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

Parks traveled to Bromley to meet their opposition in this SAL Division 2 encounter on Saturday. Two divisions separated these two sides last year, but Parks did well to bridge the gap to take all three points, courtesy of a well taken Chadwick hat-trick.

A slick surface suited Parks passing style and it wasn't long before the visitors created several chances. Parmenter and Collins went close, and Cross skewed a header wide from a well struck Mason corner. After 15 minutes however it was Broms who struck first, with a superb solo effort. The centre forward who had already started very sharply, rounded three Parks defenders, and although he didn't fully connect with his shot, did enough to wrong foot the oncoming Turner.

The next 15 minutes were played out in the midfield, until a Turner clearance was helped on cleverly by Parmenter, and Chadwick lobbed the keeper from 15 yards to pull Parks level. The half ended with the Broms' centre forward causing trouble again. A neat run ended with a cross stood up to the far post, which was converted with a diving header. Parks suffered a setback when their centre half Bernstein had to go off with a thigh strain, but the addition of Steve Kemp did not weaken Parks' rearguard.

After half time and with the home side playing down the slight slope, Parks changed things around a little dropping Collins to sweeper and bringing Cross up into centre midfield. This seemed to release Jamieson and Mason to go forward and create more. It was Jamieson who released Parmenter and Knapman down the right for Parks' second leveler. They combined well and a driven Knapman cross saw Chadwick slide in at the far post to pull Parks back into it.

With it all level at 2-2, Parks seemed the more likely side to take all three points. On 65 minutes, Keogh released Mason into the corner who dug out a superb left footed cross to find Chadwick unmarked five yards out. His powerful header into the roof of the net gave the keeper no chance, as he took his first hat trick for the 1st XI. He almost made it four, ten minutes later, with Keogh driving down the left, he was unable to check his run and strayed slightly offside, still finishing calmly before the ref had blown.

Broms tried to up the pace in the last 15 minutes - but to no avail. Gaughan, Collins and Kemp held firm with Cross just in front of them. Kuforiji replaced the tiring Parmenter, and Parks held on for their first win of the year. Parks now head Division 2, albeit after two games with a very long way to go.

Scorer: Chadwick 3
Man of the Match: Chadwick
Team: Turner, Gaughan, Cross, Bernstein, Keogh, Jamieson, Mason, Collins, Knapman, Parmenter, Chadwick, Kemp, Kuforoji.

Report by TC