Our Parkway to success
AN OPPORTUNIST strike from Billy Palfrey midway through the second half sealed Plymouth Parkway’s place in tomorrow’s quarter-final draw and dashed West Auckland Town’s hopes of third Wembley final appearance in ten years.
It was harsh on the Northern League side who contributed to a pulsating match played in a good spirit and superbly refereed by Ross Martin in front of a record crowd at Bolitho Park, swelled by Plymouth Argyle being away at Colchester United at the same time.
Lee Hobbs’ Parkway had already gone further than ever before in the competition and almost took the lead with their first attack when Jordan Copp’s cross was deflected and only grasped by keeper Tom Flynn on the goal line.
Giant striker Adam Carter almost added to his 30 goals so far this season with a header which was held by Flynn before West Auckland sprung to live and skipper Lewis Dodds blazed over from a good position.
Home defender Rob Farkins headed just wide but the sides were trading attacks and Amar Purewal for West and Mikey Williams for Parkway both missed when well placed.
Just past the half hour, Purewal made amends when he latched onto Alex Francis’s through pass to tuck home the opener.
Parkway were looking nervy at that point but skipper Shane Krac was spraying passes around and just before the break the away defence froze for a second when a freekick was knocked in and Farkins bundled in the equaliser.
After the break, Flynn tipped over an Aaron Bentley header but it mattered little as Krac’s shot hit a defensive hand and referee Martin pointed to the spot. Carter, though, put the penalty kick into the car park and the score stayed level.
Parkway were getting stronger with West beginning to show the effects of a 760-mile round trip. But they should have levelled when a fine move involving Francis and Anthony Bell ended with substitute David Dowson blasting over from close range.
Williams and Copp could have sealed it for Parkway but they held on through five minutes of stoppage time and join fellow Western Leaguers Bitton in the last eight.
Parkway boss Hobbs singled out Nick Milton for top man praise saying: “We worked hard and picked a side which would graft all day and it paid dividends.
“We watched them and did our homework and had enough chances to win it easily but we are delighted to win in what was a proper Non-League atmosphere.
“With Stowmarket Town losing it must make us favourites and we will take on anyone here.”