Parkway return to Bolitho and get the points

AFTER numerous postponements, Plymouth Parkway returned to Bolitho Park for the first time since 30 January for a crucial game against bottom side Didcot Town and gave their survival hopes a huge boost with a 2-1 win.

- GRAHAM LLOYD

Football correspondent PLYMOUTH PARKWAY .......................2

DIDCOT TOWN..................................................................................1

Their rotation policy continued with four changes made to Saturday's starting XI at Bracknell Town.

Alex Cairo, Oscar Halls, Matt Wright and the injured Ryan Lane who was seen at the ground hobbling around on crutches, were replaced by Shane White, Toby Down, Reece Thomson and Rio Garside.

Parkway started at a brisk tempo creating early forward momentum with Cameron Sangster and Jack Crago both shooting wide Parkway continued to control the tempo of the game, playing with intensity, and they missed a great chance to open the scoring when a slick move saw Tom Purrington recycle a loose ball and cross to White, whose powerful header flew wastefully wide.

Parkway's pressure finally paid off when they deservedly took the lead on 23 minutes. Neat build up play on the right breached the Didcot defence with a deep cross to the left being blocked and only half cleared as far as Purrington who turned smartly on the loose ball and fired home an angled drive into the far corner from around 20 yards.

Didcot gradually began to get into the game having their best period of possession in midfield but they never tested Adam Parkes in the Parkway goal. Parkway continued to look the more threatening going forward and Mikey Williams went clear along the left linking well with Garside whose cross was headed just wide by Purrington. Another good opportunity wasted. Parkway continued to control the pace of the game creating half chances in the two minutes of added time but were unable to increase their lead.

A satisfactory half from Parkway who generally dominated throughout, creating a number of good chances but lacked the clinical finishing to convert them. Didcot were forced to defend in numbers, break-wastefully wide.