Parkway dig deep against Magpies and pick up a point

PLYMOUTH Parkway showed every ounce of their growing resilience as they twice battled from behind to claim a hard-earned point against Dorchester Town at the Avenue Stadium, on a night where grit, character and sheer refusal to fold proved just as valuable as quality, writes Mike Parrish.

- Mike Parrish

Chris McPhee kept faith with the side that stunned higher-league Salisbury in Saturday’s FA Trophy thriller, but on their return to Southern League Premier Division action, Parkway’s plans were torn apart inside the opening minutes.

Midfielder Jake Smith, one of the form players of recent weeks, went down in agony after a coming together and was stretchered off following lengthy treatment. News later filtered through that he had been taken to hospital, a cruel setback for a player who has been central to Parkway's recent upturn.

Parkway's brightest spark, again, was James Watts-Barciela. The winger repeatedly beat his man but couldn't quite find the telling final ball, and when Parkway needed composure, they instead conceded a familiar soft goal. On 23 minutes, Will Spetch rose highest from a corner to head Dorchester in front - the fourth consecutive league goal Parkway have conceded from a corner, and a wound that continues to reopen at frustrating moments.