A Villa Different
The Preview: Elburton Villa vs ParkwayBy Mike Parrish
There will be a different feel around Parkway on Tuesday evening.
Just three days after securing a place in the next round of the FA Cup with a dramatic 3-1 victory at Gosport Borough, Karl Curtis’ side make the short journey across Plymouth to Haye Road for a Devon County Cup preliminary round tie against Elburton Villa.
The County Cup may sit behind the league, FA Cup and Trophy in the priorities of the season, but there is still plenty to make this an interesting evening for Parkway.
With Saturday’s important league trip to Sholing already on the horizon, Curtis has indicated that there could be a much-changed side at Haye Road as he manages his squad and provides opportunities to players who have been waiting patiently for their chance.
That makes Tuesday an important opportunity in its own right.
Saturday’s FA Cup victory showed the character within the Parkway squad as Mikey Williams, Toby Down and Callum Hall found the net to send the Yellows into the next round. Williams’ goal was also his 98th for the club, while Jack Brimming and Hayden Turner made their full competitive debuts.
Now, attention turns towards a competition that has a more local feel.
Elburton Villa currently sit top of the South West Peninsula League East Division after taking 15 points from their opening six matches. Their impressive start included big victories over Crediton, Torrington and Bishops Lydeard before Saturday brought their first defeat of the campaign, a 3-1 loss away at Honiton Town.
They will be looking to respond immediately on Tuesday, and there is plenty of familiarity between the two clubs.
Former Parkway players Levi Landricombe, Steve Colwell and Henry Wilson are all part of the Elburton squad, adding another interesting layer to what should be a competitive local cup tie.
The sides last met in this competition in 2018, when Parkway travelled to Haye Road in the quarter-finals and came away with a 2-0 victory.
Seven years on, the two clubs meet again with a place in the next round at stake.
For Parkway, the fixture also provides another opportunity to continue developing the pathway from the club’s Scholarship Programme into the first team.
Scholarship student Leo Orford will be included in the squad, giving the youngster the chance to experience senior competitive football and another opportunity for the club’s developing players to work alongside the first team.
The result will matter, but so too will the opportunity to give minutes to players, maintain the positive start and continue building the squad as the season develops.
There is also the possibility of a few familiar faces lining up against Parkway, making this a different sort of cup tie altogether.
After the drama of the FA Cup, Parkway now swap PL5 for PL9.
Trees Transmission
Due to Saturday’s FA Cup exploits, the commentary team are still getting their voices back, so Trees Transmission will be taking an evening off on Tuesday.
Admission at Haye Road is £6 for adults, £4 for concessions, with Under 16s admitted free.
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