Old Parkonians 3 - 0 Kew Association (Southern Amateur League)

Parks got back to winning ways in this SAL clash on Saturday against promotion contenders Kew Association at Oakfield on Saturday. With the heavy morning rain making the pitch almost unplayable, Parks were relieved to get a late go ahead from the match officials, and fully deserved to take the three points on offer.

With the importance of the fixture obvious to both teams, the opening exchanges were tense and few chances were created or given away. Looking to avenge an earlier season 5-1 drubbing Parks were fired up from the off. Possession was concentrated into the middle third and Parks were benefiting from having three in the centre of midfield. It was this trio that crafted out the first real opening for either side on ten minutes. Man-of-the-match Jamieson fed Mason down the left whose cross eluded the Kew keeper, and Collins drove home from close range. With their tails up, the home side began to play the better football of the two sides ™ using the width of the pitch to its full extent. The new back three of Kenny, Celotto and Nicholls were also looking solid, and the Kew forwards who had caused so many problems in the previous meeting between these two sides had very little to work with.

It was no real surprise that Parks doubled their lead on twenty minutes. Collins won possession in centre midfield and released Knapman, who held up the play until Rowson came running from deep. His right foot cross-shot was turned in from an acute angle by Chadwick, with Parmenter making sure, taking ball and defender into the back of the net. The two goal lead was nearly very short lived as Kew hit back, and the centre forward was unlucky to see his shot cannon off a post from the edge of the box, and Turner showed great athleticism to get up from his dive and turn the second attempt wide. The rest of the first half was much more even affair, and Parks went into the break with half the job done.

Playing with the wind in the second half, the home side looked to consolidate their hard won lead. Defending from the front with Parmenter and Chadwick closing down the visitors' defence, Parks then pushed for a third to seal the victory. A short corner from Mason and Knapman was cleared by Kew and the rebound fell to Jamieson. A neat through ball found Mason in the clear on the left and his driven cross was fired home by Kenny. Pascoe and Cook replaced the front two, and Parks were coasting to their eighth win of the season. The game was all but finished when Mason found himself one-on-one with keeper badly positioned, but he contrived to skew the ball over from very close range. Some frantic defending in the final five minutes by Nicholls, Cook and Turner with another great save, kept the home sides' goal intact.

A very pleasing 3-0 win keeps Parks in the running for promotion, and with eight games to play there are still a lot of points up for grabs. This Saturday Parks travel to IBIS in the SAL 3pm K.O.

Scorers: Collins, Chadwick, Kenny
Man of the Match: Jamieson

Report by Tim Cross