The hosts made a change at half time with Tyler Forbes replacing Tyrique Clarke. Parkway started the half at a lively pace with Mikey Williams and Hall combining well on 47 minutes with Hall’s shot pushed behind at the near post with Wright heading the corner well over.

Parkway were enjoying their fair share of possession and playing some neat, patient, football in midfield but unable to penetrate the host’s defence. Poole continued to look dangerous on the counterattack and Taylor Scarff was cautioned on 50 minutes for halting Poole breakaway. 

Da Costa Ramos then saw yellow as Parkway applied a period of pressure and they deservedly drew level on 53 minutes. A break along the right stretched the home defence with the ball being fed into Hall who powered home a swerving first time strike from around 20 yards.

Parkway continued to compete strongly with the hosts looking to play on the counter with the Parkway defence still holding firm. Harvey Slade replaced Charlie Cummins for Poole on 59 minutes with the game continuing to ebb and flow and be evenly contested. Poole almost retook the lead on 61 minutes with a break along the left ending with Da Costa Ramos smashing an effort against a post with Williams reacting the quickest to clear away the loose ball.

Parkway continued to display good energy and spirit and force the pace with Williams linking well with Jones on 65 minutes and Poole doing well to defend a couple of crosses with Parkway unable to apply the finishing touch in the 6 yard area. Parkway continued to be the more dominant side going forward playing patiently from the back but occasionally looking susceptible to the counterattack and becoming stretched at the back.

Poole made a triple substitution on 70 minutes with Antonio Diaz, Harry Thomas and Tom Hewlett replacing Oakley Hanger, Charlie White and Ramos. This seemed to inject impetus into Poole’s game and in a devasting 4-minute spell they took the game away from Parkway. On 72 minutes the pacy Forbes broke clear along the right with his well directed cross finding Toby Holmes coming in from the left and firing home an angled drive from around 10 yards. On 76 minutes Poole went further ahead with an almost carbon copy goal.

With Parkway pushing forward looking to get back in the game, they conceded possession deep in the opposition half allowing Hewlett to counterattack along the now exposed right flank and cross to the unmarked Holmes who steered his effort home from close range.

With Poole now content to slow the pace and retain possession, Parkway continued to push forward looking to get something from the game. They continued to create half chances but their controlled approach play was not matched by their finishing which lacked conviction and quality. Corey Koerner replaced Watts-Barciela on 83 minutes followed soon after by Gene Price replacing Hall who had yet again put in a terrific, nonstop shift.

Poole continued to look to counter with Griffiths saving well to deny Holmes his hattrick. Parkway forced another corner on 87 minutes with Wright under pressure from Plain heading narrowly over. To their credit Parkway kept pressing forward in the 5 minutes of added time but Poole comfortably saw the game out to its conclusion with their late 2 goal burst ultimately proving decisive.

A vastly improved Parkway performance from the Hungerford debacle with the team displaying a positive, determined attitude throughout and showing battling qualities and competing well in all areas. Their effort, commitment and desire could not be faulted but despite the periods and passages of play when they were on top, they were unable to convert that possession into too many clear cut chances with their composure and decision making in the final third falling short at vital moments.

The outcome of the game was decided by 2 clinical strikes by an experienced striker and ultimately proved to be the difference between the 2 sides.

Parkway remain in 21st position and they now have a 2 week break from league action. Saturday sees them travel to step 4 side Sittingbourne in the 3rd round qualifying of the FA Cup. Sittingbourne were beaten 6-1 by fellow Isthmian League side Deal Town tonight in the Kent Senior Cup where it is believed both sides rested players ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup games. The following Saturday Parkway enter the FA Trophy at the 3^rd round qualifying stage with Banbury United of the Southern League Premier Central Division (step 3) the visitors to Bolitho Park.