from Jones found Wright who was narrowly beaten to it just inside the 18 area with the ball being cleared for a throw in. Parkway made a double substitution on 73 minutes with Alfie Moulden and Aaron Goulty replacing Lolot and the tiring Wilson who had put an excellent shift in his first game back from his lengthy injury lay off. Gibbons then fired wildly wide for the hosts before being replaced on 75 minutes by Kaine Kennedy-Sinclair in what turned out be a game changing substitution.

On 79 minutes the hosts took the lead for the first time. A break along the left saw the ever dangerous Hippolyte-Patrick head back across the goal to Kennedy-Sinclair who with virtually his first touch since coming on tapped in at the far post despite being under some pressure from a Parkway defender. With play now opening up in midfield and Chesham dominating the exchanges, Parkway still managed to break forward and on 83 minutes forced a corner after good work along the left between Hall and Moulden. On 85minutes Parkway made their final change with debutant Vasile-Alexandru Lolot replacing Wright.

With the game still finely poised Chesham won a couple of free kicks wide on the right and from the second on 89 minutes substitute Kennedy-Sinclair hooked home a spectacular scissor kick from around 8 yards to just about seal the game. To their credit Parkway did not give up and pulled a goal back in the third of the added 7 minutes.

A free kick from the left saw Crago clattered into by Moore in the 18 yard area with nothing given and the ball cleared for a throw in. Chesham were unable to clear and with the ball bouncing around in the 6 yard box the alert Crago pounced on the loose ball and stabbed home from close range to reward his wholehearted efforts throughout the game.

Chesham then managed to game to it’s conclusion by playing long balls into the corners to retain possession and deny Parkway any opportunities to go forward and get anything from the game.

A spirited, resolute and vastly improved performance by Parkway who competed well throughout, took the lead twice and were unfortunate to come away with nothing against a strong Chesham outfit with clinical finishing the difference between the two sides. The Chesham manager’s immediate and frank post match interview saying his side got away with one and hardly deserved the 3 points summed up the game from his perspective. He was right! Parkway, hopefully with a near full strength squad available with players returning from injury and suspension now face a busy week ahead. Hendon face the long journey to Bolitho Park on Saturday followed on Bank Holiday Monday by Parkway travelling to Tiverton Town for the Devon derby. Despite today’s defeat, plenty of positives to take from the game and build on.