Old Parkonians 2 - 1 CGU Cuaco (Southern Amateur League)

After three weeks away from the league, Parks needed a good home performance to get them back on track. The conditions were not as bad as could have been expected, the pitch holding up well considering the amount of rain it had sustained over the past two weeks, but the wind making it difficult to play anything off the ground. In blustery conditions, Parks settled down the earlier of the two teams and began to dominate possession early on. Keeping to their game plan of shifting the ball out of the middle to Brent and Mason on the flanks, and although going against the wind, Parks looked in control. However, the opening chance of the game fell to Cuaco, when a speculative clearance got caught up in the wind and the centre-forward rounded Turner. Turner was lucky to be given the benefit of the doubt by the referee as his saving tackle was more WWF than SAL.

Jamieson and Collins then got a grip of the game in the middle of the park and began to pull the strings, supported by man-of-the-match Keogh and Bernstein surging forward from the back. On the twenty minute mark, Jamieson slotted a through ball into Brent, who was dragged down in the area as he was setting his sights. Parmenter stepped up to drive the penalty home, and give Parks the lead. The rest of the half was played out with Parks, and in particular Gaughan and Bernstein, defending well against a very strong wind, and Cuaco pressing to cancel out the deficit.

The second half was no better, the wind and rain meaning any slightly over-hit pass ran away into the trees Ë Tony Keogh performing miracles in the conifers to keep the game alive. The home side looked in control, and were beginning to grow in confidence as both Celotto and Keogh went close from long range, using the wind to full effect. On the hour, Jamieson again was the creator of Parks" second. A mazey run across the face of the area, led to a two-on-one situation down our left, and while faking to go outside, flicked a killer pass through to Mason who obliged with his fourth of the season. The game should have been over soon after, when Pascoe worked himself clear down the left and lofted a cross to Celotto who steered his header inches wide.

Parmenter and Pascoe were working hard, but things were just not dropping for Parks. A couple of crosses from Parmenter, in particular, fizzed across the face of the visitors" goal, and only required a touch to take the game beyond Cuaco"s reach. However, to their credit, Cuaco did not give up the fight and with ten minutes to go they pulled one back Ë the centre forward breaking the offside trap and finishing past the onrushing Turner.

The result was never in doubt though and the end came with Parks holding on to their 100% home record. A good team performance should leave Parks well placed at the top end of the table, with 13 points from 15.

Scorers: Parmenter (pen), Mason
Man of the Match: Keogh

Report by Tim Cross