Hobbs demands a Parkway response

PLYMOUTH Parkway manager Lee Hobbs feels valuable lessons will be learnt from the midweek home defeat to Beaconsfield Town that will hold his side in good stead for tomorrow's Southern League Premier Division clash at home to Harrow Borough.

- STUART JAMES

Parkway saw their nine-match unbeaten run come to a surprise end by a team that is below them in the league table and just as Hobbs predicted, they showed little attacking ambition after they got the all-important goal and defended well for what they had.

There was no lack of effort and endeavour from Parkway on the night, there was just no way through Beaconsfield's well-drilled backline, but the defeat emphasises just how important the first goal can be on what is a quite treacherous pitch at Bolitho Park.

"We had numerous chances where we had three or four shots, but we couldn't break them down, we couldn't get through them, we couldn't get round them and we couldn't go over them," Hobbs said.

"They just literally camped and defended properly and ultimately, we came up short and they got the win they needed.

"They got the goal and had something to hold onto and we knew the first goal would be massive. They got it through a mistake of our own, which proved really, really costly, and the longer the game goes on, the more they would have had to come out because they are not out of the woods. But we gave them a lifeline and they took it.