DORCHESTER TOWN...................3
PLYMOUTH PARKWAY.................1
PLYMOUTH Parkway manager Lee Hobbs felt it was a tough result to take after his side went down to a 3-1 defeat at Dorchester Town.
It felt like a case of deja-vu for the Yellows as - just as they did against Beaconsfield on Saturday - they led 1-0 at the break, before three second half goals condemned them to defeat.
Jared Lewington had put Parkway in front seven minutes before half-time, but Kieran Douglass, Callum Buckley and Shaquille Gwengwe struck in the second half to condemn Parkway to a second successive 3-1 loss.
"I am disappointed for my boys, I genuinely am because any mistake we make, we are being punished for," Hobbs said.
"I understand completely that that's levels of football, where the quality increases and the mistakes you make, you will get hurt. But for me, there were so many positives tonight.
"We didn't deserve to lose the game - at all- and it's a tough one to take, but we are learning on the job. Other people might look at it and thinking: 'look at them, it's a step too high,' but it's not. Not in a million years.
"Judge us after ten games and we will judge ourselves ten games after that but, for now, this is what we signed up for, this is what we wanted, we wanted these big crowds and these fantastic arenas.
"I am never happy when we lose, I am the most miserable man ever, but I am seeing enough."
The first half was devoid of any clear cut chances, until Parkway took the lead in the 38th minute. Good pressure and determination by Callum Rose along the right forced a corner from which debutant Lewington rose highest at the far post with his downward header that just managed to elude Harry Lee in the home goal.
Play continued to switch from end to end with neither side able to dominate or create any further chances as the half came to a close.
Parkway started the second half brightly playing at a high tempo but it was the hosts, who had also upped their intensity, who drew level on 56 minutes. A break along their left saw a low cross crash against the base of the far post with the ball being deflected behind for a corner from which central defender Douglass rose highest to plant a firm header past Kyle Moore.
The setback seem to unsettle Parkway with Dorchester gaining the upper hand and now looking the more threatening and the home side almost went ahead shortly after when a cross from the right was headed against the bar as Parkway struggled to stay in the game.
Parkway looked to regain their composure and get back into the game and on 67 minutes Dan Rooney did well to create space for himself but his shot from 25 yards flew just wide.
However, it was Dorchester that went back in front on 74 minutes. Moore did well to get distance on his punched clearance from a Magpies corner, but the ball fell to the unmarked central defender Buckley around 20 yards out and he drilled a first time shot low through a crowd of bodies into the bottom corner.
On 78 minutes a Dorchester attack exposed the Parkway defence with Douglass lofting a close range effort just over when well placed. They did however increase their lead on 80 minutes after Parkway conceded possession in midfield allowing the speedy Gwengwe to race clear and finish clinically with an angled drive from around 15 yards.
In a game lacking too much quality it was almost a carbon copy of Parkway's defeat at Beaconsfield on Saturday with them taking a first half lead but being unable to build on that with a second goal, or consolidate. This allowed Dorchester to get back into the game with a strong second half performance in which Parkway were unable to break the home side down with the hosts coming out deserved winners.
Harsh lessons are being learnt at this early stage of the season against three strong, physical sides with Parkway now returning to Bolitho Park on Saturday hoping to improve their fortunes when Merthyr Town are the visitors.
The Welsh side, beaten in the FA Trophy by Parkway last season, head West off the back of an eye catching 2-0 win over Tiverton Town.