Plymouth Parkway v MERTHYR Match Report

With the rainfall unabated in the local area, Plymouth Parkway were forced to make the difficult decision to move their two home games this week against Merthyr Town and Hayes & Yeading United to a playable pitch in order to stay on track to fulfilling their seventeen remaining fixtures by April 27th.

Finding an available ground with a suitable grading was not easy for the board but our grateful thanks go out to Yate Town who kindly assisted for these two fixtures.
The first of these went ahead last night at the South-West Interiors Stadium in Lodge Road, Yate, meaning a round trip of 260 miles to the other side of Bristol. With no coach provided due to the obvious loss of income from playing at Bolitho Park, just seven Parkway fans made the trip and were well outnumbered by the vociferous away fans in the crowd of 115 who had a substantially shorter journey hopping over the Severn Bridge. The pitch was in very good condition and held up well despite heavy rain during the second half.

The game began with Merthyr holding the final promotion play-off place by goal difference and Parkway the final relegation place six points adrift of safety but with between five and nine games in hand on all other teams. Merthyr had been on a poor run of late with just one win and one draw from their previous eight league games, but the six defeats were all by a solitary goal.

Parkway shown three changes from their visit to Swindon with Cameron Sangster, Reece Thomson and Callum Rose coming in for Dylan Jones, Rio Garside and Mikey Williams who had picked up an injury.

In the second minute, a bright start by Parkway saw a cross from the right by Sangster come very close to going in and just eluded the far post.

The home team continued to apply pressure in the opening minutes with several probing balls played into the Merthyr box, but each were well defended.

The sixth minute saw Merthyr’s first attempt at goal when Ricardo Rees 25-yard attempt was comfortably saved by Adam Parkes.

In the eighth minute Shane White conceded possession with a mis-hit clearance which allowed Tom Handley the opportunity to shoot low into the corner to give Merthyr a 1-0 lead against the early run of play.

Reece Thomson came very close to equalising on twelve minutes when set up by Ryan Lane and his rasping shot from 20-yards was tipped onto the crossbar by William Fuller, the Merthyr keeper.

Merthyr now started to gain control in midfield and on 20 minutes, the scorer Handley received the ball from a well worked corner, but his shot was charged down.

Ricardo Rees appeared to be through on goal in the 25th minute with a fine break down the left but the assistant ref flagged him offside.

Parkway immediately attacked down the right and Callum Hall done well to stop the ball running out of play and provided an excellent cross for Shane White who appeared to be pushed from behind in the box when preparing to shoot, but the force was deemed insufficient to warrant a penalty and there was no real appeal.

On 35 minutes Jack Crago pulled the ball back to the busy Callum Hall who blasted well over from 18 yards.

The very next minute saw another Parkway chance when Tom Purrington intercepted a loose pass across the back line and shot low just past the post.

Merthyr continued to ask questions of the home defence with slick passing between Ricardo Rees and Aneurin Livermore with the goal scorer Tom Handley looking threatening.

A fairly even first half with both teams creating just one clear cut chance with Merthyr taking their chance.


The second half began with no changes to either team with Merthyr in the ascendency and good intricate play leading to Gethin Hill blazing over from the edge of the box.

On 50 minutes Crago slotted home after being played through by Shane White only to be flagged offside.

On 51 minutes the first booking of the match occurred when Purrington was brought down by Merthyr’s Noah Smerdon whilst charging through their defence. The resultant free-kick saw a scramble in the box but the score remained 0-1.

On 56 minutes Livermore played in Gethyn Hill just inside the box and his shot slid just past the Parkway post but Callum Rose was penalised for a late tackle on him and a debatable penalty awarded. Ricardo Rees slammed the penalty high and hard down the middle for 0-2.

Lee Hobbs immediately brought Rio Garside and Dylan Jones on for Callum Rose and Reece Thomson.

Merthyr were now looking dangerous on the counter-attack with lots of space at the Parkway back as they were now chasing the game.

Against the run of play though on 67 minutes, a Ryan Lane cross towards Rio Garside was handled by a defender and a penalty to Parkway was awarded. There was quite a delay before it was taken due to an altercation between Crago and the Merthyr keeper William Fuller which saw both go into the referee’s book. Regular taker Shane White eventually stepped up and provided a carbon copy of the Merthyr penalty blasting home high straight down the middle for 1-2. This was Parkways first goal in five matches.

Callum Hall after a good game picked up an unfortunate injury and was substituted by Matt Wright on 73 minutes.

On 74 minutes, Rees had a good effort well held by Adam Parkes. Garside, who was very influential once he came on, then had a 30-yard effort comfortably saved by the keeper.

Three minutes later disaster struck when Dylan Jones was dispossessed on half-way and a sharp break involving Hill and Rees saw Lewys Twamley coolly slotting home for 1-3.

On 80 minutes Toby Down was booked for a bad tackle on Rees when set to go through on goal. The ensuing fracas resulted in Oscar Halls and Merthyr’s Livermore also being booked.

On 85 minutes, Adam Parkes pulled off a great save from Livermore when setup by Hill. Hill was then replaced by Thomas Stokes.

Dylan Jones had a half-chance in the final minute, but it was easily gathered by the keeper. Nine minutes injury time was then signalled in the pouring rain and Merthyr brought Liam Angel on for Lewys Twamley. This was followed by Merthyr’s final substitution when Joseph Woodiwiss replaced the influential Ricardo Rees.

On 90+4 Parkway came very close with a close-range header being cleared off the line. In the final minute of injury time, Handley was booked for Merthyr and Toby Down had a rasping 25-yard effort just over the bar.

A fully committed effort by Parkway but Merthyr produced a slick performance and were worthy winners reinvigorating their push for promotion. Parkway remain six points adrift of safety despite numerous games in hand will be under pressure for points on Saturday when they host Hayes & Yeading United, again at Yate Town. One point from the last five games with four successive defeats needs to change soon because Parkway are involved in their first ever relegation battle.

Match Info
Line-Ups:

Plymouth Parkway:

1 Parkes, 2 White, 3 Lane, 4 Purrington, 5 Rose (Garside 57), 6 Down, 7 Halls, 8 Sangster, 9 Thomson (Jones 57), 10 Hall (Wright 73), 11 Crago

Substitutes:

15 Garside, 14 Jones, 17 Wright, 12 Cairo (unused)

Merthyr Town:

13 Fuller, 2 Ryan-Phillips, 3 Handley, 4 Livermore, 8 John, 10 Rees (Woodiwiss 90+1), 11 Twamley (Angel 90), 14 Hill (Stokes 85), 15 Smerdon, 16 Harris, 18 Rhodes

Substitutes:

1 Cogman (unused), 5 Angel, 6 Woodiwiss, 12 Stokes, 20 Yorwerth (unused)

Attendance: 115 (7 Parkway)