Parkway end home campaign with victory over Hayes & Yeading Utd
Parkway vs Hayes & Yeading Utd. | Match ReportParkway returned to Bolitho Park for their 3rd game in 5 days in a vitally important game against 19th placed Hayes and Yeading who sat just 1 point and 1 place above them in the table. Both teams were desperate for points in their battle to avoid remaining in the last 2 relegation places. Parkway made just 1 change to Monday’s starting 11 against AFC Totton with Jack Crago replacing Rio Garside.
 Plymouth ParkwayHayes & Yeading United 
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Images: Dave Crawford
Parkway started at a high tempo forcing a corner in the 2nd minute which was cleared away with their next attack seeing Callum Hall driving forward from midfield and shooting from 18 yards with Jacob Adams fumbling his save low down but grabbing the loose ball at the 2nd attempt.
Hayes responded in a positive manner and on 7 minutes Parkway were given an almighty let off when a long ball to the edge of the 18 yard box saw Norman Wabo first to the ball and lob Adam Parkes with the ball bouncing off the top of the cross bar, back into play and hacked away to safety.
The visitor’s gradually got into the game and began to look threatening forcing their 1st corner on 11 minutes with Parkes getting down to smother a free kick from Mo Bettamer shortly after.
The visitor’s early pressure paid off and on 18 minutes they took the lead. Luke Gambin’s free kick from deep found Marvel Ekpiteta who showed good control to turn and shoot low into the bottom corner from around 12 yards. Hayes continued to look dangerous and on 20 minutes Matt Hudson and Sam Faniyan linked well along the right with the latter shooting across Parkes but just wide of the far post.
Parkway needed a quick response and they got one by drawing level on 23 minutes. A free kick by Jamie Lowry was cleared but only as far as Tom Purrington who was fouled around 30 yards out earning another free kick. Dylan Jones stepped up to send an exquisite curling strike around the wall into the top corner past a static Adams.
Parkway now became the more dominant side and gradually gained control in midfield with Lowry beginning to show his class by setting up attacking options with a series of well directed and well weighted long and short range passes. On 32 minutes one such precise long range diagonal ball picked out Crago wide on the left who cut in and crossed with Mikey Williams hooking just over from around 15 yards.
With Parkway now playing with intensity and energy, on 36 minutes Purrington and Crago linked neatly along the left but the cross lacked direction and flew behind for a goal kick.
On 38 minutes Adams got down well to save a low drive from Matt Wright at his near post at the expense of a corner with the keeper then saving a hooked effort from Jones from the recycled delivery.
Lowry continued to show excellent vision and prod and probe with his accurate passing as Parkway continued to apply further pressure forcing Hayes on to the defensive and offering little going forward.
On 41 minutes a penetrating run by Purrington from deep set up Hall whose shot from 18 yards was turned behind for a corner which was headed away for a 2nd corner with Lowry’s delivery flashing narrowly wide as Parkway finished the half strongly in the 2 the minutes of added time.
After a couple of early scares and falling behind, Parkway gradually began to assert control of the game with Lowry in the centre of midfield dictating it’s pace in a calm, composed manner.
After drawing level with a stunning free kick Parkway continued to create further chances which they were unable to convert with the visitors having to defend and rely on the counter attack. However the game remained finely balanced.
Parkway got off to the perfect start to the 2nd half by taking the lead in the 49th minute. A patient phase of build-up play through midfield stretched the visitor’s defence and created space with Mikey Williams perfectly weighted final ball finding Wright who drilled home a low, hard, angled drive across Adams to the far post.
With the visitors now forced to come out and look to draw level they won a free kick on 54 minutes with Gambin firing way off target. Jack Williams then received the game’s 1st yellow card after an unnecessary foul on Jones wide on the right with the subsequent free kick by Lowry dropping into the danger area with Adams doing well to drop on to the loose ball which had been flicked goalwards.
Hayes were continually being pressed back but on 58 minutes they broke clear on the counter attack with Shane White doing well to head behind an effort from Faniyan with Bettamer firing well wide from the resultant corner.
Parkway continued to dominate possession and look to stretch the visitors by switching play from side to side as they looked to increase their lead with a single goal advantage rarely a comfortable lead.
On 61 minutes they almost did that with Wright heading narrowly over a teasing cross from the increasing influential Mikey Williams who continued to make probing inroads along the left flank.
