Match report V Street

[RobinVanParkway]

FT: Plymouth Parkway 0 Street 0

Parkway entertained step 4 side Street, last season's Western league champions, in the 1st Round Qualifying of the Emirates FA Cup in front of a good sized crowd of 203. Parkway made one change from Tuesday's victory at Bridgwater with Stewart Yetton starting in place of Adam Carter. The early stages saw both sides feeling their way into the game with neither gaining the upper hand as they generally cancelled each other out. Defences remained on top as both sides looked to gain control of the midfield areas with the game being played at a high tempo. Both sides were guilty of conceding possession too easily and playing too many long balls making defending relatively simple. Very few chances were being created until the 20 minute mark when a period of Parkway pressure and a good move down the left ended with a Shane Krac shot from around 20 yards being pushed round the post by Tom Punchard. From the resultant corner the ball broke to Yetton who took a good first touch but his shot lacked power and was easily saved.

On 23 minutes good play from Mikey Williams set up Krac who ballooned his shot over from around 15 yards. Play continued to ebb and flow but both defences remained firm with few chances being created. Krac received a yellow card on 30 minutes and from the free kick 30 yards out the follow up shot was well blocked by Nick Milton. With the influential Craig Herrod starting to assert his authority in midfield, Street had a period in possession with Jamie Short looking dangerous down their right flank. Krac then shot over on 37 minutes when well placed after good build up play down the left. Street responded with Short firing way off target on 42 minutes. Street continued to threaten and a good move down the right split the Parkway defence but the cross lacked precision and was cleared. Another break down the right saw Josh Bennett in the clear only for the Parkway Supporters Club player of the month for August, Rob Farkins, block a shooting chance with a superb covering tackle in the penalty area. Ben Joyce in support of the attack then fired over on 44 minutes with the final action of the half a curling effort just wide from Street's Steve Murray. An even first half with clear chances at a premium with both sides lacking the necessary quality or penetration in and around the last third.

The second half continued in a similar manner with Parkway having an early header go wide and Short continuing to look dangerous down the right.The midfield area was being keenly contested with Christian Pople outstanding for Parkway continually breaking up play and contesting every 50/50 ball and generally winning his battles. Ben Joyce, again pushing forward, shot just over on 57 minutes. Krac, who appeared to have taken a knock, was then replaced by Ryan Lane. While Parkway were still reorganising, Murray cut inside from the right, broke free and hit a powerful shot which was well saved by Kyle Moore's outstretched leg. Street's Ben Amghar then received a yellow card for a clumsy challenge and from Lane's accurate free kick Aaron Bentley headed just wide. On 63 minutes,Matt Hurley had a shot well saved as Street began to apply pressure. Despite this, the Parkway central defensive partnership of Farkins and Milton continued to defend strongly and at the other end, Amghar and Ross McErlain did a similar job for Street by repeatedly blunting the Parkway attacks.

Parkway came on strong again and from a right wing corner on 72 minutes Bentley at the far post headed agonisingly over. Lane then showed some quality going forward down the right and delivered an excellent cross which fizzed across the 6 yard area without getting a touch. Carter replaced Yetton, who had worked hard without reward, on 75 minutes with Ed Butcher replacing Short who had just been yellow carded. On 79 minutes clever play by Carter saw him wriggle free 8 yards out centrally only for his powerful goalbound shot to be bravely blocked by Bennett. Street replaced O'Hare with Phil Ormrod on 84 minutes as Parkway continued to press for a winner. This inevitably opened the game up and Street almost took the lead when Moore made a great save from a close range effort. Mike Smith almost won it on the counter attack for Parkway on 88 minutes when clean through only for Punchard to narrow the angle and save his close range shot at the near post. Street made their final substitution on 90 minutes with Harry Foster replacing Murray. Street finished the game the stronger in the 5 minutes of stoppage time with an Ormrod header flying over and and Moore making yet another superb save from a scuffed shot from Butcher which lacked power.

An enjoyable, tight, well fought game and probably a fair result from two evenly matched sides, albeit from different leagues. Defences remained largely on top with attacking sharpness and guile in and around the danger area lacking from both sides. With both sides both in the bag for Monday's draw, Parkway will now travel to Somerset on Tuesday evening for the replay looking to better their previous best in the competition which saw them go out in a replay at the same stage in 2012/13 at Buckland Athletic.

Credit to Parkways very own Sports Writer, Graham Lloyd for another excellent report

[Ian Pethick]

Excellent report. 

[ParkwayPieEater]

Unlucky lads. Not sure how we didn't sneak the win! We go again.