Parkway vs Westbury United 
Emirates FA Cup Second Qualifying Round 
Saturday, September 14  
Bolitho Park | 15:00

Plymouth Parkway complete a run of four home games this Saturday as they turn their attention back to this season’s FA Cup competition, hosting Southern League Division One South side Westbury United.

While performances have been encouraging for the Yellows, results have not matched their recent dominance in league games, with a defeat against Walton & Hersham and a thrilling draw against Taunton Town, both at Bolitho Park. This weekend, the squad takes a break from league action to focus on the lucrative FA Cup.

Parkway’s only victory this season came in the previous round, thanks to Dylan Jones and a Matt Wright hat-trick against Wessex Premier League side Baffins Milton Rovers. However, they now face a tougher challenge against Ricky Hulbert and Lewis Porter’s Westbury.

The White Horse Men have shown their FA Cup pedigree already this season. Firstly, they dispatched Hamble Town after a replay at Meadow Lane before arguably the result of the previous round as they knocked out highly fancied Southern Premier South title favourites AFC Totton. Goals from Marcel Lewis, Bevan Cross, and Will Taylor made it an afternoon to remember as the FA Cup worked its magic once again.

Westbury’s league campaign began with two defeats but secured three points against Bemerton Heath Harlequins thanks to a 92nd-minute winner from Marcel Lewis. Their home game against Thatcham Town was postponed, leaving them 15th in the league after three games played. Last weekend, they exited the FA Trophy with a loss to fellow Division One South side Bristol Manor Farm and will be determined to stay in this season’s FA Cup campaign.

Chris McPhee will have decisions to make over his starting line-up this weekend as Mikey Williams serves his one-match ban following his dismissal against Walton & Hersham. Carlo Garside will not feature following a horror tackle from Archie Ferris in the midweek fixture against Taunton Town and joins Alex Cairo on the sidelines through injury. Jack Crago looks set to return to Helston Athletic on loan but there is a welcome return for Mitch Beardmore and Tom Dean after missing midweek due to their involvement with parent club Exeter City’s Under 21’s win over Norwich City in the Premier League Cup. There will be late calls to make on Will Armstrong and Corey Koerner ahead of the weekend fixture.

Parkway last faced Westbury in the Western League during the 2019/20 season, which was cut short due to COVID-19. Parkway won 2-1 at Meadow Lane, but the result was nullified following the season’s curtailment. Westbury will have fond memories of Bolitho Park, having won there in the 2018/19 season during an October to forget for Parkway.