Andrew Neal celebrates scoring the winning penaltyGetty Images

Andrew Neal joined Plymouth Parkway in the summer of 2025 having helped Truro City win promotion to the National League

Brent Pilnick
BBC Sport EnglandBolitho Park

Two Andrew Neal penalties saw Plymouth Parkway earn a first-ever trip to the second round of the FA Cup after coming from a goal down to beat Berkhamsted 2-1 in extra time.

The win sees the Southern League Premier Division South club host League Two's second-placed side Barnet over the first weekend of December.

Luke Andrews' goal 98 seconds into the second half put Berkhamsted in front before a rejuvenated Parkway struck back through a controversial first penalty soon after.

There was less doubt about the second spot kick after a foul on Mikey Williams as former Truro City striker Neal converted from 12 yards.

Luke Andrews scores Berkhamsted's opening goalGetty Images

Luke Andrews' goal gave Berkhamsted the lead

The visitors almost went in front in the fourth minute, but Ryan Brett headed Jeanmal Prosper's header from a corner off the line.

Berkhamsted had settled into the game better until Reece Thomson curled an effort just over the visitors' bar after an excellent passing move by Parkway's Neal and Rio Garside 12 minutes later.

Both sides struggle to create chances – Berkhamsted's Max Rosner went close with a header as the interval loomed after a nervy opening period.

But the second half was just two minutes old when Andrews calmly slotted a left-footed shot across the face of goal and in off the right post after JJ Lacey's perfectly weighted ball had put him through.

Berkhamsted's players remonstrate with the referee after conceding a penalty Shutterstock

Berkhamsted's players could not believe referee Ross Martin's decision to award Parkway their equalising penalty

The goal forced Parkway to step up a gear - Thomson crashed an effort of the visitors' post just a few minutes later while Calum Hall saw a goalbound effort deflected over.

Ryan Blake fizzed a 71st-minute shot just wide of the Parkway post before the hosts levelled – goalkeeper Hubert Graczyk was harshly adjudged to have fouled Neal as he jumped and punched a Thomson shot that had spun up off a defender and the Plymouth club's top scorer made no mistake from 12 yards.

Parkway could have won it stoppage time as Thomson missed two good chances.

Having taken off the lively Blake and Andrews, Berkhamsted struggled to create anything going forward as extra time progressed, with the hosts beginning to dominate.

Ed Palmer's side-footed volley at the back post from a corner after 12 minutes of extra time narrowly cleared the Berkhamsted bar before Mikey Williams won his side's second penalty – this one very much less controversial.

Having broken into the box, his shirt was pulled by substitute Godlove Oppong, and after firing his first spot-kick down the middle, Neal curled his second into the right side of the goal to send Bolitho Park wild.

Rosner curled Berkhamsted's best chance of an equaliser wide of the post from the edge of the box with five minutes to go as their cup journey ended in Devon.

'It's pure relief' - reaction

Plymouth Parkway manager Karl Curtis told BBC Sport:

"It's pure relief. But do you know what? I'm really, really proud of the club and the players.

"It wasn't one of those nights where it was perfect, we had to find another way, we had to change things.

"It wasn't quite working out and that's credit to them, I thought they were really good.

"They started the game much better than us. We had to find a way. We had a plan B and a plan B worked."

Berkhamsted manager Chris Devane told BBC Sport:

"It's gutting. I'm really happy for Plymouth, really good people down here. It's their day in the sun today.

"But we're really disappointed with the decisions, especially the first one, I felt we were in control at the time.

"We just had a really good opportunity and 65 seconds later he gave that penalty and it changed the whole game.

"It's hard not to feel really disappointed when you get a bad decision, but I'm really proud of the lads and the journey they've been on."

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