Battling PV Produce Great Comeback To Remain Unbeaten

Jacob Mallinson On The Move

Ebac Northern League Division 2 - Saturday 1st August 2026 Park View AFC 2 v 2 Seaton Carew

Park View went into their second home league game of the season looking for a third consecutive win in the opening week. Their opponents Seaton Carew were making their first visit to The Riverside in the Northern League.

Seaton came into the game on the back of a great 2 - 0 away at Newcastle University the previous Thursday night. Their first points and goals in league action after their promotion as Wearside League Champions.

For Park View there was only one change from the side that had beaten Billingham Synthonia 4 - 2 on the Wednesday. 16-year-old Josh Reid making his first competitve senior debut in goal in place of the unavailable Davy Carter.

PV made a good start to the game and within two minutes almost found a way through. Brandon Young putting Charlie Loveday through on goal. Loveday speeding into the box knocked the ball past Matty Wilkinson in the Seaton goal.

As Loveday went to get the ball that would have given him an open goal, Seaton's central defender Thomas Goundry covered round superbly to clear. The ball falling to Ben Gallagher at the edge of the box but his effort was blocked,

Excellent work by Jacob Mallinson five minutes later saw him driving at the centre of the Carew defence before sliding a great ball into the inside left channel to Loveday. But his left foot effort from just inside the box went wide.

It was all Park View early on. On 9 minutes Niall Armstrong finding the overlapping Carter Bell on the left. His ball inside found Loveday centrally just outside the box.

This time the forward's effort was on target but lacked the power and direction to worry Wilkinson who went down easily to make a comfortable save. On 12 minutes Park View thought they had taken the lead.

Young was fouled out left. Mallinson whipped the ball into the near post where Jamie Frizzel appeared to outjump Wilkinson and head the ball against the keeper as he clattered into PV's defender.

The ball fell to Alex Clark who from close range prodded the ball into the empty net. But the referee deemed Frizzel's clash with Wilkinson to be a foul on the keeper and ruled the goal out. This despite Frizzel needing lengthy treatment.

Two minutes later a great move from Park View almost got them an opener. Bell playing the ball forward to Young who turned it out right to Reyhan Grimaud. Grimaud played a neat one-two with Mallinson and advanced.

The right wing-back whipping a great cross in that fizzed past Wilkinson inside his six-yard box but also past Loveday who just failed to get what would have been a decisive touch.

Then Loveday almost turned provider with a lovely reverse ball that gave Armstrong a shooting chance from 14-yards but the forward could only guide his left foot shot wide.

With Park View failing to capitilse on their early pressure Seaton's confidence grew and with the defence standing firm and Ash Lavan's prompting they began to get into the game.

Craig Linsel the ex-Sunderland West End striker leading the line with Robbie Lithgo on the left also starting to look dangerous. Adam Stuart also starting to get forward from right back.

It was from one of these advances that Seaton went in front on 27 minutes. Stuart winning a throw-in in the right corner that he took himself launcing a long delivery into the box that Clark headed away for a corner.

Lithgo swung in the kick to the near post. It was on target but Reid should have gathered it comfortably. Unfortunately the young keeper could only fumble the ball badly and it squirmed into the back of the net.

A moment that Reid will want to forget and one that gave Seaton a lead that up to that point was totally against the run of play. But as often is the case after a goal it buoyed the scoring team and the visitors were now looking better.

Stuart finding Matty Bradley on the right and he delivering a dangerous cross into the box that Clark beat Linsel too and headed out for another corner. Lithgo tried the same trick again. This time Reid managing to punch the ball away.

Bell was finding some good room going forward on the PV left and from another searching run he found Armstrong inside about 20-yards from goal. Armstrong shooting on sight but straight at Wilkinson who saved easily.

Young almost caused his side problems when he gave the ball away to Lavan in midfield. Lavan closed in on the PV goal but then with a great chance beckoning shot well wide from just inside the box.

Carew missed a great chance to double their lead on 41 minutes. Stuart again doing well on the right and hitting a deep cross to the back post. Linsel pulled away from the PV defence but could only direct his 8-yard free header too high.

The last action of the half saw Park View awarded a free-kick some 25-yards from goal. It seemed a way out but Mallinson stepped up and curled a great effort round the wall. Wilkinson diving to his left to make a great parry.

There was no doubt at half-time that Park View were a little unlucky to be a goal down but also little doubt that once they had got in front Seaton did look more comfortable in the game.

That was compounded and confirmed within a minute of the restart as Carew did double their advantage. Again an error in the PV defence presented Seaton with a gift they did not refuse.

Stuart the provider. His low ball across the six-yard box saw Reid hesitate and fail to come for. Markus Giefalk also allowed the ball to run thinking it was going dead but a Seaton player at the back post kept it in and the ball came back.

It fell to the unmarked Bradley inside the six-yard box and he shot low into the net. His right foot shot going under Reid who was trying to get across to block. A real body blow for Park View and a boost for the visitors.

