Moors and Plymouth Parkway come head to head for the first ever occasion on Saturday in the Buildbase FA Trophy Fourth Round.

Given their geographical location in the country, Spennymoor supporters may be unfamiliar with this weekend’s opponents.

Ben Robinson takes a look at Parkway’s history, stats, facts. You can read this piece and much more in Saturday’s issue of ‘Moors’ for just £2.50.

So where exactly are Plymouth Parkway in non-league football?

The Parkway currently sit just outside the play-offs in the Southern League Division One South league in the eighth level of English football, two behind Spennymoor.

Since the beginning of the 2017/18 season, the club have gained two promotions and looking to climb even further up the non-league ladder.

After promotion from the South West Peninsula League Premier Division nearly four years ago, Plymouth narrowly missed out on a consecutive promotion a year later by a mere two points.

However, with the next two seasons curtailed courtesy of the catastrophic Covid denying any promotions until the premature end of the second season where it was decided on average points per game.

This was a cause for celebrations for Parkway as they were promoted after a consistent couple of years finishing in the top two, which lead to their high average of points.

Plymouth’s pathway

Second Round Qualifying: Highworth Town 3-5 PLYMOUTH PARKWAY

Despite falling 2-0 behind to their league rivals, two goals in quick succession before half-time brought Plymouth back on level terms.

However, Parkway conceded again leaving them with 25 minutes to find another way back into the game.

With 10 minutes remaining, Jack Crago pulled the visitors level before they struck once again a minute later to turn the game on its head.

Crago then finished off his hat-trick with two minutes remaining to seal his side’s progress to the next round.

Third Round Qualifying: PLYMOUTH PARKWAY 1-0 Merthyr Town

Unlike the last round, Plymouth were now playing a team one level higher than them, and it wasn’t turning out to be the goal fest like the last time.

With the game locked at 0-0 after a tense first-half and the end of the final 45 minutes drawing near, Rio Garside slid the ball home to send the home fans into raptures.

The hosts hung on until the final whistle as they headed on to the First Round.

First Round: PLYMOUTH PARKWAY 4-0 Salisbury

Onto the next round and once again the yellow & blues were facing another Southern League Premier South Division side in the shape of Salisbury.

After dominating the first-half, the pressure from the hosts paid off as Garside coolly slotted the ball home from the spot after Crago was tripped in the area.

Two early second-half goals and a late addition from captain Mike Landricombe completed a shock route over yet another higher ranked side.

Second Round: PLYMOUTH PARKWAY 1-0 Hampton & Richmond Borough

After breezing past the last round, Plymouth would come up against their hardest challenge yet with a home draw to National League South side Hampton & Richmond Borough.

Despite a nervy start to the game, the home side grew into the game and just before the hour mark Crago found the back of the net once again to put Parkway ahead.

A gritty final half-an-hour was eventually over with Plymouth advancing thanks to Crago’s goal and some defensive digging in.

Third Round: PLYMOUTH PARKWAY 1-1 Dulwich Hamlet (PP Win 4-3 on penalties)

Once again Plymouth Parkway had managed to get a home draw in the competition, and once again they faced a tricky National League South side.

The yellow and blues started bright early on, going in front after 15 minutes as River Allen converted a spot-kick after being fouled inside the area.

With yet another cup surprise and a fourth consecutive clean sheet within the competition on the horizon for Parkway, the visitors hit a sucker punch with a last-minute equaliser to send the game to penalties.

The home fans must have taken a massive sigh when they missed their first penalty, but a penalty shoot-out comeback was on the cards as Plymouth continued their historic Buildbase FA Trophy run.

Stats and trivia

GIANT KILLERS

During their first ever Buildbase FA Trophy run, Parkway remain one of the lowest ranked teams left in the competition following victories against higher ranked teams, with only one of their opponents being in the same level of non-league football!

LATE BLOOMERS

Out of their 12 goals in the competition so far, five have come in the last 10 minutes of each fixture!

DAUNTLESS DEFENDING

Despite conceding three in the Second Round Qualifying, The Parkway kept three consecutive clean sheets in the next rounds and would have four if it wasn’t for a last-minute leveller from Dulwich Hamlet in the last round!

DOMESTIC GOALS GALORE

Overall this season Plymouth Parkway have managed score and concede a combination of a whopping 96 goals in 24 games which means an average of 4 goals per game!