Looking Ahead: Plymouth Parkway (H)
Looking Ahead: Plymouth Parkway (H) Plymouth Parkway Form Guide: L, W, L, W, W
Saturday sees the Geordies host promotion hopefuls Plymouth Parkway at The Oliver Connell and Son Community Stadium. Parkway come into the weekend sitting fourth in the table, with 29 points from just 15 games. Of course, it is not just in the league that Parkway have been making headlines. Having defeated fellow Southern League Premier South side Berkhamsted on Monday night, they have secured a place in the second round of the FA Cup, where they will face Barnet. Hanwell, on the other hand, come into Saturday in 15th place, having collected 17 points from 16 games so far this season. With their cup exploits behind them for now, Plymouth's focus will return to the league this weekend, and they'll be looking to carry their cup success into the league and maintain their strong form. Hanwell, however, will be keen to continue their recent run of good form at home.
Parkway are by far the most geographically isolated side in the division, and it's not particularly close. This is reflected in their home and away form. The Devon-based side have a perfect home record in the league this season, winning all seven of their matches. This is no doubt partly due to the long journey most away sides need to make, and is reflected in Parkway's away form: two wins, two draws and four losses from eight games. They will no doubt be looking to league top scorer and FA Cup hero Andrew Neal, who already has 11 league goals this season, to spearhead their attack. His goals have been central to Parkway's impressive scoring record, making them one of the most potent attacks in the division. The side have collectively scored 32 goals in 15 games.
Hanwell, on the other hand, will take confidence from Plymouth Parkway's aforementioned poor away record this season and will be hoping to build on their two consecutive home victories at Reynolds Field. Despite giving Uxbridge a late scare in midweek, scoring twice to bring the score back to 3-2, Hanwell were unable to complete the comeback, eventually succumbing to a 4-2 defeat at the league leaders' home. Hanwell will need to shore up what has been one of the division's better defences this weekend if they are to stop Neal and company from coming away from Middlesex with all three points. However, the Geordies should take some positives from the game, having managed to score twice against one of the division's strongest defences. Without Gabe Cuthbert's
late sending-off, which halted the momentum the team had developed, that late comeback may well have been completed.
Looking back to last season, this fixture produced one of Hanwell's best results of the year. Despite being 2-0 down at half-time, the Geordies fought back and won in dramatic fashion when Luke Cook scored in the 95th minute to seal a memorable 3-2 victory. More of the same would be very welcome come Saturday, and a win for Hanwell could see the side rise as high as 11th, should other results go our way.
Kick-off is at 3pm this Saturday, the 14th, so get down early to catch the early kick-off in the clubhouse and take advantage of happy hour prices between 1pm and 2pm!
