Plymouth Parkway let lead slip

Bristol Manor Farm 4 (Ford 27, 50, Short 52, Tooze 85)

Plymouth Parkway 2 (Kingdon og 12, Williams 34)

IN atrocious weather conditions and with a depleted squad, Parkway made the midweek trip to Bristol Manor Farm. In driving rain the hosts made the early running, however it was Parkway who took the lead on 12 minutes.

Crago went clear along the left with his angled shot across Ben John in the host’s goal heading for the far corner only for Steve Kingdon to turn the ball into his own net from close range in a desperate attempt to clear the ball.

Parkway continued to dictate play through the midfield with the hosts competing well and looking dangerous on the break.

From a free kick on 27 minutes, Parkway doubled their lead. River Allen drilled in a low shot from around 25 yards which John could only parry on the slippery surface with Mikey Williams reacting the quickest to pounce on the loose ball and fire home into the roof of the net from close range.

The hosts pulled a goal back on 34 minutes. A corner from the left was poorly defended by Parkway allowing Ford a close range free header which he buried beyond Moore.

With the rain easing, Manor Farm started the second half playing with intensity and drew level on 50 minutes after forcing a couple of corners on the right. The first caused confusion in the Parkway defence and was cleared off the line for a second one which came into the near post again causing hesitancy in the crowded 6 yard area allowing Ford to bundle home from close range for his second of the game.

Parkway responded well with Carter linking with Williams to set up Crago whose shot was well saved. However it was the hosts who turned the game on its head by taking the lead for the first time on 52 minutes. A break along the right saw full back Jamie Short cut in and fire an angled drive beyond Moore into the far corner.

The game was effectively sealed on 85 minutes with the formidable Tooze, in a central position, drilling home a low strike from around 25 yards after good build play along the left had set him up. Parkway created one last chance on 89 minutes after good work by the tireless Crago set up Bath whose snapshot flew just wide.

Parkway’s second defeat of the season sees them in sixth place and they now entertain seventh placed Highworth Town at Bolitho Park on Saturday when it is hoped they will have a full squad available.