Not Half Bad

Monday, August 26 . Ian Moorcroft Stadium . 3pm

Tiverton Town 0

Plymouth Parkway 0

Pitching in Southern League, Premier Division South

WHEREAS, in our previous home game against Chertsey, the general consensus was that we were on the wrong end of a few refereeing decisions, this time the Yellows had only themselves to blame as numerous opportunities in the second half were squandered to prevent them registering their first victory of the season.

An attack-minded manager Leigh Robinson began with a 4-3-3 formation, with forwards Joe Parker, Leighton Thomas and Ryan Crawford all in the line-up. There were home debuts for centre-back Mike Baker and goalkeeper Fiachra Pagel, while captain Matt Britton returned to the starting 11 as the injured Farren Simons and Kyle Anderson made way.

Parkway had former Yellows Carlo Garside, Callum Hall, Mikey Williams and Matt Wright in their side as the potential of a hotly contested Devon Derby loomed.

However, in all honesty, the first half was lacklustre and I suppose the division’s bottom two were understandably lacking in confidence and belief. Despite Tiverton’s attacking intentions and having the edge in the first half, neither side made the opposition ’keeper work and the half lacked intensity or conviction.

After indecision from a corner in the Tiverton Box 27 minutes in, Ryan Brett headed across the six-yard box but the ball evaded the incoming Parkway players. At the other end, Jay Murray expertly controlled Asa Hall’s raking ball out of defence and squared to Dylan Jones, who shot straight at Luke McCormick and, from a Tiverton corner, Baker brought a routine save out of Parkway’s ’keeper.

That was, in a nutshell, the first half highlights. The Yellows marginally had the better of things, but the game tempo was slow and poor choices from both sides in their build-up play meant the teams went back to the dressing room empty handed. An impressive home debut from Baker, which continued throughout the game, was an undoubted positive.

Apart from the first five minutes after the interval, the second half belonged to Tivvy and how we did not win can scarcely be believed. Upping the tempo and playing with much more purpose, this showing was in marked contrast to the first period. Accuracy in Tiverton’s passing also presented Plymouth Parkway with a new challenge.

This, of course, brought Tiverton’s t Joe Parker into the game and coincided with Theo Jeremy’s introduction, just after the hour mark, as the Yellows went all out to get all three points, slowly turning the screw after taking hold of possession, .

Baker headed wide when well placed to open Tiverton’s account before, in the 72nd minute, Parker showed his quality with an excellent first touch from a ball over the top and then fashioned a very scoreable opportunity, which uncharacteristically he blasted wide of the goal. The chance was all of his own making, but I’m sure by his own high standards he would have been disappointed with the finish.

Parkway played mainly on the break in the second half, but did get awarded a free-kick in a dangerous position. However, the taker could not find either corner and the ball went straight down Pagel’s throat.

Moments later, Parker found himself one on one with McCormick and the veteran ’keeper made himself big as Joe fired down the middle.

Jeremy was at the forefront of a lot of the Yellows’ enterprising play and the quick-footed and exciting young winger was becoming a menace to our visitors. A ball into Parker following a purposeful and skilful run found Tivvy’s main goalscoring threat, but his volleyed finish flashed dramatically wide of the target.

Jeff Forkuo then tried his luck from distance as Tiverton peppered their opponents’ goal, but fired high, wide and handsome.

I have highlighted the best chances of the second half, but there were also three or four half-chance opportunities from corners and it was Parkway who were holding on as the game ended.

This will certainly be viewed as two points dropped. However, the second-half Yellows would win more than they would lose on most days. Niall Thompson and Dylan Jones were able to get more forward after the break and both contributed to the second-half improvement, the Welshman reminding us of his threat going forward.

Leigh Robinson’s men now turn their attention to Saturday’s FA Cup encounter at the Ian Moorcroft Stadium against fellow Southern League Division South side Wimborne Town, who we played in the same stage of the competition last season.

It is the thrill of the FA Cup, so let us come out in force.

Attendance: 424.