Old Parkonians 3 - 2 Old Bromleians (Southern Amateur League)

Parks gained a much needed victory in this SAL division 2 clash after recent back to back defeats.

In a very hard fought contest Parks can consider themselves quite fortunate to have gained all three points. They couldn't have asked for a better start though as they took an early lead inside the first ten minutes. A near post corner by Knapman saw Parmenters flick perfectly met by Bernstein to power a header home from inside the six yard box. Bromleians immediately searched for an equaliser and took quite a grip on the game with their midfield controlling the tempo. The inevitable equaliser happened as the Bromleians left winger roasted the drunken Kemp, got to the byline to pull the ball back for the forward to steer home from close in. With Parks struggling to keep the ball and missing tackles they somehow managed to go 2-1 in front. Another corner, this time from Mason saw Bostock challenge the BFG in the Bromleians goal who managed to punch the ball into his own net, proving that he was actually a Big Friendly Giant!

Still Bromleians were the better of the two sides and when Kenny hauled back their forward in the box a penalty was duly converted and it was back to 2-2, Kenny fortunate not to be carded (yellow or red!).

After the openness of the first half both sides looked to tighten up defensively. Kenny, Bostock and Gaughan started winning their challenges and Keogh was starting to get more and more forward. Midway through the second half the freescoring substitute that is Chris Sharkey latched on to a Jamieson through ball and netted at the second attempt after the BFG had made a good save from his original shot. Bromleians once again looked for their third equaliser of the game but with MacCallum making two outstanding saves and Parks defending superbly as a team they hung out for the crucial 3-2 scoreline.

Scorers: Bernstein, Own Goal (BFG), Sharkey.
Man of the Match: Kenny
Team: MacCallum, Kemp, Keogh, Bernstein, Bostock, Kenny, Jamieson, Mason, Gaughan, Parmenter, Knapman. Subs: Sharkey, Billingham, Smith.

Report by Nappy