BRIDPORT MATCH REPORT

[RobinVanParkway]

FT: Bridport 0 Plymouth Parkway 5 (M Williams 35, 88, Calver 37, Carter 71, og Dovell 82)

 

After last weeks narrow 1-0 FA Cup victory over Buckland Athletic, Parkway returned to league action at Bridport with the management opting for some early season squad rotation. Captain Shane Krac returning from suspension replaced the unavailable Jamie Lowry in midfield with Will Tinsley coming in for Aaron Bentley at right back. Curtis Damerell started up front in place of Adam Carter and Mikey Williams returned in midfield with Ryan Lane dropping to left back to replace Jordan Copp who had picked up a minor injury against Buckland. Former Parkway favourite Callum Thompson was included in the Bridport starting line up.

 

Parkway, quickly into their stride, created an early chance on 6 minutes with a neat interchange between Tinsley, Williams and Teigan Rosenquest ending with the latter seeing his effort well blocked on the edge of the 18 yard area. A Parkway corner on 8 minutes saw a header flash wide as the Bridport defence came under early pressure however they did manage a quick break on 10 minutes with a fine covering tackle by Rob Farkins in the 18 yard box on Robinson Okumu denying the home striker a shot on target. With Bridport dropping deep and conceding space in midfield, Parkway began to dominate with Jack Calver, Krac and Billy Palfrey all prominent and Williams and Rosenquest supported by Lane and Tinsley in the wide areas creating problems for the Bridport defence. Despite this dominance of possession, Bridport held firm with Parkway’s final ball often lacking quality. Okumu picked up the game’s first yellow card on 18 minutes with an unnecessary challenge close to the touch line around halfway when under no pressure. Parkway continued to threaten and a quick break by Krac and Lane resulted in a corner which was headed just over by Farkins.

 

As the pressure increased, a good move down the left between Palfrey and Lane on 25 minutes saw a deep cross find Williams in space on the right who cut inside but blaze his shot well wide. On 26 minutes Bridport where reduced to 10 men when Okumu received his 2nd yellow card after a rash, reckless and foolish challenge on Farkins which even seemed to dismay some of his team mates. No complaints from them. Parkway remained patient and continued to create chances with a shot being cleared off the line from another corner on 28 minutes followed by a Williams cross being laid back to Palfrey who saw his shot well saved. Bridport were being restricted to the occasional break and on 34 minutes Declan Cornish was put through only for Nick Milton to put in an important covering challenge. On 35 minutes Parkway finally broke the deadlock and took the lead their play had deserved. Confusion between the Bridport keeper Simon Wells-Burr and a defender under pressure from Williams, saw him pounce on the loose ball and stroke home from close range. The goal also delighted your correspondent who had drawn the Parkway number 7 in the first goalscorer sweepstake! A second goal soon followed when on 37 minutes an incisive passing move between Rosenquest, Lane and Palfrey saw the latter lay the ball back to Calver who fired home low into the corner from around 25 yards for his 3rd goal in 3 successive games. With Parkway continuing to push forward at will as the half came to a close, further chances were created with Rosenquest shooting just over on 42 minutes, the hard working Damerell breaking clear on 43 and also firing just over with the final action seeing another Calver strike going just wide. A dominant half by Parkway who should have scored more goals with Bridport being hard to break down but offering little up front and being hampered by being reduced to 10 men.

 

Parkway continued to dominate the early stages of the second half and more good build up play on 47 minutes saw the dangerous overlapping Tinsley arriving at the far post only to blast his effort wide when at full stretch. Williams then saw another effort blocked on the line by the keeper on 52 minutes after more penetrating build up play down the left. Palfrey and Lane then combined well on 58 minutes to set up Damerell who saw his close range effort well saved by Wells-Burr with the keeper also saving well from the follow up shot from Krac. From the resultant corner Farkins fired over when well placed. On the hour Fletcher Williams replaced the influential Krac who had put in his customary all action shift in his first outing of the season. On 61 minutes a marauding run from the back by Milton saw him continue deep into the Bridport half with his shot finding the target forcing the keeper into another good save. On 66 minutes Antonio Costa replaced Rosenquest who once again had put in an impressive performance. With Mikey Williams and Tinsley continuing to link well down the right another cross from Tinsley flashed across the 6 yard area with no one able to get the final touch. A good penetrating run from Costa on 69 minutes saw his cross reach Farkins at the far post whose clever header into the danger area saw an acrobatic overhead kick from Palfrey fly just over.

 

On 70 minutes Carter replaced the lively Damerell with Bridport replacing the hard working Derek Wall with Joel Hewitt. Carter made an immediate impact scoring with almost his first touch. A midfield break from Costa saw a long ball put Carter in the clear and using all his experience, took a good first touch, rounded the keeper and calmly slotted into an empty net from around 6 yards. Bridport had only been able to name 2 outfield substitutes with Ryan Leader replacing Luke White on 81 minutes. With Bridport continuing to be stretched and Parkway completely in control, a 4th goal followed on 82 minutes. A well flighted cross from the left saw the unfortunate Ryan Dovell, under pressure from Carter, slice his attempted clearance high into his own net. With the Parkway tempo now dropping slightly Bridport had a brief period of possession going forward with a long strike from Dovell on 83 minutes going well wide with Kyle Moore in the Parkway goal remaining relatively untested. Parkway had the final say with their 5th goal on 88 minutes. A strong run from deep by Costa through a retreating Bridport midfield saw his fine ball into space release Mikey Williams who went one on one with Wells-Burr who managed to get a touch with Williams reacting to the loose ball and running the ball into the unguarded goal. Another good all round Parkway display against a spirited but limited Bridport who defended well but were not helped by having to play with 10 men for the best part of an hour. Maybe with better decision making in the final third and an improvement in the quality of their final ball, Parkway could have won by a more convincing margin but a 5-0 victory sees them as the early league leaders on goal difference from 5 other teams all on 6 points. Early days but an encouraging start.

 

Parkway will now face arguably their toughest test of the season when Exmouth Town visit Bolitho Park on Wednesday. Newly promoted Exmouth have started the season extremely well, have won all 3 of their games, conceded only 1 goal and won 1-0 at Bitton today.

 

STARTING LINE UP

Moore

Tinsley

Farkins

Milton

Lane

Krac

Calver

Palfrey

Williams

Rosenquest

Dammerel

 

Atattendance around 150