The defending league champions turned up with physical looking team, this along with the windy conditions made it look like it was going to be a rough day for the panthers. The game was played on a pitch with grass longer than the last furlong at ascot, which affected the passing game of both teams.
The parkway had to start the game with 10 men due to Savoriti not turning up due to either a hangover or his growing love of golf over a true sport. The numbers were levelled up when Savvery arrived and finally got onto the pitch after taking his time to decide which boot went on each foot. The visitors started the stronger of the two teams, with the CONS left winger giving Trattles senior a torrid time in the first 20 minutes. This led to the opening goal by the visitors with the smallest player on the pitch scoring a header at the front post.
This led to a change in tactics from the Parkway with Trattles junior faking a groin injury to go up front as he knew there were no other options on the bench. Miraculously he regained movement in his groin as the game went on, managing to give the CONS centre halves a tough time in the air and even skying a couple of chances straight over the bar. Surprisingly the forced change seemed to spur the panthers on and Walker came into his own when dropping into Midfield, making the first two tackles in his own box of his career. A former team mate described his performance after the game as “the best I have seen you play in the last 3 ½ years”.
With a new found hunger the home side scored two goals before the break with a clinical strike from the edge of the area from Yalcin and J.Lavender bundling the ball, goalkeeper and two defenders into the net from close range. In the second half the visitors came out strong, but the parkway defence manages to hold strong led by a cultured performance from Savvery deputising in defence. The pace of Williams and Bradley was a constant threat on the break for the Parkway, who scored a further two goals from cleared corners, the first a volley from wandering centre half McCaffrey that bounced several times before going over the line and Yalcin getting his second of the game.
The visitors added a second goal with about then minutes to go and pressed for more, as they pushed defenders forward and launched cross after cross into the box. This was met with some great defensive headers from Carling, Savvery and McCaffery, the panthers holding on with some good fortune after a string of missed long range chances and some camera saves from keeper D.Lavender.
The day stood out for two controversial moments, firstly Yalcin being booked for catching the Ref putting his watch back which led to a heated conversation and some counting on fingers. The second to the surprise of all the Parkway players, set pieces being taken by Patto (don’t be deceived by the name he is not Brazilian) whose running at pace stretched the panthers defence on the occasions he remembered to take the ball with him.
