HALLEN V PARKWAY -MATCH REPORT

[RobinVanParkway]

FIVE STAR PARKWAY HAMMER HALLEN

FT: Hallen 0 Plymouth Parkway 5 (M.Williams 29, 78, 84,
Carter 68, 90+1)

 

Parkway travelled to Hallen looking to follow up last week's 5-1 victory at Bitton by consolidating their position at the top of the league. Just one change was made with Captain Shane Krac returning to midfield in place of the unavailable Elliot Ward.

 

The game got off to a stuttering start with neither side able to assert any control with too many passes going astray and little flow to the play. Hallen looked to play on the break with long diagonal balls from the back looking for striker Rob Latham. The host’s Jack Mills shot wildly over from distance on 12 minutes as the game continued to lack any real quality with both defences rarely being tested. Parkway’s first half chance came on 14 minutes with a cross from the left after a quick break from Ryan Lane was unable to be converted by Mikey Williams. Play continued to be scrappy with both sides guilty of conceding possession too easily and lacking penetration in the final third. Parkway created another chance on 23 minutes when good work by Jordan Copp down the left saw his cross reach Krac who shot over from 20 yards. Parkway gradually started getting their game together with better movement in midfield and creating more space on the flanks. On 26 minutes good work by Williams along the right set up Billy Palfrey whose shot was easily saved by Liam Macfarlane in the home goal.

 

A bad error in the Hallen defence enabled Parkway take the lead on 29 minutes. A dithering Luke Hall Cousins attempted to play out of his 6 yard box but quick thinking and persistence saw Williams rob him of the ball, cleverly round the grounded Macfarlane and prod home from close range into the unguarded goal. The goal seemed to unsettle the home side and galvanise Parkway who now looked far more positive and threatening. A superb break along the left on 33 minutes with Copp and Lane again linking well, saw another cross into the danger area deflected behind for a corner from which Aaron Bentley had his headed effort disallowed for allegedly climbing over a defender. With Parkway now playing far more freely and Hallen being pushed on to the defensive, another cross from Copp found Palfrey whose shot from 10 yards was bravely blocked. Hallen’s Kyle Thomas received the game’s first yellow card on 37 minutes for a nasty challenge on Nick Milton which sparked an unseemly midfield melee involving players from both sides. Once play resumed, Parkway continued to dominate the midfield without creating any further chances with the final action of the half coming on 43 minutes with another long range Hallen effort being comfortably saved by Kyle Moore. A generally uninspiring half with Parkway starting slowly and gradually taking control of the game with Hallen competing well but offering little threat. Hardly surprising that the only goal of an error strewn half came from a defensive error coupled with quick thinking by Williams.

 

On 48 minutes a neat Parkway free kick move on the right set up a shooting chance for Carter who saw his effort blocked at close range. Hallen’s Martin Stowell was booked on 50 minutes after following through on Moore who was clearly in control of the ball. With Parkway now dominating, they almost increased their lead on 53 minutes. A corner from the right saw a trademark far post header from Bentley crash against the angle of post and crossbar and fly away to safety. With Lane continuing to make strong incisive runs from the back and Jack Calver neat and tidy in midfield, Parkway remained on top with Hallen working hard to stay in the game but creating little. Rob Farkins was the next to be booked for a foul on 58 minutes. Another good run from Lane on 63 minutes released Williams who weaved his way in the 18 yard area only to be crowded out by some desperate Hallen defending. Latham was then replaced by George Binding for the hosts.

 

Hallen had a short spell on the offensive before Parkway’s pressure finally paid off on 68 minutes. A long ball from the back saw Palfrey win a header which dropped to Carter some 25 yards out with the striker turning smartly and rifling home a superb left footed strike giving Macfarlane no chance. Hallen responded with Thomas making a strong run from midfield only to shoot well wide. The Hallen manager was then yellow carded for remarks made to the officials. Parkway rang the changes on 73 and 75 minutes with Teigan Rosenquest replacing the hard working Palfrey and Will Tinsley coming on for Milton. A strong run on the left by Carter released Rosenquest whose shot from 18 yards was well saved by Macfarlane. With Hallen now conceding space in midfield and being forced to defend deep, Parkway went further ahead on 78 minutes. Good build up play along the left between Lane, Copp and Williams saw the latter break clear and curl a superb strike beyond the despairing Macfarlane from around 18 yards. A double substitution from Hallen followed with James Samuel and Luke Mills replacing Shakeil Green and Aaron Anglin. With Williams returning to his best form and looking far more confident than of late, he completed a well deserved hattrick on 84 minutes. A long diagonal ball found him clear wide on the left and in typical style he cut inside the tiring defenders and fired home clinically.Antonio Costa then replaced the impressive Copp who had caused the home defence problems all afternoon with his pace and trickery. Parkway kept up the pressure and in stoppage time rounded off the game in style. Another strong run along the left by Lane saw him link well with Williams who, showing good awareness, pulled the ball back where the predatory Carter reacted quickest to glance an effort home from close range at the near post.

 

After an uninspiring, fairly even first half of few chances and lacking quality, Parkway upped their game in the second half with a particularly strong attacking performance in the last 20 minutes scoring some quality goals somewhat out of context with the overall quality of the rest of the game. Hallen competed well but rarely looked like scoring with Parkway defending comfortably and Moore hardly having a meaningful save to make all afternoon. The win sees Parkway remain a point clear at the top from Bradford Town who have played a game less but have a vastly inferior goal difference.

 

Parkway return to action next Saturday as they enter this season’s FA Vase for the first time at the 1st round proper having been exempt from the first 2 qualifying rounds. Their third weekend in succession on the road will see them make the 300 mile round to trip to Hampshire where they will visit Romsey Town of the step 6 Wessex League Division 1, one step below Parkway in the FA pyramid.

 

Terrific report as always, courtesy of Graham Lloyd