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Non-League Beat

Penalty drama helps Plymouth Parkway

Written by Lennie Teague — Football Writer & Correspondent ·

Seventh-tier Plymouth Parkway came from behind to beat fellow Southern League Premier South side Berkhamsted 2-1 and reach the second round of the FA Cup for the first time in their history.

The first chance of the game fell to Berkhamsted through a corner as Jeanmal Prosper met a perfect delivery to head at goal, only to be denied by Ryan Brett, who stood firm on the goal line to clear the danger.

Parkway then had their own opportunity to open the scoring when Rocky Neal played a sublime flick in to the box for Reece Thomson to control and fire towards the top right corner, but his effort sailed just over the crossbar.

Luke Andrews thought he had put the visitors ahead on the half-hour mark when he was played through on goal to calmly beat Aaron Dearing, but the offside flag went up to deny him.

Following a goalless first-half, Berkhamsted put themselves in front moments after the restart. The breakthrough moment came as Jonathan Lacey slipped Andrews in down the left side of the box for the number 10 to fire a low effort in off the foot of the far post.

Thomson went agonisingly close to levelling for Parkway just minutes later when he beat the Comrades' defence with neat footwork on the edge of the box before unleashing an effort that rattled the left post and bounced away from danger.

The hosts continued their hunt for an equaliser, but it was Berkhamsted that went closest as Ryan Blake was played through by Lacey and missed the corner by a matter of inches.

Disaster struck for the Comrades shortly after when Hubert Graczyk rose to claim a cross, but caught Neal, prompting the referee to point to the penalty spot. Parkway's number nine stepped up to the spot and emphatically fired in a powerful effort to level matters.

Both sides searched for an equaliser, but neither could find it as the 90 minutes ended level to take the tie to extra-time.

There was even more penalty drama for Parkway just before the halfway point of extra-time as Michael Williams broke into the box and was dragged down by Godlove Oppong, presenting the home side's top scorer a second opportunity from the spot. Neal stepped up and got the better of Graczyk from 12 yards once again to put his side in front.

Berkhamsted failed to cause any real problems after going behind and Parkway managed to hold out to secure the victory and go through to the next stage.

Plymouth Parkway will host League Two side Barnet in the second round of the FA Cup, with the tie set to be played across the weekend of Saturday 5 December.

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