SWPL Prem Div Stoke Gabriel V Plymouth Parkway 17th Jan 2015

[Dave]

Carlsberg Southwest Peninsula League Premier Division

Stoke Gabriel V Plymouth Parkway

Saturday 17th January 2015 Kick-Off 2.15pm

Venue Churchward Memorial Ground Broadley Lane Stoke Gabriel

Referee G Martin Referee Assistants A Bassett & D Brookes

Final Score Stoke Gabriel 1 Plymouth Parkway 5

After their fine run of six games undefeated that came to an end last weekend against St Blazey, Stoke were looking today to get back to winning ways again. Last weeks game was rather a feisty affair that saw Steve Bowker being sent off for Stoke and Warren Daw for St Blazey. The one nil defeat was a disappointing result after such a good run of results that some might have only hoped for after Stokes disastrous start to the season.

After a cold night in the Bay that resulted in a heavy frost, the sun came out mid morning and it has turned out to be a perfect day for football. But was it a perfect day as far as Stoke Gabriel was concerned? Was it going to be a very happy birthday for Stoke player Dejan Maric? Well the answer to that question is a very big no as Stoke ended up being well beaten by a very good Plymouth Parkway side. A team missing a few key players today and a team before the match kicked off were not looking forward to taking on Stoke at their place.

But they need not have worried as they just had that extra bit of class on the ball and far to much pace and movement up front for Stoke to deal with. Right from the off Parkway were passing the ball well and always looking to play good balls to their ever willing running forwards. It was no surprise when they took an early lead.

The ball was played into the Stoke box and I think a Stoke defender handled the ball, but Parkways Mike Landricombe knocked the ball over the line and the goal was given. There were big protests from the Stoke players but the referee was never going to change his mind. Stoke were working hard enough but looked very lightweight up front and were guilty at times of giving the ball away far to easily. Simple short passes going straight to Parkway players and they came close to scoring a few times as a result of these mistakes.

Stoke were let back into the game after Parkway gave away a needless penalty. A Stoke player had made a good run into the left hand side of the Parkway box and was chopped down. Up stepped Robbie Bowker to take the spot kick, sending the Parkway keeper Josh Colwill the wrong way.

It did not take Parkway too long to go back in front. Stokes Ryan Beattie could not stop his man getting past him and a good ball was played out to the right hand side to Levi Landricombe. He looked up and put an inch perfect ball to the far post where Andrew Neal had made a good run too, he then headed the ball into the back of the net past the stranded Stoke keeper, Nathan Murphy.

That was it for the first half and Stoke started the second half very strongly and determined. But they failed to create and real good scoring chances and only had two or three shorts from the edge of the box that went wide of the goal. Up the other end and Nathan Murphy pulled off a fine diving save getting the ball over his crossbar and behind for a corner.

Parkway changed up a gear and had two headers on goal that only just cleared the crossbar and a great volley from the edge of the Stoke area by Levi Landricombe that also just cleared the bar. Their pressure finally got its reward after their number five John Heaveran rose higher than everyone at the far post from a corner taken out on the left hand side of the pitch and headed home.

Stoke restarted the match and lost the ball straight away, one good long low pass put Levi Landricombe into the left hand side of the Stoke box and he hit a good clean low shot into the back of the net. Four one now and no real back for a Stoke side so lightweight up front, but they did not give up.

But they went even further behind after not being able to win a header on the halfway line, the ball dropped down and was instantly played long up to that man Levi Landricombe who once again took his chance well firing an unstoppable shot past Nathan Murphy.

Its hard to believe that Stoke knocked five goals past Saltash at home the other week, but they can’t have any complaints today as Parkway on the day were the better side that fully deserved their win.

A good game to watch and one I enjoyed along with my chat with the Parkway groundsman who kindly helped me with the goal scorers.