West sides see Vase dreams shattered
THE West’s last two representatives in the FA Vase saw their dreams of glory shattered with defeats in the fifth round.
Plymouth Parkway were hoping to reach the the quarter finals for the second successive season when they entertained Hellenic League side Flackwell Heath, while Tavistock’s Vase campaign ended when they lost 1-3 to a very good, well drilled United Services Portsmouth side.
Parkway, who fielded an unchanged starting line up from the fourth round victory over Clevedon Town, made the sharper start, but once the visitors had absorbed the early pressure, Flackwell gradually began to threaten going forward, the tricky Ashley Howell looking lively wide on the left and the strength and movement of Louie Soares testing the Parkway central defenders.
Flackwell took the lead with their first effort on target. Parkway failed to clear their lines and a powerful shot from around 18 yards through a crowd of players forced Parkway ‘keeper Kyle Moore into a fine parried save, only for Jack Taylor to react the quickest and slam the rebound home from around six yards.
As half-time approached, Parkway grabbed a deserved equaliser from the penalty spot. Ryan Richards converting after he was tripped just inside the penalty area as he looked to turn.
Flackwell were the more fluent outfit in trhe second half and the visitor’s pressure finally paid off on 71 minutes, the alert Parker pouncing on a loose ball to hammer a superb right-foot shot into the roof of the net from around 20 yards.
The game took a dramatic twist when Shane Krac, having been on for only nine minutes, was shown a straight red card for a reckless and unnecessary challenge.
With Parkway pushing for an equaliser, Flackwell increased their lead on 84 minutes.
Almost straight from the retart a long ball found Parkway’s Levi Landricombe who cleverly lofted his effort over the ‘keeper to give Parkway renewed hope. but in the fourth minute of stoppage time Flackwell sealed the win.
Fine goalkeeping and a poor first half left Tavistock with too much to do. After failing to capitalise during a period of pressure in the second half the home team were caught with a sucker punch when they conceded a hand ball from a corner.