Plymouth Parkway 1 – 0 Tavistock AFC
This match was very even and was keenly contested by both teams. It looked as if it was going to end in a goalless draw, until the 65th minute, when the Lambs were reduced to ten men with Jimmy Kiely being sent off for violent conduct.
Kiely tackled ex-Tavistock player Will Stringer in midfield, Stringer got up and was then seen to throw a punch at Kiely, who responded by putting his head into the face of his opponent. The referee went to his assistant and, after discussion, sent Kiely off, but unbelievably only gave Stringer a yellow card, when he was the perpetrator in the incident.
This was the telling factor in a game that did not live up to its expectations, the man advantage proved decisive and, to make it all the more galling, Stringer, who should not have been on the field, was the player who scored the winning goal in 75th minute.
The Lambs started brightly and took the game to Parkway causing their back four a few anxious moments in the opening ten minutes. Doel then went close for the hosts in the 12th minute when he shot over the bar from the angle of the penalty area.
In the 25th minute the Lambs had a free kick on the edge of the penalty area and Jimmy Alexander’s fierce shot went just over the bar. Minutes later a fine pass from Sullivan found Jaryd Kelly on the right and his penetrating cross found Sargent in the penalty area, but his header cleared the goal. In the 38th minute Sullivan had a really good chance but his effort from twenty yards was easily saved by Piper in the Parkway goal. Parkway were always dangerous on the break but some sound defending kept their attempts at bay.
On the stroke of half time, Hobbs broke through the middle beating two defenders, but his fierce shot from 18 yards, which looked destined to nestle into the net, was brilliantly saved when Piper pushed the effort against the upright and away to safety.
The second half started with both teams trying to find a way through their opposing defences with little success.
After the incident in the 65th minute Parkway, with the numerical advantage, began to get the upper hand, but Meeds was on hand to make great saves from Richards and Hulme.
A counter attack by Parkway down the right caught the Lambs short of numbers at the back, and a square ball from Hulme found Stringer inside the six yard box to slot home and open the scoring 15 minutes from full time.
The Lambs were not finished and continued to press forward, going close on a couple of occasions but failing to get the equaliser they deserved for their effort and commitment. The sending off of Kiely proved to be the deciding factor but, to be fair to Parkway, they did make good use of the extra man.
There were a number of positives to take from the game, with Walton out through injury young Craig Holt making his first team debut and putting in a fine performance at left back. Ryan Moorhead, who came on as substitute, again showed a lot of potential for the future, along with Dean Southcott.
Match Report: Derek Pethick
