MATCH REPORT: Plymouth Parkway 3-2 Wimborne Town

It was defeat in Devon for the Magpies, with three second-half goals giving Plymouth Parkway victory in difficult conditions at Bolitho Park.

With Tim Sills absent due to a minor operation, assistant manager Luke Hardy took charge in the Magpies dugout.

Three changes were made to the eleven that drew to Yate Town over the weekend, with Max Bustamante, Sam Roberts and Billy Walker coming back in to the side.

The Magpies were quick out of the blocks, with Lewis Williams dragging a shot just wide and a Bustamante strike testing Parkway stopper Frankie Phillips in the opening five minutes.

Plymouth caused a scare for Wimborne early too, when a zipped pass by wingback Callum Hall found Reece Thomson, who tested Oscar Abbotson on the 10th minute.

However, it was the visitors who broke the deadlock in the 14th minute, after a Williams corner was bundled into the back of the net. 

It’s hard to say who really got the decisive touch, with skipper Sam Jackson and a wall of Parkway defenders all battling in the goalmouth, but no matter how, the Magpies had an early lead.

Just moments later, Cam Munn had a strike from outside of the box, forcing a full stretch save from Phillips who did well to deny him.

Parkway could have drawn level on two occasions in the latter stages of the first half, with Abbotson tested again at the back post with a powerful header from Ryan Brett, and a strike from range clipping the top of the bar.

Down the other end, Phillips was sharp to react with an impressive double save to deny Ajani Burchall and Bustamante on the stroke of half time.

The hosts looked the more ambitious side after the break, with two narrow misses in the opening moments after a shot hit the side netting and one fizzing past the post.

With conditions worsening, the match was becoming a more physical affair with both sides struggling to keep hold of the ball on the slippery surface.

The game changed when Parkway found their equaliser on the 65th minute. A free kick was awarded on the edge of the area, with Neal’s free kick parried only as far as Jenson Ireland who finished first time.

What followed was a nightmare three minutes which saw the Magpies go from level, to 3-1 down.

Mikey Williams nodded home in the 77th minute to go ahead, followed by what appeared to be a push on Sam Roberts leading to an Ireland brace, after his cross-come-shot found the top corner in the 80th minute.

The hosts two goal advantage was cut back to one in the dying embers when Jackson’s pass flashed across the box, with Will Fletcher at the back stick to poke home.

It was too little too late for Wimborne though, with Parkway picking up the points.

The Magpies will be keen to get back to winning ways against Tiverton Town at the Wyatt Homes Stadium this weekend.

Abbotson; Thomas, Walker, Roberts, Jackson; Roundell, Carmichael, Munn; Burchall (Ryan 74’), Williams (Fletcher 68’), Bustamante

Unused subs: Eccott-Young, Edmondson, Borges

Match Report: Tom Whittick