PLAYING their first league game for three months, and their first home game of the season, Southgate unsurprisingly started with a lot of nerves, writes Julian Astles.

The first five minutes they were chasing shadows. Then on ten minutes, Jack Greenhalgh played a fantastic pass from central defence out to Alex Kingdon on the left wing, he skinned the defender and put a perfect low cross across the six yard box where the onrushing Callum Thompson smashed his first Southgate goal into the net, without changing stride, a lovely goal.

Instead of building on the obvious drop in the opposition heads, they lie bottom of the league, Southgate let the visitors right back into the game by playing 'hot potato' with the ball and just giving possession away far too often and far too easily.

With confidence handed back to the visitors they started to apply pressure on the Southgate defence, who at times looked nervous and Ryan Crabb carrying an injury at right back was not his usual self. It was no more than Parkway deserved when they equalised on the stroke of half time, a mix up with 'keeper and defender let Howe in to score a goal that even Darren Bent couldn't miss!

The second half was a very frustrating 40 minutes of football. Trying to allow for the obvious lack of match practice, and the very 'sticky pitch, it was hard to equate this dire passing display with the same team who train with a fast moving, one touch passing game on the all weather pitch at the college every Thursday evening.

There was a glimpse of what this team is capable of every now and then, but not for long enough periods. They did create a few chances, as did the visitors and when the final whistle went, as much as I would have loved to nick a win, a draw was the right result. We really need a good run of matches now!

It was good to welcome back Adam Smith after being out for months with a back injury.

Southgate: Eliot Astles, Jack Rich, Nathan Cox, Jack Greenhalgh (MOM), Ryan Crabb, Max Deeble, Alex Kingdon, Glenn Coles, Ryan Julian, Sam Smith, Adam Smith, Callum Thompson, and Liam Denne.