Plymouth Parkway five-star show in vital victory

Plymouth Parkway hosted bottom of the table Marlow in the Southern Premier League South on Saturday, with a much-needed three points their target in order to reduce the gap from safety. And the Yellows earned a vital 5-0 win

For this first meeting between the two strugglers, Parkway made three changes from last week’s defeat against Merthyr, with Callum Hall, Kieran Edworthy and Carlo Garside coming in for the injured Ryan Brett and Exeter youngsters Mitch Beardmore and Tom Dean, who were on the bench and only allowed 30 minutes each due to their requirement for Exeter City U21s today.

An early raid on three minutes from Parkway down the left saw a cross from Jack Endacott cut out for a corner which came to nothing.

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On five minutes, Marlow’s Eli Oladunjoye displayed his long throw skills setting up an opportunity for Sebastian D’Aversa who could only stab the ball wide of the right-hand post.

Parkway came close on nine minutes when good work on the right from Mikey Williams provided a cross to Frankie Monk, only to see his effort cleared off the line.

Nevertheless, only seconds later, a corner from Carlo Garside was met by the head of captain Shane White who put Parkway 1-0 ahead in this must-win basement battle.

Endacott was causing problems down the left side for the visitors in the early stages, although on 14 minutes it was Monk who provided a cross from the left for James Watts-Barciela, who powered a header towards goal from eight yards and despite a great effort from visiting ‘keeper Finn Rushton to keep it out made it 2-0 to Parkway.

On 16 minutes, Watts-Barciela, buoyed by his goal, his second in consecutive games, chased what seemed a lost cause but cleverly dispossessed the full back sent over a telling cross which was cut out.

Edworthy was unable to direct his header on goal when under pressure afgter a Watts-Barciela cross from the right on 19 minutes. Immediately, Marlow broke away and a sharp intervention was needed from Taylor Scarff to end the danger.

On 21 minutes, a good run down the left from his own half by Callum Hall resulted in a cross for Edworthy who could only slot the ball wide of the near post under pressure.

Against a keen but poor Marlow side, Parkway were well in control.

On 33 minutes, Marlow had their first real opportunity of the match when a cross from Rhys Harper found Harvey Maudner well placed 10 yards out, but he blazed the ball over the bar. A dangerous attack down the right saw another cross from Josh Smith cut out by Mikey Williams who was having a fine first half.

Marlow were enjoying their first period of pressure, but normal service was soon resumed on 43 minutes, when Mikey Williams had a 25-yard curling effort easily saved by Rushton. There were no further incidents in the two added minutes.

Within 10 seconds of the restart, visiting Sani hit a shot from 20-yards which was blocked by the back of a Parkway defender. But it was soon Parkway in the ascendency as they went in search of a third goal.

On 50 minutes, a low drive from Watts-Barciela from the left side of the penalty area sailed just past the right-hand post. On 55 minutes, an effort from Endacott was gathered at the second attempt by Rushton.

Watts-Barciela was causing a lot of problems on the right for the visiting defence and following good play from Callum Hall, he put in a good cross which had to be well gathered by the keeper.

A triple substitution for Parkway followed on 63 minutes with the Exeter youngsters Tom Dean and Mitch Beardmore being introduced with Dylan Jones, replacing Edworthy, Watts-Barciela and Carlo Garside. This had an immediate impact when, on 65 minutes, good interplay between Mikey Williams, Dean and Beardmore on the right provided a cross for Dylan Jones who fired home for 3-0.

Parkway came close to extending their lead on 75 minutes when a left-footed effort from Beardmore from 20-yards was dragged just past the right-hand post following a period of pressure.

On 78 minutes, Momodou Jallow was unfortunate to be booked for dissent following what appeared two successive fouls from Parkway. Marlow’s frustration was compounded the very next minute when Beardmore was played in by Jones from the left and blasted the ball home for 4-0 from 10-yards.

On 88 minutes, Scarff played a long ball out to Jones who cut in from the left and delivered a perfect strike from 25-yards just inside the far post for his tenth goal of the season and complete the 5-0 rout.

A competent display from Parkway against a willing but poor Marlow team means Parkway are three points from safety, still in 20th position.

Next up is a midweek trip to the holders Willand Rovers in the Devon Bowl, followed on Saturday by a league visit to Swindon SM.