City sweep aside Parkway to make serene FA Trophy progress

City swept into the FA Trophy 1st Round with an comprehensive 3-0 win over Plymouth Parkway at Bolitho Park this afternoon. First half goals from Matt Bowman and Reuben Reid set them on their way before Enzio Boldewijn netted his first for the club after the break to secure a place in Monday’s draw.

The hosts came into the game top of the Southern League Premier South and with a 100% home record but from the moment Harry Parson’s lifted a 2nd minute shot over the bar following a poor clearance from keeper Dearling City were in control of the game. Four minutes later Scott Wilson saw his shot saved by the legs of Dearling before an Ollie Chamberlain cross hit the top of the bar on 14 minutes. Parkway briefly rallied with a couple of testing corners but City responded with a 23rd minute Bowman shot that struck the post. City finally broke the deadlock on 32 minutes when Chamberlain’s in-swinging corner ended up in the net with Bowman claiming the final touch. Five minutes later City were gifted a second goal. Dearling’s attempt to deal with a simple back-pass saw him tread on the ball and allow Reid to steal in and roll it into the unguarded net. The half ended with Reid appearing to be brought down by overworked keeper but the referee took the view that the striker had dived and showed him a yellow card.

City maintained their dominance after the break as Reid and Boldewijn both saw early chances well blocked. They would not be denied though and on 56 minutes a swift break saw Scott Wilson slip the ball through to Boldewijn to fire a left-shot into the net and make it 3-0. Further half chances came and went for the Romans but with the game won the could withdraw several players ahead of Tuesday’s league game at home to Malvern Town. And this was highlighted as they ended the game with centre-back duo Jack Batten and Kieran Parselle playing up front and right-wing respectively.