Parkway progress in FA Cup after first win of the season

PLYMOUTH Parkway entered the FA Cup at the first round qualifying stage on Saturday when they entertained step 5 Wessex Premier League leaders Baffins Milton Rovers.

- GRAHAM LLOYD

FA CUP 1st ROUND QUALIFYING
PLYMOUTH PARKWAY 4 (Jones 4, Wright 23, 32, 61)
BAFFINS MILTON ROVERS 0

The visitors arrived with a 100% win record in all competitions so far this season and were captained by former professional Brett Pitman.

Parkway made three changes from last Monday’s 0-0 draw at Tiverton Town, with Tom Dean, Mitch Beardmore and Rio Garside returning in place of Sam Joce, Ryan Brett and Corey Koerner.

Parkway were quick out of the blocks, playing with energy and at a high tempo and almost took the lead on three minutes, Beardmore arriving late at the far post just too late to connect with Dylan Jones’ dangerous cross.

Their next attack a minute later saw them take the lead, with Jones firing home an angled drive after patient build-up play between Rio Garside and brother Carlo had created the opening.

Parkway continued to play at a high tempo and looking to utilise the flanks at every opportunity, however, history repeated itself from recent games when they gifted the visitors an equaliser on eight minutes. An under-hit backpass put Luke McCormick under pressure, with Tyrhys Lukonhyomoi robbing the keeper and slotting home into an empty net unchallenged.

Parkway quickly regained the initiative and began to dictate and control midfield with Carlo Garside the driving force, while the energetic Callum Hall was chasing, pressing and winning tackles, and setting up attacking positions. The visitors, meanwhile, were struggling to gain any quality possession and little was seen of them as an attacking threat, allowing the Parkway central defensive duo of Shane White and Taylor Scarff to move forward at will and prompt and probe attacking opportunities.