Parkway pass Sholing test to make it six in a row
Sholing v Parkway | Match ReportPlymouth Parkway made it six wins on the spin with another impressive away performance in Hampshire, overcoming Sholing 3–1 to strengthen their position in second place in the Southern League Premier South.
Goals from Rocky Neal, Rio Garside and Jensen Ireland secured a fourth consecutive league victory for Karl Curtis’ side, who now have 16 points from their opening seven games.
 SholingPlymouth Parkway 
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For the second consecutive weekend, Parkway would make the long journey to Hampshire, but this time with league points at stake following last week’s FA Cup victory at Gosport Borough.
Curtis would make a number of changes following Tuesday night’s County Cup victory at Elburton Villa, with Joel Sullivan missing through a slight niggle picked up in that game. Toby Down, Ryan Brett and Rocky Neal would return to the starting XI, while Taylor Scarff would be named among the substitutes as he continued his recovery from injury.
Will Sullivan would be asked to fill in on the left side of a back five in place of his cousin.
Sholing would include new signings Eoin Bolger and Jonathan Page from the start, with the experienced Mason brothers, Byron and Dan, beginning on the bench.
On a pristine 3G surface, around 450 supporters would watch two sides adopt a cautious start and look comfortable in possession during the opening stages.
Both centre backs, Harry Taylor and Toby Down, would enjoy plenty of time on the ball, while Tommy Lee Higgs and Rio Garside would drop deeper to link play.
The opening 20 minutes would prove an intriguing battle between two well-drilled sides looking to find a way through organised defences.
Sholing would create a couple of half chances down the left, but their final ball would let them down, while a well-worked corner involving Higgs would eventually see his effort flash into the side netting.
Parkway would begin to grow into the contest, with Mikey Williams playing a fine ball into Callum Hall, whose effort would be saved low down by Jack Turner.
Moments later, Parkway would find the breakthrough. The move would begin with Williams at the back before Carlo Garside carried the ball forward and found Rocky Neal. The Number 9 would compose himself, find half a yard and calmly slot into the bottom right-hand corner from 18 yards.
Seven minutes later, Parkway would double their advantage. A Sholing throw would be pressed aggressively by the Parkway midfield, with Hall feeding Rocky. This time the goalscorer would become the provider, finding captain Rio Garside in space and the Number 10 would calmly finish from inside the area.
Two goals to the good and Parkway would have one foot firmly in control of the contest at half time.
Sholing would make a change at the break, with Joe Rabbets replacing Vinnie Tune, as Jensen Ireland would be given another difficult assignment as Parkway looked to maintain their advantage.
Will Sullivan would continue his excellent individual job on danger man Joey Jones, who would eventually make way for Sholing’s all-time leading scorer Dan Mason as the hosts began to adopt a more direct approach.
The introduction of Mason would begin to turn the tide. After a series of set pieces and stoppages, Sholing would find a route back into the game on 71 minutes.
Sam Magri would deliver into the area, with Mason holding off Toby Down before finishing well to halve the deficit and set up an intriguing final 20 minutes.
For Parkway, however, this was another test of the mentality Curtis and his management team have been working to develop.
And they responded. Taylor Scarff would be introduced with Ryan Brett moving into central midfield after Carlo Garside was forced off with an impact injury.
Parkway would continue to look for the opportunity to restore their two-goal advantage rather than retreat into their defensive shape.
That moment arrived on 75 minutes. Hall would break at pace down the left and feed Rio, who would play the ball through to Neal. The striker, already with a goal and assist to his name, would again show his unselfish side by squaring for Jensen Ireland to coolly slot home and make it 3–1.
It was exactly the response Parkway’s management team wanted to see.
Speaking after the game, Curtis praised the execution of the game plan, explaining that the work done during the week had been rewarded by the players’ performance.
“The work that we’ve put in over the week with the analysis and the players taking it on board on the training ground, and then to come and execute it the way they have was magnificent.”
Assistant Manager, Matt Godfree would also point to Parkway’s ability to remain true to their identity when Sholing threatened to change the game.
“It was a pleasing thing for me at half time, is we didn’t do that. We didn’t kind of step back. We didn’t allow them to dominate us. We kept true to ourselves and what we’re good at.”
That mentality would again be tested at 2–1, but rather than retreat, Parkway continued to look for the next goal.
Jensen Ireland’s run and finish ultimately summed up that approach.
Curtis would later describe the goal as a key learning point for the group, highlighting the importance of continuing to attack even when holding a narrow lead.
“We can’t be the team that goes, ‘oh, let’s see this out’. We’ve been there too many times over the years. If you have that mentality, then you end up getting deeper and deeper and you’re just inviting the inevitable.”
There would still be six minutes of added time to navigate, but Parkway would see out the closing stages professionally to secure their sixth consecutive victory in all competitions.
The result leaves Parkway second in the table on 16 points, with the winning run continuing to gather momentum.
For Curtis and his players, however, the focus is already on the next challenge.
The FA Cup returns next Saturday with a trip to Frome Town, before the sides meet again in the league the following Tuesday.
And with Parkway continuing to demonstrate not only the quality to win games, but the mentality to manage difficult moments, the latest Hampshire test has provided another significant marker of their progress.
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