Parks suffered their first loss of the season against Winchmore Hill in this Southern Amateur League clash on Saturday. Having several key senior players unavailable did not help the visitors in what would have been a difficult game anyway. Parks finished the game with five 17 year olds on the pitch - a great advertisement for the future of the club, but possibly a little too many at the moment for a strong Winchmore Hill side. Jamieson, Keogh, Kemp, Kuforiji and Cunnane all played their parts in a battling 1-0 reverse, and will all play an important part in the season to come.

The home side started much the brighter of the two sides, and dominated the game from the back. The back three looked very comfortable on the ball and ran forwards Chadwick and Parmenter ragged in the first twenty minutes. It was on half an hour that Winchmore Hill made their possession count, a defender again bringing the ball forward down Parks left flank, and his cross was slid in at the far post.

As with previous weeks, this seemed to be the wake up call that Parks were looking for, and they began to keep the ball and create some better opportunities in the last third of the field. Parmenter was unlucky to be pulled back for offside, having been released by Kuforiji, and Knapman saw his cross cleared from under the bar, with the keeper beaten. Jamieson was beginning to see more of the ball, and he always looks like he can create something from very little. Parks best chance of the half saw Chadwick curl one wide from the edge of the area - missing the right hand post by inches. Parks also survived a couple of scares of their own, Cross and Gaughan making timely interceptions, when the home forward looked to be clear through.

After half time Parks stepped up the pace, and when Winchmore Hill's influential centre-midfielder went off with an ankle injury, Parks looked the better side and were unlucky not to capitalise on some great chances. In an amazingly open second half, openings were created and squandered at both ends. Parks actually hit the bar three times in the last twenty minutes, and went close on numerous other occasions.

Bernstein's driving run and shot was deflected into Chadwick's path, and before he could get it out from under his feet, the keeper had made up the ten yards between them to smother the shot. Cunnane replaced Chadwick on seventy minutes, and his pinpoint cross onto Parmenter's head was tipped onto the bar. The keeper also saved well from Parmenter again from six yards in the final minute, once again his save hitting the bar. Kuforiji finally managed to beat the excellent Winchmore Hill keeper, after Jamieson worked him free, only to see his twelve yard drive cannon off the crossbar yet again.

Pushing for the equalizer meant Parks left gaps at the back. Turner saved with his feet from a one on one, and Gaughan timed a tackle to perfection to prevent the home side from doubling their lead. The game ended on a sour note when Bernstein received a blatant elbow to the face, the Winchmore Hill centre forward can count himself very lucky to have finished the game on the pitch.

Parks, however, were unlucky not to get at least a point. A battling performance, with many positives to be taken from the game, not least that a young team more than held its own in a very physical encounter.

Parks travel to Old Bromleains on Saturday in the Old Boys' Cup - KO 3pm.

Man of the Match: Gaughan
Team: Turner, Gaughan, Kemp, Bernstein, Keogh, Kuforiji, Jamieson, Cross, Knapman, Parmenter, Chadwick. Sub: Cunnane.

Report by TC