Foxhole 2 Plymouth Parkway Reserves 2

[Darin Morse]

Foxhole 2 Plymouth Parkway Reserves 2
Tuesday 27th July 2010

Foxhole contrived to throw away a two-goal half-time advantage but the youthful visitors were worthy of at least their draw after a fine display in the Goverseth murk. Parkway settled quickly and generated the first good chance when the home defence, missing both Ralph and Conibear, failed to deal with Smith's centre from the left, but Knight could only blaze over from close-range. Foxhole responded almost immediately, Griffin bursting through only to be unceremoniously bundled over by last-man Mitchell, who was fortunate to escape with just a booking. On 23, intelligent play down the right created an opening for Rowe to cross for Griffin to head past Evans, who then had to move smartly to his left to prevent Rowe adding a second. However, nine minutes before the break, Kempthorne found Griffin, who cleverly turned Stevenson before planting his shot into the corner of the net to give the Foxes a slightly flattering lead, although, in truth, Holland's clean sheet had rarely been threatened by visiting attacks that had habitually fallen down in the final third.

The second-half began scrappily. However, while Foxhole were largely unable to regain their composure for the remainder of the match, Parkway soon found their feet again and it was no surprise when they reduced the arrears on the hour, Knight racing clear of a worrying static defence to fire his drive against Holland, and Young was quickest to react to the rebound. Two fine saves by Holland from the dangerous Smith appeared to galvanise the Foxes, with Bird, Rowe and Griffin all going close from distance, but Parkway continued to look the more likely and, twenty minutes from time, Harris notched the equaliser, coolly rounding the keeper after latching on to Thompson's ball. Young's fierce effort was beaten away and Dillon cleared Glendenning's shot off the line as Parkway surged forward in search of a winner as a disjointed Foxhole were given a bit of a chasing amidst the inevitable raft of substitutions, but the only late drama of sorts came when dissent earned a caution for Knight, who was then fouled by Kempthorne who was also booked.

Foxhole (3-5-2): Ryan Holland; Jeff Dillon, Lee Whetter, David Grose; Ross Pinhammer, CJ Bird, Michael Kempthorne, Kyle Friendship, Adam Holland; Mark Rowe, Richard Griffin.
Subs: Matthew May, Gary Camps, Daniel Allen.

Plymouth Parkway (3-5-2): Ian Evans; Alex Mitchell, Mark Stevenson, Pete Foster; Steve Thompson, Kirk Smith, Matt Glendenning, Joe Knight, Patrick West; Andy Harris, Lewis Young.
Subs: Dan Cole, Dan Worth.

Referee: Mr Roy Buscombe (St Austell).