Goals from strikers Rocky Neal and Reece Thomson put Parkway into the hat

Plymouth Parkway defeated Chertsey Town 2-0 to advance into the first round proper of the FA Cup for the first time in the club’s history.

Goals from strikers Rocky Neal and Reece Thomson put Parkway into the hat after Karl Curtis’ side produced another well-rounded performance in front of a packed-out Bolitho Park.

The Yellows got their week off to the perfect start as they defeated Wimborne Town 2-1 on Tuesday night. Goals from Callum Hall and Toby Down were enough for Parkway as they put an end to Wimborne’s impressive 13-game unbeaten run. Meanwhile, Chertsey were involved in a draw at Hanwell Town.

Curtis made one change to the 11 who were victorious on Tuesday. Thomson came back into the side, partnering Neal upfront.

Henry Donovan, who impressed in the week, dropped out of the squad due to being cup-tied. And Bolitho Park was bouncing as the atmosphere built before kick off.

The first chance of the tie fell to the Yellows, as good play down the right found Rio Garside. The captain pulled the ball back for Callum Hall, who couldn’t sort his feet out in time to get a shot away.

Chertsey responded with a good chance of their own as Leo Furrech’s effort from range brushed the post. Both teams began to settle into the occasion after the opening stages. Parkway looked to build up possession patiently, whilst Chertsey wanted to send the ball long and play through the wide channels.

After losing the ball high up the pitch, with numbers forward. Down was left to defend one on one with Joseph Grant. Aaron Dearing was called into action as the attacker managed to get his shot off, but the goalkeeper pulled off a magnificent save down to his left to keep the scores level.

The Yellows patient play continued as they looked to find the opener, but Chertsey remained a threat as Dearing stayed strong in goal.

Ryan Brett’s long ball forward put the Chertsey defence under pressure, as Neal dictated the press. The striker’s press paid off as Neal won the ball and calmly took it around the goalkeeper.

Neal found Hall with the keeper in no man’s land. This time Hall got his shot away, but the effort was expertly cleared off the line by Darrel Harrison.

The high press continued as the keeper was caught out once again on the edge of the box, with the goal gaping, the ball fell to Garside who lifted his shot over the bar.

With just a few minutes remaining of the first-half. Chertsey won a free-kick on the edge of the box, the ball was floated in and defended well by Parkway, a half-chance fell to Darryl Harrison on the edge of the box, but he could only manage to shank his effort high and wide.

The referee blew his whistle for half-time with neither side managing to break the deadlock.

Chertsey got the second half underway as both sides searched for the opener.

They almost found it after Nathan Minhas looped the ball over Dearing, before falling over his own feet, allowing Parkway to clear.

Hall then won a free-kick high up the pitch, which Garside delivered. The ball found defender Ryan Brett, whose header lacked enough power to challenge Wynne-Roberts in goal.

Both teams continued to have chances at either end as Thomson’s dangerous cross into the six-yard box narrowly missed his strike partner Neal’s run.

Parkway continued to pile pressure on the Chertsey defence as they won a corner. The ball found Neal in the box who put the ball in the net – but the linesman’s flag was raised.

As possession continued to change Parkway found a spark when Hall picked the ball up and played through Rocky Neal. Rocky kept his cool as he slotted the ball into the corner giving Luke Wynee-Roberts absolutely no chance.

The goal was a much-deserved reward for Curtis’s side – much to the delight of the Parkway faithful.

The momentum completely switched in Parkway’s favour after Neal notched the opener, and the Yellows continued to wreak havoc upon the Chertsey defence.

The visitors made their first substitutions of the afternoon – a triple change. That seemed to have worked as Parkway had to withstand some pressure of their own, but Dearing remained untroubled as he punched the ball off his line.

Hall’s splendid afternoon came to an end as Ed Harrison entered the picture, injecting some fresh legs in Parkway’s midfield.

As the game entered its closing stages, Parkway retained the possession well as they began to see the game out. Goalscorer Neal picked the ball up out wide and used all his experience to find Thomson who made a darting run across the box.

Thomson shoved off his marker to shoot and find the back of the net, putting the game beyond doubt and surely confirming the Yellows’s place in the first round proper of the FA Cup.

When the final whistle blew, jubilation around the ground must have been heard from miles away as Parkway had done it. Curtis and his side had made history as The Yellows advanced into the first round of the FA Cup for the first time in the club’s history.