Old Parkonians 0 - 0 Ibis (Southern Amateur League)

Parks lost ground on the league leaders on Saturday, but were unlucky not to pick up all three points in this Southern Amateur League game at Oakfield. With the pitch in failrly good condition, apart from some small areas of surface water, Parks started very quickly, enjoying the majority of the possession in the first 15 minutes. Jamieson and Goodhew were dominating centre midfield and creating some good early chances for the home side. Parmenter, in particular, went close, with his sliding shot grazing the outside of the post.

Defending strongly, with Bernstein and Cellotto quashing any IBIS half chances, and Nicholls starting the attacks from deep, Parks played some high quality football, linking forwards and midfield through some slick passing and sharp movement.

Parks seemed to be able to work the spare man over on the left flank at will, and both Mason and Keogh delivered some quality crosses into the box, but were unable to convert the chances into goals. IBIS were defending very deep and inviting pressure, and Parks nearly made them pay when Collins seemed sure to score from close range, only to skew his volley wide.

The only scare Parks had in the first half was when Turner came out to clear a through ball on the volley, and miscued, and then had to work very hard to rescue the situation from two IBIS forwards. So at the half time interval the home side looked very confident, and it seemed only a matter of time before the deadlock was broken.

Parks had numerous chances to win the game in the second half. Parmenter slipped a through ball into the path of Goodhew, which was well saved by the keeper low down to his right, and Knapman drove over the bar, after an excellent break from Bernstein and Mason. Jamieson was teasing the IBIS defence with some mazey dribbling, but could not deliver the final ball to break the visitors' spirit.

Again, the only real problem Parks had to deal with was of their own doing. A weak clearance was driven back over Turner's head late in the game, and Parks were fortunate to see the attempt bounce to safety off the post.

At the final whistle, Parks could not hide their disappointment, but with all the top sides in this league still to play each other, promotion is still wide open.

Man of the Match: Mason

Report by Tim Cross