FA Cup Replay Report V Street

[RobinVanParkway]

Our Sports Writer has produced the following report for our far-flung supporters and those unable to travel.......

 

FT: Street 1 (Butcher 80) Plymouth Parkway 4 (Carter 8, 78, Smith 13, Trott 76)

Parkway, along with 25 or so of the hardcore faithful among the decent sized crowd of 207, made the journey to Street looking to create club history by making it to the 2nd Round Qualifying of the FA Emirates Cup for the first time with a victory in tonight's replay. The previous best in the club's short history was in the 2012/13 season when they were defeated 5-1 by Buckland Athletic in a 1st Round Qualifying replay. With Rob Farkins suspended and fellow central defender Nick Milton along with Shane Krac unavailable, enforced changes were made to Saturday's 0-0 draw. Mikey Williams, bravely playing with a broken nose and a protective mask, and Aaron Bentley formed the central defensive partnership in a 4-4-2 formation.

In drizzly, mizzly conditions, the game started at a high tempo with Street on the offensive and they almost took the lead from the off with a sharp cross just failing to get any form of touch. Parkway responded with a header just clearing the bar from a Sam Hillson right wing cross. Street continued to apply early pressure and only strong defending and a couple of instinctive saves from the agile Kyle Moore prevented them taking the lead. On 8 minutes a swift Parkway counter attack resulted in an unnecessary free kick being conceded centrally around 25 yards out. Jordan Trott's powerful free kick was deftly deflected by Adam Carter into the net, wrong footing Tom Punchard in the home goal.

Street continued to threaten but Parkway held firm and doubled their lead 5 minutes later when a flowing, passing move saw Ben Joyce, playing in a more advanced role than usual, set up Mike Smith who coolly slotted his shot across Punchard low into the far corner to stun the home crowd. Street continued to have their fair share of possession with Ollie Morris and Craig Herrod lively in midfield but with the ever combative Christian Pople in the defensive midfiled role along with, Joyce, Smith and Ryan Lane all working hard to break up attacks and set Parkway's own in motion. Moore again saved superbly on the half hour from a Steve Murray strike with Phil Ormrod also seeing his effort on target comfortably saved. With the Parkway back 4 looking a strong a unit, Street were being restricted to long range efforts despite enjoying lengthy periods of possession. On 35 minutes a good break from Murray on the left saw him cut inside with his shot being bravely blocked and cleared to safety. Parkway continued to stay strong at the back and counter attack at pace through the midfield and on the flanks with Carter and the clever, pacy movement of Stewart Yetton up front applying pressure to the Street back line.

Parkway almost increased their lead on 43 minutes when yet another Trott free kick was pushed away at full stretch by Punchard. An excellent half from both sides with Parkway more clinical in their finishing, more resolute at the back and creative and pacy in midfield deserving their lead. Both both sides picked up a couple of yellow cards for petty infringements as the half came to an end.

The second half saw Street having to push forward more in search of a way back into the game thereby opening up the midfield allowing Parkway to break forward into space. Lane became more influential down the left making some forceful, speedy runs at the retreating Street defence. From one such run on 55 minutes he was fouled 20 yards out resulting in yet another superb save to keep out yet another well directed Trott free kick. Street continued to look dangerous winning a couple of corners with Bentley making a superb block with a Trott sliced clearance narrowly over his own bar the closest they came to scoring. More yellow cards followed for both sides as play became a bit scrappy as Parwkay began to regain control with Pople and Joyce at the heart of most things.

On 64 minutes Street introduced Foster and Butcher for Ormrod and Morris to add fresh impetus to their attacks. Parkway continued to defend deep restricting Street to a couple of long range efforts on 68 and 70 minutes with Moore pulling off another excellent save on 74 minutes. Rudge then replaced the hard working Murray just before Parkway increased their lead. On 76 minutes yet another surging run from the half way line by Lane sliced through the Street midfield only for him to be bundled off the ball on the edge of the penalty area by captain Ben Amghar who received his second yellow card and was promptly dismissed. From the resultant free kick Trott slammed his shot home, just reward for the quality of his consistently dangerous set pieces.

With Parkway now in full flow and against 10 men, they forged further ahead a couple of minutes later when a fine passage of play saw Yetton release the overlapping Lane down the left. His precise cross found Carter unmarked at the far post 10 yards out who showing good control and awareness, shot home clinically in his customary manner. The impressive Lane was immediately replaced by Tiegan Rosanquest. Street pulled a goal back on 80 minutes when substitute Butcher rifled a low shot through a crowd of bodies giving Moore no chance. This proved to be just a consolation as Parkway replaced Yetton and Smith with Jack Rhead and Connor Macauley for the last 10 minutes as they comfortably saw the game out for a very impressive victory against higher league opposition.

With key players missing, the victory underlined the importance of the squad with the players coming in all performing to their maximum in an all round solid, determined and eye catching display and creating a bit of history into the bargain and also adding another £6,000 to the clubs coffers. Arriving back in Plymouth at 0130 was probably worth it! Parkway will now visit step 2 National League South Gloucester City (3 steps higher in the pyramid) on Saturday 22 September at the home of Evesham United where Gloucester now play their home games due to their own being flooded in 2007. Before that there is the small matter of yet another trek up the M5 on Saturday to take on Western League Division 1 (step 6) Radstock Town in the 2nd round qualifying of the FA Vase before entertaining Torquay United, now also in National League South, at Bolitho Park on Tuesday in the 1st round of the Devon St Lukes Bowl.

Massive thanks to Graham Lloyd for another terrific report.