St Austell V Parkway .. match report

[RobinVanParkway]

Sports writer, Graham Lloyd writes 

 

FT: AFC St Austell 6 (Goldsworthy pen 58, pen 61, Eddy 63, 71, 78, 87) Plymouth Parkway 1 (Smith 29)

Parkway travelled to old rivals St Austell on Non League day looking to progress to the 2nd round of the Buildbase FA Vase. A sizeable contingent of the Parkway faithful were amongst the impressive crowd of 331. Due to continuing long term injuries, Parkway were forced to make 2 changes from last Saturday's defeat by Westbury United. In very blustery conditions with Parkway playing against the wind, St Austell made the better start forcing Parkway on to the back foot. Neil Slateford had the first chance shooting over on 6 minutes with Will Tinsley then seeing his effort well saved by Kyle Moore. From the resultant corner Tom Chambers then headed just wide. With the wind proving a leveller, both sides had difficulty in adapting to the conditions as Parkway struggled to get into the game. Their first chance came on 12 minutes with Stewart Yetton's shot being well saved by Jason Chapman who was in action again shortly after with a good block from a close range effort from Mikey Williams. Play continued to switch from end to end with not too much quality from either side with too many long balls in evidence and the ball spending as much time off the pitch as it did on it! Parkway were dealt a blow on 25 minutes when influential central defender and natural leader Rob Farkins was forced off with an injury. Williams slotted into the back 4 with Mike Smith switching from wide left to the right and Ryan Lane coming on to the left of midfield. St Austell replaced Chris Reski with Tiago Soares at the same time. Play continued to be scrappy however St Austell should have taken the lead on 28 minutes with Liam Eddy heading narrowly wide from a right wing cross when well placed. Arguably against the run of play Parkway took the lead on 29 minutes. A strong run by Smith down the right saw him get in behind the defence with his initial shot being blocked by Chapman low down at the near post with Smith bundling home the rebound. Parkway then had a period in possession but without their midfield able to impose themselves or create much with St Austell defending comfortably and content to hit long diagonal balls down the slope. On 40 minutes another great run down the right by Smith saw his cross reach Yetton who shot just wide. The half ended with a cross-cum-shot from the St Austell right dipping in the wind and being palmed just over by Moore. A largely uneventful first half with neither side able to master the conditions too well with the game lacking the usual intensity of previous encounters between the sides. The second half saw St Austell now playing against the wind, adjust their formation slightly and adopt a shorter pass and move game which proved far more effective. On 50 minutes Soares made a great run down the right with his dangerous cross being headed behind for a corner. St Austell were now dominating possession with Parkway unable to get into the game as the pressure increased. Mark Goldsworthy then shot just over as St Austell surged forward in numbers using both flanks to good effect forcing Parkway to defend desperately. The pressure inevitably told and on 58 minutes St Austell were awarded a penalty after a rash challenge by Sam Hillson. Goldsworthy calmly despatched the spot kick. 3 minutes later they were awarded a second, arguably less clear, penalty after a clumsy challenge by Moore. Goldsworthy repeated the dose to put St Austell ahead. With Parkway looking shell shocked, St Austell went further ahead on 63 minutes when a defensive error allowed the dangerous Eddy to race clear down the left and finish clinically past the exposed Moore. Tiegan Rosanquest immediately replaced Ben Joyce in the Parkway midfield as they attempted to regroup and claw their way back into the game. A rare foray forward saw Parkway awarded a free kick on 70 minutes with Shane Krac firing harmlessly over from around 25 yards with their first effort on goal of the half. From the restart St Austell increased their lead even further with another smart move ending with Eddy again finishing with aplomb. Parkway then went 3 at the back leaving more space as St Austell continued to dominate all over the pitch with Soares looking particularly dangerous wide on the right. On 78 minutes Eddy scored St Austell's fifth goal and completed his hattrick by getting across his marker and glancing yet another cross from the right past Moore. Goldsworthy was then replaced by Matt Lloyd. With St Austell now in cruise mode, Parkway did briefly manage to get forward and were awarded a rather soft penalty on 83 minutes when Hillson was bundled over in the box. Yetton's weak penalty which was comfortably pushed behind by the previously untroubled Chapman just about summed up Parkway's day and performance. Martin Watts replaced Jack Calver on 85 minutes with, to the delight of the increasingly vocal home support, St Austell finishing the game in style with probably the best team goal of the game. A sweeping, passing move down the right involving at least 4 players ended with the unstoppable Eddy yet again providing the finishing touch to complete an outstanding second half St Austell performance. No complaints, excuses or explanations  as St Austell thoroughly deserved their victory adapting much better to the conditions and playing the right tactics in the second half with Parkway being well below par all round and unable to respond positively. Such defeats happen sometimes  and Parkway need to learn from it quickly and will need to bounce back from this chastening defeat by regrouping, sticking together and showing strength of character as they move forward. A perfect opportunity to do this comes on Wednesday when 4th placed Clevedon Town with 7 wins and only 2 defeats from their 9 league games visit Bolitho Park in what will no doubt be another tough challenge.

[THE BALD ONE]

Excellent review. 

[teflon123]

Great report.

Massive wake up call for the Parkway camp.

[Ian Pethick]

The last time Parkway suffered a reverse like this was away to Willand in the league at the start of the season. Hopefully it will spark a similar bounce back and run of results.