Plymouth Parkway have secured their place in the FA Cup first round proper with a decisive 2-0 victory over Chertsey Town at Bolitho Park. The win marks a significant milestone for the seventh-tier side, who are now poised to face Southern League Premier Division South rivals Berkhamstead on 7 November. This encounter represents Parkway’s first-ever first-round fixture, highlighting their rapid ascent through the lower tiers of English football.
Seventh-tier side set to host Berkhamstead in a pivotal first-round clash
The upcoming match is viewed as a prime opportunity for Parkway to advance, with top scorer Andrew Neal describing the draw as ideal. Neal, who opened the scoring in the Chertsey win, emphasized the tactical advantage of hosting a league rival at home. “If you’re not going to get one of the big guns away, that’s the exact draw you’d want,” Neal told BBC South West. He further noted that facing a team from their own division under home conditions creates a “very winnable game” for the hosts.
Parkway’s opponents, Berkhamstead, are no slouches, having recently demonstrated resilience by coming from a goal down to defeat National League side Southend United 2-1. However, the home crowd and familiar conditions at Bolitho Park could tip the scales in Parkway’s favor. As the seventh-tier side looks to make history, the focus now shifts to whether they can capitalize on this favorable draw to reach the second round and continue their impressive FA Cup campaign.
Source: Yahoo Sports
