PARKWAY V CADBURY HEATH - REPORT

[RobinVanParkway]

FT: Plymouth Parkway 7 (Carter 1, 19, 20, 39, Rosenquest 57, 
      Calver 59, Lane 69) 
      Cadbury Heath 1 (Allen 62)

In front of an excellent attendance of 303, boosted by a large number of former players from the Past Local Football Teams Group who were holding their annual reunion at Bolitho Park for the first time, Parkway started the new season with an emphatic victory over a plucky but limited Cadbury Heath.

With the exception of the suspended captain Shane Krac, Parkway had their full squad available and got off to a perfect start taking the lead inside the first minute with possibly the quickest goal of the season. Neat play from the kick off between Jamie Lowry and Teigan Rosenquest saw the latter’s cross from the left poked in from close range by Adam Carter. Parkway were quickly into their stride playing at a high tempo and dominating midfield with Lowry, and new signings Jack Calver and Billy Palfrey all prominent.

Heath were struggling to get into the game posing little threat despite Harry Pruett putting in a couple of harmless crosses from the left. Parkway continued to create numerous chances with the influential Lowry linking well with Mikey Williams on 11 minutes to set up Carter whose header flew narrowly over. On 15 minutes a long throw into the 6 yard area from another new signing Will Tinsley was nodded on to Carter who again headed narrowly over. Heath were coming under constant pressure all over the field as Parkway continued to play flowing football and it was no surprise when they doubled their lead on 19 minutes. An excellent run from midfield by Rosenquest saw him glide past two attempted tackles and slide a perfect pass into Carter who finished clinically from 10 yards. From Parkway’s next attack a minute later they went further ahead. Another incisive move down the left resulted in a cross to the far post where the unmarked Carter cleverly hooked shot home from around 6 yards to complete his quick fire hattrick.

Parkway continued to dominate possession with their defence being rarely threatened allowing full backs Tinsley and another new signing Jordan Copp to get forward at every opportunity to support the midfield playmakers. On the half hour Heath had their first effort on goal with a speculative shot from distance comfortably saved by the previously untested Kyle Moore in the Parkway goal. On 33 minutes good play down the right saw Carter set up the impressive Rosenquest whose shot was pushed round the post by the increasingly overworked Ollie Jones in the Heath goal.

Heath being restricted to playing on the break did manage to get forward on 36 minutes with Enis Akgun going clear on the right and firing just wide from around 15 yards. Back came Parkway who increased their lead on 39 minutes. Excellent play down the right from Mikey Williams saw him cut inside to the edge of the 18 yard box with his shot hitting the base of the post and being stabbed home from close range by the predatory Carter for his fourth of the game. Heath continued to come under pressure from the dominant Parkway midfield and were forced into a substitution on 43 minutes with Blake Longdon replacing the injured Ashley Kendal. An excellent half from Parkway played at a high tempo, creating numerous chances with clinical finishing and their defence rarely being threatened.

Parkway continued in the ascendancy from the start of the second half with Aaron Bentley heading narrowly wide from a right wing corner on 50 minutes and from their next attack a Carter header hit the post after another fine cross from the left by Copp. Heath replaced Daniel Winstone with Josh Williams on 52 minutes with another new Parkway signing Curtis Damerell replacing the prolific Carter shortly afterwards. Heath’s Williams made an early impression shooting just wide on 56 minutes before Parkway forged further ahead on 57 minutes.

The industrious Rosenquest scored the goal his performance deserved with a fine run from midfield, evading some poor tackling and sliding his angled shot low to the far post from around 15 yards. Parkway’s sixth and arguably best goal followed soon after. A trademark mazy run by Williams saw him brought down centrally around 25 yards out with Calver powering the resultant free kick high into the top corner with a superlative strike giving Jones no chance. Williams was then replaced by Ryan Lane. A rare lapse of concentration at the back by Parkway saw Heath pull a goal back on 62 minutes. A cross from the right found the unmarked Ben Allen who glanced a neat looping header over the stranded Moore.

Parkway quickly recovered with a clever overhead kick somehow being hooked off the line by Allen who seemed to injure himself in the process and was replaced almost immediately afterwards. On 69 minutes Parkway got their seventh goal after more good play along their left ended with Lane being put clear into the penalty area and slipping a neat shot into the far corner. Parkway thought they had got their eighth on 73 minutes when a Damerell shot thundered against the bar and bounced down with the appeals for ball having crossed the line being waved away by the officials. Goal line technology/VAR may have had other ideas!

Another new signing Antonio Costa replaced the hard working and impressive Rosenquest on 75 minutes and had a couple of chances on his debut. On 78 minutes a good exchange of passes between Palfrey and Tinsley saw the ball pulled back to Costa who fired over when well placed. More good play between Calver and Tinsley on 80 minutes saw a cross fall to Costa whose mishit shot fell to Palfrey whose follow up shot was well saved by Jones. Despite Lowry continuing to control the midfield area with probing passes and Costa and Damerell causing problems to the Heath defence, Parkway were unable to add further goals as the game came to its conclusion. A thoroughly competent performance by Parkway in all areas with the solid midfield providing a sound base and all the new signings looking very sharp and all making valuable contributions. Although rarely coming under pressure, the defence apart from the one lapse, was well marshalled by captain Rob Farkins and generally had a solid look about it.

No doubt there will much sterner tests ahead but an early season marker has been laid down and today’s performance will have given the side much confidence for the challenges ahead. Parkway now switch their attention to the FA Cup which starts this Friday when fellow Western League side Buckland Athletic visit Bolitho Park with a 7.45 kick off. After today’s encouraging display, another good sized crowd is anticipated.