Mousehole 1-3 Plymouth Parkway
FA Cup Preliminary Round
Saturday 21st August 2021
At Trungle Parc
Scorers: Hayden Turner 1’ (1-0), Tom Bath 4’ (1-1), Matty Andrew 35’ (1-2), River Allen 80’ pen (1-3)
Attendance 352
The Seagulls’ second match in this season’s first-ever appearance in the FA Cup ended in defeat at the hands of Southern League side Plymouth Parkway, with the visitors showing their pedigree against their Covid-hit hosts to gain control of the match after a sensational start to the tie.
Match preview points:
- Mousehole have had nearly a third of the regular squad suffering from Covid, resulting in the postponement of their last two Western League fixtures. Four players – excluding the still-recovering Tallan Mitchell and Piran Jones – have only just completed their ten-day self-isolation period and are in the starting line-up.
- So, the big question for The Seagulls is how the team will fare, with no-one having played or trained since the game at Tavistock on 10th August. The injured Josh Otto is missing but striker Mark Goldsworthy starts.
- Mousehole beat Parkway 4-0 in a pre-season friendly a month ago, but the visitors’ teamsheet today shows many changes from that occasion. Today it’s likely to be a different contest!
- Mousehole have won, drawn and lost in this season’s three League matches since promotion, and beat local rivals Helston Athletic 3-1 in their FA Cup Extra-Preliminary Round tie a fortnight ago to reach this stage.
- Parkway were promoted from the Western League to the Southern League Division One South this season and in their two League fixtures so far they’ve gained two points from a home draw following an opening-day away defeat.
The match as it happened:
Before kick off, there’s a minute’s reflection on the life of Malcolm ‘Megs’ Brown who died recently, having served Mousehole with distinction for over six decades as player, manager, Committee member and latterly Club President
Kick-off sees Mousehole playing towards the Solomon Browne end
20 seconds: GOAL FOR MOUSEHOLE! There’s a moment of indecision in the Parkway defence 35 yards out, HAYDEN TURNER drives forward with the ball and fires low into the far corner from just inside the box. Mousehole 1-0 Parkway. What a start!
2 minutes: Parkway retaliate, Matt Andrew shooting low from 18 yards – it’s straight at Cory Harvey who just manages to retrieve the ball as it squirms under him
4 minutes: GOAL FOR PARKWAY – TOM BATH is put through after a loose Mousehole pass and he takes his one-on-one chance with composure to slide the ball past Cory Harvey. Mousehole 1-1 Parkway – and it’s not even up to 5 minutes yet!
5 minutes: Close for Parkway as Jack Crago’s inswinging cross from the left hits the top of the bar and goes out
9 minutes: Cory Harvey to the rescue with a full-length diving save at the foot of the post from Tom Bath’s header. Aaron Bentley has a great chance in front of goal from the corner but heads over.
11 minutes: Mark Goldsworthy comes close for Mousehole with an angled drive from the right, tipped round the far post by keeper Tyler Coombes
21 minutes: Parkway are looking impressive. Jack Crago creates space for a shot from 25 yards but it’s wide
22 minutes: Parkway close again as Tom Bath hits the side netting from a wide angle
25 minutes: Another attack, with Tom Bath fashioning a shooting opportunity from the edge of the box – but it’s past the post
27 minutes: It’s been a long time since Mousehole threatened the visitors’ goal, but Callam Mconie is not far away from Hayden Turner’s low cross to the near post
28 minutes: Cory Harvey makes a one-on-one save as Parkway resume their attacking intentions
30 minutes: Jamie Devine puts his body in the way of a goalbound shot from inside the Seagulls penalty area
31 minutes: Another near-miss for Parkway – centre back Callum Rose heads a floated corner wide from a very good position
35 minutes: GOAL FOR PARKWAY. It was coming! MATT ANDREW is the first to a bouncing rebound coming back off the post and pokes the ball home from 15 yards with Cory Harvey out of position and Jamie Devine wrong-footed on the line. After their horrendous start, no more than Parkway deserve
38 minutes: Mousehole substitute – winger Callam Mconie is replaced by Sean Roberts as Mousehole look to reinforce their midfield
43 minutes: Centre back Aaron Bentley takes aim from fully 40 yards and it’s swirling towards the top-corner before Cory Harvey makes a flying save to keep it out
Half-time approaching and Parkway are now slowing the game down. They should be further in the lead by now. Mousehole have been second-best but with this scoreline they’re still in the tie.
Half-time 45+3: Mousehole 1-2 Plymouth Parkway.
51 minutes: Hayden Turner’s low shot after a speedy run down the left is saved by Parkway keeper Tyler Coombes at his near post
59 minutes: Mousehole are having a good period. Andy Elcock rifles in a 30-yard free kick and Tyler Coombes goes full-length to push the ball out
61 minutes: Kyle Fraser’s lofted diagonal pass into space is just beyond Sean Roberts racing forward to the edge of the box
65 minutes: Parkway have been under a bit of sustained pressure for the first time in the match, but without conceding any clear-cut chances. They’re still dangerous going forward – Tom Bath scuffs his shot wide when well placed inside the Mousehole box
Half-way through the second half: Mousehole 1-2 Parkway. Mousehole substitute – Paulo Sousa replaces Billy Curtis, taking up a right-sided forward position with Josh Magin dropping back into right-sided defence
78 minutes: Parkway close – Jack Crago chases a bouncing ball down the middle but can’t bring it down in time to shoot
80 minutes: GOAL FOR PARKWAY. A 25 yards free kick goes into a crowded penalty area where substitute Callum Hall is tripped as he latches on to the loose ball. Captain RIVER ALLEN drives the spot kick hard past Cory Harvey into the corner. Mousehole 1-3 Parkway. That probably is a fair reflection of the overall balance of play.
81 minutes: Mousehole substitute – striker Gerens James for midfielder Steve Burt
86 minutes: Parkway are now in no hurry, but they suddenly burst forward and Cory Harvey makes an exceptional full-length save from Tom Bath’s volley from 15 yards
90+2 minutes: Andy Elcock floats a free kick into the Parkway area where Mark Goldsworthy leaps above the taller defenders to plant a header over the bar from 10 yards
90+4 minutes: Mousehole defenders somehow scoop the ball off the line amid a fast Parkway raid upfield
90+5 minutes: Full-time Mousehole 1-3 Plymouth Parkway. The visitors earn a well-merited passage through to the FA Cup First Qualifying Round, with a display of strength, class and composure. Mousehole’s disrupted preparations proved to be a major setback, but a full-strength side can now return to League action with renewed confidence.
*Mousehole’s scheduled League fixture at home against Millbrook on Tuesday 24th August has been postponed, as Millbrook have an FA Cup Replay on that date after a late 3-3 draw away at Southern League Willand Rovers.
*The Seagulls are next in action this Saturday, 28th August, with an away Western League fixture at Ilfracombe Town (3pm).
*This is a followed by a home League fixture on Bank Holiday Monday, 30th August, when Tavistock are the visitors (3pm)
Mousehole (and used substitutes): Cory Harvey (GK), Billy Curtis (Captain) (Paulo Sousa), Mark Richards, Jamie Devine, Kyle Fraser, Steve Burt (Gerens James), Andy Elcock, Josh Magin, Hayden Turner, Mark Goldsworthy, Callam Mconie (Sean Roberts). Other substitutes: Ethan Elwell (GK), Toby Weeks, Tyler Tonkin, Silas Sullivan
