PARKWAY V ROVERS - MATCH REPORT

[RobinVanParkway]

FT: Plymouth Parkway 5 (Krac 45, Lane 45+1, Copp pen 51,
M Williams 63, Palfrey 76)
Paulton Rovers 2 ( Butcher 8, 36)

A crowd of 184 saw Parkway entertain higher league Paulton Rovers from the Southern League in the Preliminary Round of the Emirates FA Cup. Parkway made 3 changes from their narrow 1-0 midweek victory over Exmouth Town with Nick Milton returning to central defence replacing Aaron Bentley who moved to right back in place of Will Tinsley who was on the bench. Curtis Damerell replaced unavailable top scorer Adam Carter up front with Ryan Lane starting in midfield in place of Teigan Rosenquest who was also on the bench.

 

The game got off to a fast start with Parkway making the early pace putting in a couple of early crosses comfortably dealt with by the Paulton defence. On 6 minutes a cross-cum shot from Mason Harrison saw Parkway keeper Kyle Moore almost caught out at the near post just managing to palm the ball over for a corner. With Paulton beginning to threaten, Joe Hillard saw his effort hooked behind for a corner on 7 minutes before they took the lead on 8 minutes. With Parkway appealing unsuccessfully for offside, Jake Sloggett was put clear into the penalty area and although Moore got a hand to the ball it rebounded to Brad Abraham who, despite losing his footing, managed to divert the ball to Ed Butcher who prodded home unchallenged from around 6 yards.

 

With Parkway looking to respond they created a couple of half chances with Jack Calver seeing his cross go just behind on 16 minutes followed by a neat exchange between Shane Krac and Lane setting up Billy Palfrey who hooked his shot wide when well placed. Paulton continued to move well through midfield with Parkway guilty of conceding possession too easily with some sloppy passing and lack of composure with their final ball. A Paulton attack on 19 minutes saw former Bitton striker Ben Bament chip a shot just wide from around 25 yards. With Paulton beginning to control the game, David Sims-Burgess saw his long range strike parried by Moore on 25 minutes with Sloggett shooting wide on 27 minutes after Parkway had again given the ball away in midfield. Parkway continued to attempt to use the flanks with Mikey Williamsand Lane swapping sides however Paulton continued to deal easily with a series of crosses which generally lacked direction and penetration. Paulton doubled their lead on 36 minutes with once again Parkway being caught in possession just inside their own half with the ball being released to the dangerous Butcher who raced clear to fire home an angled effort from around 20 yards for his second of the game and his fourth in two games.

 

Parkway were still unable to create too much against a well organised Paulton outfit who then had a loud shout for a penalty turned down on 41 minutes after Milton and Bament had tangled just inside the box. Butcher continued to be a constant threat down the left firing just wide before Parkway had arguably their first meaningful effort on 41 minutes after good work by Williams had set up Krac whose shot fizzed just wide. Another Paulton break on 44 minutes saw Bament just fail to connect with a dangerous right wing cross. On the cusp of half time the game took a dramatic turn. On 45 minutes clever, persistent play by Palfrey on the right saw him wriggle clear of his markers to lay the ball off to Damerell who in turn moved it on to Krac who fired into the bottom corner from around 10 yards. Almost straight from the kick off Parkway drew level. A long ball to Lane wide on the right saw him cut inside and hit and powerful, angled drive which cannoned in off the far post with Joe Perry in the Paulton goal well beaten. A remarkable end to the half in which Paulton had generally held the upper hand, taking the few chances that came their way with Parkway unable to impose themselves and lacking composure and the cutting edge in the final third.

 

The psychological impact of the final minutes of the first half seemed to change the dynamic of the game as Parkway started the second half on the front foot with Lane breaking clear on 47 minutes pulling his angled shot just wide. Continued pressure saw them awarded a penalty on 51 minutes. Williams weaved his way into the box on the right only to be bundled over by Ali Sen close to the bye line in front of the referee’s assistant who immediately flagged. In the absence of usual penalty taker Carter, Jordan Copp stepped up and confidently blasted home the spot kick for his first goal for the club. This seemed to unsettle Paulton who saw Abraham pick up the game’s first yellow card on 55 minutes for a foul on Williams. With Parkway now firmly on top, smart play between Damerell and Krac saw the ball squared to Lane who shot just wide. Hillard then received a yellow card after a trip on Williams whose direct, pacey running was causing Paulton constant problems. Sen was replaced by Ben Prictor at left back on 62 minutes shortly before Parkway increased their lead. Defensive confusion in the Paulton 6 yard area saw Williams latch on to a poor clearance, take a touch and curl a trademark left foot shot just inside the far post from around 12 yards.

 

Both sides began to ring the changes with Ryan replacing Sloggett on 65 minutes, Jack Moore on for Sims-Burgess and Rosenquest for Lane on 71. With Parkway continuing to threaten and Rob Farkins and Milton proving a solid central defensive barrier and full backs Bentley and Copp able to get forward more often it was no surprise when they increased their lead even further on 76 minutes. More good link up play on the left resulted in Williams driving into the box and cleverly pull the ball back to the edge of the box to the unmarked Palfrey who calmly and precisely shot wide of Perry. Antonio Costa immediately replaced Damerell who had contributed well throughout with Palfrey then picking up a yellow card for a foul. With Parkway remaining dominant restricting Paulton to the occasional counter, Fletcher Williams replaced the influential Krac on 80 minutes. Parkway almost got a sixth on 83 minutes after good work by Calver set up Costa who shot just wide. A late surge from Paulton saw Butcher shoot wide on 85 minutes with the final action of the game a cross from the Paulton left well smothered by Moore who had been largely untested in the second half.

 

From generally being second best for the first 40 minutes, Parkway bounced back in style with the two goals just before the break changing the game. They dominated the second half being far more creative in midfield, more solid defensively and creating and taking their chances. The 1st Round Qualifying takes place on 7 September which means the planned league fixture at Street will have to be rescheduled. The draw for the next round will take place this Tuesday. 2nd placed Parkway return to league action next Saturday with a visit to 14th placed Bridgwater Town who thrashed fellow Western League side Brislington 7-0 in the FA Cup this afternoon.

Attendance 184

 

Parkway starting line up

 

MOORE

BENTLEY

FARKINS

MILTON

COPP ⚽

KRAC ⚽

CALVER

PALFREY ⚽

WILLIAMS ⚽

LANE ⚽

DAMMERELL

 

[Ian Pethick]

Thanks Graham,

Saw that someone called "S.Thomson" was an unused sub on Saturday, new signing or a cover player?

 

 

[RobinVanParkway]

Hi WOTP

Sean Thomson has signed as cover, he serves with Farks in the Army. He is also a local lad from Plymouth. 

RVP

[Ian Pethick]

Cheers RVP.