Battling Parkway earn away point to avoid relegation

IN their final game of a difficult season – and at the end of a particularly demanding April in which they have played 11 games in 27 days – 17th placed Plymouth Parkway travelled to 18th placed Beaconsfield Town ahead only on goal difference with both sides knowing that only a win would guarantee them safety from relegation.

- GRAHAM LLOYD

Any other outcome would depend on results elsewhere with three other teams also in danger of the drop

Parkway made two changes from Wednesday’s victory over fellow strugglers Hayes and Yeading, with Reece Thomson replacing Matt Wright and Cameron Sangster starting in place of the unavailable Jamie Lowry. Rio Garside was unavailable due to injury.

Beaconsfield made a strong start on their 3G surface with Zidan Akers forcing an early corner and Toby Down did well to block a close-range effort from Kam English.

With both sides clearly not sitting back at this early stage Parkway responded in the fourth minute but Callum Hall blazed well over from a good position after a cross by Jack Crago.

Play continued at a pace with the game evenly balanced with Dylan Jones making a strong run forward on 14 minutes forcing defenders to retreat and firing a left-footed shot narrowly wide. Crago then shot from distance with goalkeeper Tom Northcott parrying behind for a corner.

Parkway began to gain some control, moving the ball patiently and from side to side looking to create openings. A long ball from Oscar Halls found Dylan Jones, but his cross to the far post just eluded the incoming Crago.

On 21 minutes, a Parkway corner saw Reece Thomson head narrowly wide as Parkway continued to apply pressure.

On 23 minutes, another flowing Parkway move involving Tom Purrington and Cameron Sangster through midfield set up Jones who curled an effort narrowly wide.

The game continued to be a tense affair with at times both sides understandably cautious and wary of making mistakes with defences generally remaining on top and both goalkeepers relatively untested. However, on 29 minutes, Adam Parkes did well to gather a cross under some pressure.