Plymouth Parkway through to the next round of FA Trophy

OXFORD CITY 1 (Iaciofano 55) PLYMOUTH PARKWAY (og 74) Parkway win 4-2 on penalties

PARKWAY returned to their higher league hosts in the secound round of the FA Trophy hoping to reverse their fortunes after being knocked out of the FA Cup by the same opponents just seven weeks ago having run them so close over two ties. A stoppage time equaliser by Oxford in the first tie forced a replay in which they also equalised in stoppage time going on to win 3-1 after extra time. Parkway made two changes from their recent victory over Hayes and Yeading with Toby Down starting in place of Callum Rose and Rio Garside replacing the injured Toby Stephens.

The game quickly settled into a similar pattern to the FA Cup tie with the hosts dominating the early possession with Parkway set up to contain the hosts and look to play on the counter.

Oxford continued to dictate the pace of the game with their patient build up play with the Parkway midfield trio of Billy Palfrey, Callum Hall and Garside showing terrific energy and discipline to harry, hassle and frustrate the hosts.

An effective if not pretty half from Parkway who stuck well to their game plan by maintaining their shape and competing strongly against the hosts who dominated possession throughout creating a few chances but were unable to break down a resilient Parkway.

Despite a short period of Parkway pressure it was Oxford who took the lead on 55 minutes.

With the game opening up and Parkway increasing their intensity with the hosts being forced to drop deeper, A forceful run by Lane along the left saw his deep cross headed narrowly wide as Parkway began to look the more threatening side. With the silky skills of Williams seeing him make some penetrating runs from his own half deep into opposition territory, Parkway continued in the ascendancy as they looked to create openings.

Parkway’s increasing pressure saw them deservedly equalise on 74 minutes albeit with the aid of an own goal. A flowing passage of play through midfield between Hall, Williams and Garside saw the ball played wide to the overlapping King whose whipped in cross into the 6 yard area was deflected high into the roof of the net by an under pressure Oxford defender.

Parkway continued to apply pressure with Hall picking up a late booking and with 4 minutes of added time being indicated, was it to be a penalty shoot out or more late drama?

The shoot out saw Parkway go first with the normally reliable Seymour seeing his kick saved. Oxford converted their 1st with Palfrey responding with Parkway’s 2nd. Parkes then superbly saved Oxford’s 2nd with Rose hammering home Parkway’s 3rd. Oxford’s 3rd then went in off the underside of the bar with Garside stroking home Parkway’s 4th. Oxford’s 4th crashed against the bar. Fittingly it was Parkway captain Lane who stepped up to fire home the winning kick to complete a hard earned but ultimately deserved victory.

Not at their most fluent or expansive but Parkway executed their game plan to perfection by containing and frustrating the hosts in the first half and becoming stronger as the game progressed. Credit must be given to the coaching staff for setting the game plan and to the players for their execution of it. The draw for the 3rd round, in which teams from the National League enter, takes place live on TalkSport 2 at around 3.15 on Tuesday.

Parkway now return to league action with 7th placed and in form Dorchester Town the visitors to Bolitho Park on Tuesday.