Parkway leave it late to secure all three points
Parkway v Wimborne Town | Match ReportPlymouth Parkway defeated Wimborne Town 2-1 as a late goal sealed all three points under the lights at Bolitho Park.
An early goal from Callum Hall and a late winner from Toby Down, gave Parkway a deserved three points as Karl Curtis’s side produced another disciplined performance under the lights to send the Yellows up into second in the Southern League Premier South.
 Plymouth ParkwayWimborne Town 
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Images: Ellie Bailey
A potentially history-defining week at Bolitho Park began with Parkway welcoming Wimborne Town to PL5, as the Yellows hoped to get back to winning ways and kickstart their week in the perfect way.
After Parkway’s seven game unbeaten run in the league came to an end in West Sussex at the weekend, Karl Curtis’s side will be looking for an immediate response to get back on track. However they couldn’t have asked for a tougher test as they faced a side who are thirteen games unbeaten in all competitions.
Curtis made one change to the eleven who suffered defeat to Chichester on Saturday. Reece Thomson made way for Henry Donovan, who made his first league start since signing for the Yellows.
Wimborne began the game with an interesting kick off to say the least, as they launched the ball high in the air, which the Parkway defence easily dealt with. The Yellows almost got off to the perfect start five minutes into the game. After some nice work from Will Sullivan, the wing-back found Callum Hall unmarked, who played a brilliant ball to Rocky Neal. Neal rounded the keeper and saw his effort superbly cleared off the line by the Wimborne defender.
The Yellows continued to link up well inside the first ten minutes, as Henry Donovan made a fantastic run in behind and did well to keep the ball in play. Donovan kept the chance alive and after the keeper had committed early, the goal was left open for Callum Hall to finish off a fantastic move to give Parkway the lead inside ten minutes.
After Parkway took the lead, an array of half-chances took place at both ends of the pitch, but nothing major would occur for either team. Parkway remained confident out of possession. The frontline dictated the press, with the midfield pouncing on anything that dropped in front of the defence. Meanwhile, Wimborne looked to go long and send the ball aerial, but although superior in the air, Dearing and his defence would remain untouched.
Mikey Williams, who had started the game superbly, tempted the Wimborne team into a high press, before playing a delightful ball into Callum Hall, whose effort was deflected wide. Parkway continued to have the better chances nearing the end of the first half as centre back Toby Down found Rocky Neal out wide. Neal waited for numbers to support him, before finding a late run from Callum Hall once again, whose effort earned his team a corner. The resulting corner was dangerous, as it bounced in the six-yard box, but was cleared by the Wimborne defender.
Parkway looked to go into the break with a deserved lead, but a host of Wimborne attacks followed as the away side earned a late corner. Although the ball was cleared away from the defence, a moment of magic from Edmonson on the edge of the box revived the attack, as his overhead kick back into the box found Ying, who headed the ball to the back post and found Smith who made no mistake to give Wimborne the leveller. A nightmare end to the first half for Parkway, who worked so hard to go into the break in front, but their work was undone by a bit of Wimborne magic.
The interval brought no changes, as both sides tried to make the perfect start to the second-half. Some nice play from Ryan Brett, found his centre-back partner Mikey Williams, who played an epic one-two, before carrying on his run into the box. The defender went down under the challenge of the Wimborne keeper, but the referee waved away any penalty shouts from the Parkway players and spectators behind the goal.
Curtis looked to his bench ten minutes into the second-half with Joel Sullivan entering the picture, replacing Jensen Ireland at wing-back. Some more patient defending from the Yellows, found Carlo Garside who turned defence into attack, finding Callum Hall again. Hall then played a teasing ball out wide, to substitute Joel Sullivan whose drilled ball across goal was cleared for a corner.
Top scorer Rocky Neal then made way for Reece Thomson with half an hour remaining, as Curtis looked to inject some aerial threat upfront. The Magpies also used their substitutes as they began to take some control of the game, putting immense pressure on the Parkway defence, but their chances came to nothing.
As the game entered its final stages, Curtis made his final three changes as Hayden Turner, Ed Harrison and Jack Matthews replaced Henry Donovan, Callum Hall and Will Sullivan. After these changes, Parkway responded with some pressure of their own, winning a dangerous free-kick on the right-hand side.
Captain Rio Garside stood over the dead ball and delivered a magnificent ball to the back post. The ball found the head of Toby Down who nodded it beyond the Wimborne keeper, to give Parkway a late lead. The Bolitho crowd erupted as Parkway looked to have won it late on and ended Wimborne’s unbeaten run.
After going in front, Parkway dictated the final five minutes of play exactly how they would have wanted, soaking up the Wimborne pressure and defending well as the clock ticked into added time.
Referee Matthew Uren blew the final whistle to confirm a massive three points for the Yellows, much to the delight of the Parkway faithful, who can now look forward to the FA Cup on the weekend.
Karl Curtis spoke to Parkway TV post-match and expressed how delighted he was with his team’s response to the loss at Chichester. “The way we’ve reacted to the second half of Saturday, for 90 minutes tonight against a very good team, I was absolutely delighted,” he said.
Curtis was also pleased with Henry Donovan on his first league start, saying “He’s made the first goal, great run, didn’t give up and assisted Hally, so I’m really pleased.” Finally, Curtis looked ahead to a massive occasion on Saturday, he said “We enjoy tonight, but we get to work tomorrow, whatever the outcome on Saturday will be the outcome, but let’s embrace it as a whole club.”
The focus now shifts to Saturday. The FA Cup final qualifying round. A chance to shape Plymouth Parkway history. The Yellows host Chertsey Town for a place in the first round of the FA Cup, somewhere Parkway have never been before. Tonight was the perfect prelude for a game not to be missed.
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