Radstock Town V Parkway match report

[RobinVanParkway]

FT:   RadstockTown 1- 3 Plymouth Parkway

Parkway travelled to Western League Division 1 Radstock Town in the 2nd Round Qualifying of the Buildbase FA Vase looking to continue their recent good run.

Making good use of their squad rotation policy, 5 changes were made from Tuesday's excellent FA Cup replay victory at Street and they got off to a perfect start. On 2 minutes, a neat exchange of passes down the left flank between Connor Mcauley and Ryan Lane saw Lane, playing at left back today, power forward and fire home a shot which was pushed on to the post and over the line by home keeper Jack Scrivens. Parkway started at a high tempo and almost increased their lead on 5 minutes with Mike Smith firing just over. Radstock created a chance almost immediately with their top scorer Sam Gregory shooting just wide. Rob Farkins headed narrowly over before Parkway, looking sharp and fluent going forward, doubled their lead on 10 minutes. Good work and persistence by Smith on the right ended with him putting in a perfect cross for Macauley, making a rare start, to head home unchallenged from around 6 yards.

Parkway continued to dominate with Ben Joyce, Tiegan Rosanquest and birthday boy Christian Pople controlling the midfield and Macauley and Smith looking dangerous on the flanks. Radstock, playing on the break, with the pacy Gregory and Ryan Pike linking well, won a couple of free kicks 30 or so yards out. Both were delivered with accuracy causing the Parkway defence a few problems with Kyle Moore forced into a smart save at full stretch from a Gregory header from one of them. Parkway continued to press, looking dangerous going forward but Radstock, competing well, also had their moments and a cross from the right on 22 minutes saw Farkins penalised for an unlucky hand ball. Gregory slammed home the resultant penalty. Macauley then headed over from a right wing cross by Sam Hillson on 24 minutes as Parkway continued to threaten.

On 33 minutes another penetrating run from Macauley ended with his shot being well saved. More good play between the increasingly influential Rosanquest and Lane forced another smart save from a Lane right foot shot. Radstock created a chance of their own on 35 minutes with Will Jacomb firing just over. Parkway however continued to dominate and more good work from Rosanquest resulted in his shot just clearing the bar. The final chance of the half, in which Parkway had generally held the upper hand, came on 44 minutes when a Farkins header from a right wing corner flashed just wide.

An early chance in the second half saw an Adam Carter header cannon off the bar with Smith's follow up shot from the rebound being bravely blocked by a Radstock defender. The third goal was not long in coming as on 50 minutes a Carter knock on released Smith who raced clear and cleverly dinked his shot around the exposed Scrivens. It was now all one way traffic and on 52 minutes Joyce saw his shot from 25 yards hit the post and cleared followed by another Macauley effort being well saved. With Parkway now playing their best football of the game, further chances came and went although Radstock did manage a break on 57 minutes with the impressive Gregory shooting just over. Radstock replaced Farquharson with Dernel Sinclair in midfield as further efforts from Carter and Joyce around the hour mark found the target with Scrivens saving both well.

On 66 minutes Yetton and Krac replaced Smith and the industrious Pople with Yetton soon into the action hitting the target after good work by Hillson and Rosanquest down the right. Krac then saw his shot well saved as Parkway continued their dominance. Radstock made their second substitution on 74 minutes with Finley Haines being replaced by Corey Rawlings. More Parkway pressure resulted in further chances with Macauley seeing yet another shot well saved, Farkins heading just over after good play on the right and Yetton shooting just wide on 79 minutes. Parkway made their final substitution on 80 minutes with Jack Rhead replacing the hard working Joyce. As the tempo dropped, Moore made arguably his first save of the half on 83 minutes from a close range effort as Radstock enjoyed a period of pressure. Ellison Shipp replaced Jacomb for Radstock on 85 minutes with Parkway going down to 10 men with Krac, having picked up an earlier knock, being forced to withdraw. Parkway created one final chance on 89 minutes with the lively Rosanquest shooting just wide when well placed. The final action of the game came in stoppage time with Moore making arguably the best save of the game with a superb block with his feet from a close range Radstock effort.

A good, solid performance from Parkway against a spirited Radstock side with the scoreline probably not a true reflection of the numerous chances created. Credit to Radstock though who defended well when under considerable pressure and competed well throughout. Parkway now await Monday's draw to find out their next opponents.

The games keep coming with National League South Torquay United, now under the guidance of experienced former football league manager Gary Johnson, due at Bolitho Park on Wednesday in the first round of the Devon Bowl of which Parkway are the current holders. Next Sunday Parkway travel to the home of Evesham United to meet another National League South side, Gloucester City, in the second round qualifying of the Emirates FA Cup. This game has been switched as Gloucester ground share with Evesham who have a home league match on the Saturday.

Excellent coverage and report from Sports Reporter , Mr Graham Lloyd