It was almost three moments later. Stuart's ball over the top looked to have put Lithgo clean through one-on-one against Reid. However Grimaud was alive to the situation and made a superb covering tackle to deny Lithgo a second.

Young and Mallinson led the comeback as Pv tried to recover. They combined to find skipper Gallagher on the edge who hit a crisp on-target drive. Wilkinson getting down low to make a tidy save.

On 57 minutes PV did get a big foothold back in the game. The ball was crossed into the box towards Armstrong who went for a volley. Stuart tried to block but instead took Armstrong down and the referee ;pointed to the spot.

Armstrong stepped forward to take the penalty. He did not strike the ball well as he went for the bottom left corner. Wilkinson getting across to parry the 12-yard 'freebie.'

Unfortunately for Wilkinson but fortunately for Armstrong the ball came back out to the striker who was first to it and able to drive it home from close range for his third goal in three games. Park View back in the game now.

Niall Armstrong

Seaton were being pushed back as Park View went in search of an equaliser. The younger side having lots of possession and Armstrong almost doubling his tally for the day and bringing his side level on 71 minutes.

Young's dangerous cross into the Seaton box causing confusion and falling to Armstrong who stabbed at the ball from 10-yards out but only succeeded in putting the chance just over the bar.

But only two minutes later Park View were level. A slice of good fortune got them an equaliser although it did come after good play. Gallagher finding Bell overlapping on the left.

The left wing-back delivering a superb cross into the middle where Seaton's Goundry in an attempt to clear cluld only divert the ball on the full past his helpless keeper. Level and game on for sure.

Carter Bell

Then Bell almost went from creator to scorer. Good play down the left by Loveday saw him turn the ball to Bell inside the box. He in turn drove the ball at goal and went for the near post but the ball flew not far wide.

As the game went into the final ten minutes Bell took a corner on the right for Park View curling in an inswinger that saw Frizzel and Clark get up for with the former getting the glancing header inside the six-yard box that was too high.

PV were pouring forward but got a reminder that Carew were still around. A Dean Cope quickly taken free-kick finding Lavan free in the box. He turned and shot and Reid managed to turn the ball away for a corner.

Lithgo taking the kick but Reid came well and managed to punch the ball away with Frizzel completing the clearance in a packed home box. On 84 minutes PV should have taken the lead.

Mallinson once again showing great determination to drive over halfway with the ball and then finding Loveday superbly in the inside left channel 10-yards from goal in a great position.

Loveday did not hesitate and with the goal at his mercy smashed the ball past the helpess Wilkinson only to see the ball cannon back into play off the underside of the bar and being hacked clear by Goundry.

Again though Seaton despite being under huge pressure managed to break forward and Lithgo in space in the centre of the field tried his luck from long distance. Reid did have to dive to his left to turn the shot away. A decent save.

Park View were though finishing the stronger and missed a huge chance with three minutes to go which should have been taken. Loveday showing great close ball skills as he drifted across the Seaton 18-yard line.

His lay-off to Mallinson was neat but Mallinson was crowded out and unable to get a shot away. He did though get a superb pass away that split the Seaton wide open.

The ball finding Armstrong 14-yards out in loads of space. The forward took aim curling a right-foot effort around Wilkinson but with everyone expecting it to hit the back of the net the ball did not curl enough and went inches wide.

Loveday seemed to be everywhere as Park View kept probing. Once again great play from the speedy tricky forward saw him find Bell on the left who delivered yet another great dangerous cross.

Mallinson arriving inside the six-yard box to meet the ball but only succeeded in heading over under slight pressure from Cope and another chance was gone. But not the last chance as Park View had one more moment of disappointment.

A ball out of the Carew defence was picked up by Giefalk and with everyone expecting the young Swede to pump it back into the box he instead stepped confidently forward past a challenge.

He unleashed a thunderbolt of an effort with his right foot from 25-yards plus. It flew past Wilkinson but struck the cross bar and looped up in the air towards goal but unfortunately for Park View hit the bar again and bounced away.

It was the last meaningful action and the last opportunity for Park View to grab a winner that perhaps their play possession and chances created deserved. But after being two down on 46 minutes the feeling was it was a point gained.

It meant that despite not picking up the hoped for third win they still remain unbeaten in the league and in the early running inside the top six. Still early days but it already looks like being a totally different approach to last season.

Park View are certainly creating more chances and have eight goals in those three games. But they also have made errors at the back and do not look as tight defensively. Of course though all those things can change.

TEAM : 1. Josh Reid 2. Charlie Loveday 3. Reyham Grimaud 4. Carter Bell 5. Alex Clark 6. Markus Giefalk 7. Jacob Mallinson 8. Ben Gallagher (c) 9. Niall Armstrong 10. Brandon Young 11. Reyhan Grimaud.

SUBS : 12. Frankie Young (Not used) 13. Ollie Taylor (for Grimaud 65 mins) 14. Lewis Marshall (Not used) 15. Bobby Gough (Not used) 16. Isaac Anderson (Not used)

SCORERS : Armstrong 57, Goundry (o.g.) 73

PLAYER of the MATCH : Jacob Mallinson