Hobbs is left drained by Parkway’s late dramatics
IT may be one hell of a ride for Plymouth Parkway right now, but the emotion of their incredible run is taking its toll on manager Lee Hobbs.
On Tuesday night, Parkway moved up to second place in the Southern League Division One South table with a dramatic 1-0 win over Larkhall Athletic with on-loan Plymouth Argyle youngster Finley Craske scoring the only goal of the game and in front of almost 500 people at Bolitho Park.
“You are speaking to a very tired manager, I know that!” Hobbs said. “Games like the one on Tuesday suck every bit of energy you have got and people that have never managed or don’t really understand – it drains you.
“It is constant. You are driving and driving your team on and there’s emotion… but I wouldn’t change it for the world. You are knackered after games, but it’s what I love to do.”
Perhaps the reason for that is the fact that Parkway are leaving it so late to win games, although that is no bad habit to have. It was the 89th minute against Larkhall, while games against Slimbridge, Winchester, Bideford, Sholing and the away game at Larkhall were won in the last 20 minutes – four of those games in the 85th minute or later.
Tomorrow, Parkway welcome Lymington Town to fortress Bolitho Park where the ideal scenario would be three or four goals in the first half, so Hobbs can rest up, relax and enjoy watching his team play out the rest of the game!
“Ha! Football doesn’t work that way unfortunately!” Hobbs said “But look… to score in the 90th minute in front of 500 people in a title run-in against a team that were the draw specialists in the league was a big, big moment in our season.”
At the other end of the table, Barnstaple Town are without a game this weekend, but are just two points behind Mangotsfield United now after beating Evesham United 2-1 last weekend.
However, it seems there will be an end of season play-off for whoever finishes second from bottomagainst the team finishing second in the Western League - with chairman Bill Wilson saying: “The league sent out an email to all clubs last week – but the clarification was not clear!
“My understanding from my own sources is that there is only one team definitely going down. But the email suggested there might be two – one might have to be in a play-off.
“But the speculation – and it is pure speculation as there is nothing official anywhere – is that Lymington Town might pull out of the league, in which case there will only be one going down.”
North Devon rivals Bideford are all but safe for another season after their excellent midweek win over AFC Totton and they can pull further clear of the bottom by beating struggling Cinderford Town at the Sports Ground.
Bideford are currently five points clear of Cinderford and there will be just five more games remaining after tomorrow’s round of fixtures for both teams.
Willand Rovers are tucked safely in mid-table, but they could do Devon rivals Plymouth Parkway another big favour by taking something of league leaders Frome Town.
Willand were shock 1-0 winners at Cirencester, who were second at the time, just a week ago, which ended a run of five defeats in their last six games.
In the Premier Division, neither Truro City or Tiverton Town look like they will be involved in the promotion or relegation picture.
Truro remain 11 points off a playoff place despite a 3-1 win over Merthyr Town in midweek with two goals from Alex Battle and one from Niall Thompson.
Paul Wotton’s White Tigers head to Swindon Supermarine tomorrow afternoon, while Tiverton host Hartley Wintney at Ladysmead after their good run was ended by Westonsuper-Mare in midweek.
The Seagulls were 2-1 winners, ended a run of five straight victories for the mid-Devon outfit, whose goal came from Louis Morrison.