Parkway in the Hat
Sittingbourne v Parkway | Match ReportParkway travelled the lengthy distance to step 4 Isthmian League South East Division side Sittingbourne in the 3rd round qualifying of the FA Cup knowing a win would create club history by reaching the 4th round qualifying for the very first time. One change was made from Tuesday night’s defeat at Poole Town with Mitch Beardmore returning in place of the unavailable Ryan Brett.
 Sittingbourne FCPlymouth Parkway 
0 - 3Full Time |
Full Match Report
Parkway made a sharp start with Rio Garside and Dylan Jones linking well along the left on 3 minutes with a deep cross finding James Watts-Barciela who just failed to get a clean contact on his shot. Parkway continued to play at a high tempo dominating the early stages which was rewarded in the 9th minute.
A neat passage of play along the right saw Tom Dean tripped just inside the penalty area with Shane White stepping up and confidently converting his spot kick high to the goalkeepers left instead of his usual method of conversion. Sittingbourne began to come more into the game and on 11 minutes won a free kick wide on the right which forced a corner which was headed narrowly over by Troy Howard.
Play was becoming more even with Sittingbourne almost drawing level on 14 minutes. Parkway conceded possession midway in their own half allowing Mitch May to race clear only to be quickly closed down by Ewan Griffiths in the Parkway goal who did well to narrow the angle forcing May into an hurried strike which hit the base of the right hand post before being cleared away.
Parkway gradually began to impose themselves in midfield playing with intensity and creating momentum with their slick passing and moving. On 17 minutes a poor Sittingbourne clearance fell to Matt Wright who set up Garside who fired over from around 25 yards.
Parkway continued to control the pace of the game restricting the hosts to the occasional counterattack and on 20 minutes a Dean free kick from 30 yards cannoned off the wall with the ball being recycled and a corner forced which was hastily cleared by an increasingly overworked Sittingbourne defence.
On 23 minutes more good link up play between Garside and Jones along the left resulted in a dangerous cross being cleared after a another scuffed shot failed to find the target. Parkway continued to dominate in an organised fashion with Callum Hall, Mitch Beardmore and Garside dictating play from midfield with Dean and Mikey Williams supporting from the wide areas.
Wright continued to show his experience up front with his hold up play forcing errors from the hosts defence and bringing supporting players into the game. On 30 minutes Ayman El-Mogharbel was cautioned for dissent as the hosts came under increasing pressure. Henry Sinai was causing the occasional threat wide on the left for the hosts but was generally kept in check by the Parkway defence with White and Taylor Scarff dominant.
Parkway continued in the ascendancy playing at a high tempo creating a few half chances and looking comfortable against the occasional Sittingbourne attack.
The hosts did break clear along the right on 40 minutes with Griffiths doing well to gather Codey Cosgrave’s cross low down at his near post. Approaching half time Parkway continued to apply pressure and on 44 minutes they doubled their lead.
Jones persistence and strength wide on the left saw him win possession and cross into the danger area with the ball being half cleared only as far as Hall who fired home from around 18 yards via a slight deflection for his 2nd goal in successive games.
A competitive half with Parkway controlling most areas and creating the clearer chances with their 2nd goal on the cusp of half time giving them a bit of breathing space and impetus going into the break.
El-Moghorbel was replaced by Joe Boachie at half time for the hosts but it was Parkway who made the early running in the 2nd half creating a good chance.
Jones was released along the left with his cross picking out Watts-Barciela whose first time shot from around 10 yards was blocked by some brave defending, recycled by Parkway but eventually cleared away.
On 52 minutes a long penetrating ball from Scarff found Dean with the home goalkeeper Henry doing well to anticipate and intercept the danger. The hosts then applied a short period of pressure with Griffiths spreading himself well to save with his feet on 55 minutes after May had raced clear beyond the Parkway back line.
Parkway respond with Jones being brought down on the edge of the 18 yard area on 58 minutes with Dean curling the free kick agonisingly wide. Sittingbourne continued to compete well looking g to reduce the deficit and, on the hour, broke along the left with Griffiths gathering a cross from the lively Sinai.
Parkway continued to control the tempo of the game and on 64 minutes Wright knocked the ball down to Garside who under pressure from a defender poked his shot against a post with the ball being cleared behind for a corner from which Parkway increased their lead further. A deep corner from the left found Wright rising highest at the back post to power home a close range header.
The tenacious Hall was booked for a foul around 40 yards out on 69 minutes with the resultant free kick being comfortably defended.
Sittingbourne then created a period of pressure forcing a series of corners which were well defended by Parkway with Griffiths not being tested. Sinai was replaced by Jay Beckford on 70 minutes as the pace of the game began to drop and become scrappy with Parkway content to slow the game down, retain possession and contain the hosts.
Watts-Barcelia who had provided a constant threat along the right was replaced by Corey Koerner on 77 minutes with Alex Georgiou replacing Howard for the hosts shortly after. Sittingbourne were now having more possession but were unable to breach the solid Parkway defence who remained in control. Gene Price replaced the industrious Hall on 80 minutes as Parkway looked to run the clock down with Sittingbourne arguably having their best spell of the game but still unable to create any clear chances.
Scarff saw yellow on 89 minutes for a late challenge as the hosts broke clear forcing a corner from the free kick which was headed narrowly over. In the 2 minutes of added time a speculative effort from distance by Price sailed narrowly wide with the referee calling time shortly after.
An accomplished performance from Parkway against their lower league hosts who competed well throughout but were unable to match or contain Parkway in key areas at key moments.
A much improved performance by Parkway who displayed desire, determination, team spirit and a solid organisation in controlling the game and fully deserved their victory which created history. It was also their 1st away win since late January 2024 against Hayes and Yeading!
The club’s decision to travel the 7 hours the day before with an overnight stay clearly paid dividends and it was a happy but tired group of players and supporters who arrived back in Plymouth 33 hours after leaving.
Parkway now await the draw for the 4th round qualifying, which remains regionalised, on Monday afternoon with the tie to be played on Saturday 12 October. The round after that is the 1st round proper which sees league 1 and 2 teams enter the competition.
Parkway now have a week to recover, regroup and reflect before they enter this season’s FA Trophy at the 3rd round qualifying stage with Southern League Central Division (step 3) side Banbury United the visitors to Bolitho Park next Saturday.
Match Info
Lineups:
Sittingbourne
1 Henry, 2 Cosgrave, 3 Lukombo, 4 El-Mogharbel (Roachie 46), 5 Smith, 6 Arthur ©, 17 Sinai (Beckford 70), 8 Hamill, 9 May, 10 Kingsford, 15 Howard (Georgiou 78)
Substitutes:
12 Torseillo (unused), 14 Beckford, 13 Earle (unused), 16 Roachie, 20 Jones (unused), 18 Georgiou, 19 Uwand (unused)
Plymouth Parkway
1 Griffiths, 2 Dean, 5 Scarff, 6 White ©, 7 Williams, 8 Hall (Price 80), 10 R Garside, 11 Jones, 14 Beardmore, 17 Wright, 19 Watts-Barciela (Koerner 77).
Substitutes:
12 Koerner, 13 Sowden-Bird, (unused), 15 Belo-Flores (unused), 16 Stevens (unused), 17 McPhee (unused). 20 Price
Attendance: 506 (26 Away)
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