Edenvale Turf St Luke’s Challenge Cup Final

Bideford AFC 1 - 4 Plymouth Parkway FC

1/5/2018

Referee Lee Swabey, got the game underway with Parkway kicking off they passed the ball back to the Peninsula’s hottest goal scorer Glynn Hobbs who immediately tries his luck shooting from the half way line trying to catch Bideford’s keeper Steve Oliver off his line. 

Oliver quickly backtracked and caught the ball but this showed the confidence and the audacity of a team who have broken just about every record in the SWPL including the most points, the biggest points difference scored over one hundred league goals and didn’t lose a league match until January and have been promoted to the Western League. 

Parkway attacked the Bideford defence again two minutes later and thought they had taken the lead when Mike Smith scored but it was ruled out as he was offside. 

The match then fell into a bit of a lull with Bideford looking to have settled into the match and were having as much possession as Parkway, but neither team could break the others defence down. 

In the twentieth minute, Parkway came very close when after a goal-mouth scramble in the Bideford penalty area the ball dropped to the impressive Shane Krac, his fierce shot rattled the crossbar.

In the twenty-seventh minute, referee Swabey, issues the game’s first Yellow card to Parkway’s defender Rob Farkins for a heavy tackle on Bideford’s Kevin Squire. 

Bideford’s Ben Wood had their best chance when he broke down the left and hit a cross come shot which sailed just over the Parkway bar. 

The deadlock was finally broken on the half hour, Parkway’s striker, Mike Smith, quickly reacted to a long ball and headed the ball over Oliver’s head as he rushed of his line. 1-0 to Parkway.

Parkway were now looking and playing with great confidence and gusto, passing the ball neatly and accurately giving the Bideford midfield the run around and this paid dividends when the stretched their lead, as Krac scored slotting the ball home into the bottom corner. 

Parkway were dominant and looking very good and looked to have sealed victory in the first half when Krac got his second and Parkway’s third, slotting the ball home this time down to the keepers right. 

Swabey blows for half time with Parkway leading 3-0. 

The second half begins with the rain lashing down again and the temperature has dropped and the crowd of over two hundred are hoping the action will warm them up the crowd have been very vocal and appreciative of tonight’s game.

Parkway looked to have put the final nail in Bideford’s coffin when they score again in the fifty-first minute, with winger Mike Williams beating Oliver again low down to the right after another excellent passing move. 

Bideford hadn’t thrown in the towel and were still trying to play their brand of passing football but the game had become very scrappy after both teams have used three substitutions and this finally paid off when they score what was a consolation goal in the eight-second minute.

Substitute, Will Hancock reacted quickly from close range as a drilled crossed wasn’t collected by the Parkway keeper, allowing Hancock to give their fans something to cheer. 

They then came very close two minutes later, when Sean Dowling shot narrowly wide after a well devised passing move. 

Swabey blew the final whistle and Plymouth Parkway won the Edenvale Turf St Luke’s Challenge Cup. 

Man of the Match: Shane Krac.

The next game at Coach Road will be tomorrow evening between Teignmouth AFC and Torridgeside FC in the Throgmorton Devon Premier Cup Final – KO 7:15pm, gates open at 6pm.

To view a full match gallery from the game please click the link below

bideford 1 - 4 plymouth parkway - match gallery

*Photos courtesy of Miracle PR & Photography