Hayes continued to counter attack forcing a corner on 63 minutes which was well defended by Parkway who continued to look strong and solid at the back. Crago then saw a shot saved after a flowing Parkway move had opened up the visitors defence as the pressure increased. On 69 minutes Wright headed narrowly wide at the back post from a corner from the left. On 70 minutes Toby Down was cautioned for a foul just inside the Parkway half which prevented a Hayes counter attack. From the free kick Bettamer fired well over with the visitors again failing to hit the target from a promising position.
Parkway made their 1st change on 74 minutes introducing the fresh legs of Alex Cairo to replace Purrington who had put in a tireless shift in midfield. Jones then made a strong, pacey run from deep beating a couple of defenders with his shot from just outside the 18 yards deflected for a corner.
Both sides then made substitutions on 77 minutes with Fareed Salifu and Rocky Williams replacing Jack Williams and Wabo for the visitors with Reece Thomson replacing the hard working Wright who had consistently created problems for the Hayes defence. Thomson immediately made a strong run wide on the left forcing the visitors back and eventually clearing but Parkway responded with Thomson’s 2nd meaningful contribution increasing Parkway’s lead.
On 81 minutes Crago showing terrific desire and determination won the ball from a Hayes throw in on the left, drove forward into the 18 yard area and unselfishly squared the ball to Thomson who showed good composure and control to create a yard of space and fire low into the bottom right hand corner from around 8 yards.
Lowry continued to be a guiding and controlling influence in midfield as Parkway continued to dominate and apply pressure with a Jones cross on 83 minutes only being cleared as far as Hall whose powerful goalbound half volley richocheted off a defender and away to safety.
A minor melee in midfield on 86 minutes saw Crago and a Hayes player cautioned with Cameron Sangster replacing the effervescent Hall on 87 minutes as Parkway looked to manage the game out. The lively Thomson then worked hard to win the ball back and broke clear along the left with his cross being headed away.
Jones now operating wide on the right continued to display tremendous energy at such a late stage of the game by constantly driving towards the Hayes back line with his cross on 89 minutes being blocked and cleared as the game entered 6 minutes of added time.
With Parkway now content to slow the game and look to retain possession, Hayes were able to push forward and in the remaining minutes they won a couple of free kicks around 20 to 25 yards out both of which failed to hit the target with Parkes remaining untested as he had been for most of the 2nd half. Parkway then comfortably saw the game out to gain a vital victory in their quest to avoid the drop.
After falling behind early Parkway dug deep to show character and resilience to fight back and dominate the latter stages of the 1st half. Buoyed by their early 2nd half goal they went on to control the pace of the game and with timely substitutions and battling qualities and no shortage of skill, clinched the game late on.
Hayes despite their best efforts and continuing to compete faded under the Parkway pressure and offered little threat in the 2nd half with Parkway running out convincing and deserved winners.
The result sees Parkway climb out of the bottom 4 to 17th place on equal points and 1 place ahead of Beaconsfield Town by a superior goal difference of 7 but not yet mathematically safe from relegation. The 2 sides meet at on the 3g surface at Beaconsfield on Saturday in what could well be a tense, nervy encounter.
Only a win by Parkway will guarantee they avoid relegation and with 5 clubs still in the mix for the final 2 relegation places, much will depend on the outcome of 2 other games. Parkway will need to show the same application, desire and character on Saturday as they displayed this evening if they are to complete their punishing schedule with a repeat performance and stand a chance of remaining at step 3 next season.
It is hoped that as many supporters as possible will be able to make the long journey to give the squad the support they have earned and deserve in what has been an extremely difficult, demanding season. Hold tight!
Match Info
Line-ups:
Plymouth Parkway
1 Parkes, 2 White, 3 Hall (Sangster 87)), 4 Lowry, 5 Halls, Down ©, 7 M Williams, 8 Purrington (Cairo 74), 17 Wright (Thomson 76), 10 Jones, 11 Crago
Substitutes:
12 Garside (unused), Cairo, 15 Rose (unused), 16 Sangster, 9 Thomson
Hayes and Yeading
1 Adams, 3 J Williams (Salifu 78), 4 Odelusi ©, 5 Moore-Azille, 6 Ekpiteta, 9 Bettamer, 10 Gambin, 11 Hudson, 12 Faniyan, 15 Salmon, 20 Wabo (R Williams 78)
Substitutes:
7 Busari |(unused), 13 Addai (gk)(unused)|, 16 Owens(unused), 18 Salifu, 19 R Williams
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