The 2nd half started off at a frantic pace and a high tempo with Crago going clear on 47 minutes and rounding Bedwell who did well to grab the loose ball at the feet of Crago to deny him further progress towards goal.

On 51 minutes Parkway created another good chance with Williams, Crago and Jones combining well along the left with Crago firing way over when well placed. Parkway continued to control the midfield area with Didcot defending well and playing on the counter, mainly down the left where Gallagher continued to threaten.

Parkway continued to create half chances with a Crago header saved on 54 minutes and a Hall cross on 56 minutes headed behind for a corner. Both sides then made changes with Rio Garside replacing Thomson and Seth Humphries replacing Alexander for the hosts. Play went through a scrappy phase with little pattern or shape with Pat Osborne firing wildly over for the hosts on 59 minutes.

On 66 minutes a Didcot corner on the right came to nothing as Parkway continued to defend solidly with Cairo and Crago breaking away and linking well on 67 minutes with Jones heading the cross just over.

Garside then shot just wide on the turn from close range on 70 minutes as Parkway continued to press and create the better opportunities. Bray-Evans then replaced the hard working Cairo on 72 minutes to provide additional firepower. Didcot continued to defend solidly and on 75 minutes a counter attack along the left saw Gallagher twist and turn to cross which was well gathered by Parkes.

On 76 minutes a long ball into the Didcot 18 yard area found Bray-Evans whose powerful cross was well intercepted by Bedwell. Parkway made their final change on 77 minutes with Matt Wright replacing Crago who had worked hard for little reward. On 79 minutes a Parkway free kick from distance was headed on by Wright to Bray-Evans whose cross flew narrowly over the bar.

Didcot then applied a period of pressure with again Gallagher at the heart of all the hosts attacking threat and firing a deep cross on 80 minutes which was well defended. The game remained open with neither side seemingly settling for the draw and continuing to look for the winner.

On 83 minutes Jones showing good close control wide on the left went clear and cut inside only to scuff his shot which was easily saved by Bedwell. Didcot made their final changes on 84 minutes with Harry Pitman and Tobias Brenan replacing Sam Barder and Osborne and they took the lead for their first time shortly after.

Didcot pressure stretched the Parkway defence with Brenan’s first action in the game to be tripped on the turn in the penalty area and his second to step up and hammer home the spot kick. In the 5 minutes of added time Parkway continued to push forward looking for an equaliser but the Didcot defence held firm to cling on to their slender lead. The final action saw Parkway force a late corner with Parkes joining the attack but the corner was cleared and with the keeper stranded up field a speculative Didcot effort from just inside their own half drifted narrowly wide of the goal with Hall in hot pursuit.

A frustrating afternoon for Parkway who after starting the game so well and being in total control for 25 minutes lost their way allowing Didcot back into the game by half time making the second half a more even affair.

Parkway created the clearer and more frequent chances but lacked the clinical finishing, composure or quality in the final third to turn pressure into goals. The pivotal moment was undoubtedly the on field decision to change the regular penalty taker who had a 6 out of 7 conversion rate to a player yet to take a spot kick this season. Had that kick been converted and a 3 goal lead established, the game could well have had a different outcome. We’ll never know. The irony being that the game was decided by a one goal margin and that goal was a late penalty by the hosts!

Other results on the day, some surprising and unexpected, sees Parkway drop to 19th, the final relegation slot, and only on goal difference ahead of 20th placed Hanwell Town to whom they travel next Thursday for what will clearly be a crunch game. Before that Parkway travel to 13th placed Poole Town on Tuesday as the demanding schedule continues.

The following week sees 3 successive home games which hopefully can be played at Bolitho Parkway before the season finally concludes on Saturday 27th April with a visit to Beaconsfield Town.