Birthday Boy Charlie Fires Park View To Celebratory Win

Charlie Loveday

by Jeff King

Ebac Northern League Division 2 - Wednesday 25th March 2026 Darlington Town 2 v 3 Park View AFC

A huge win on the road on a cold Darlington night warmed the hearts of the Park View contingence in attendance. In what was a great game of football the visitors had to come from behind twice to get three vital possibly crucial points.

Darlington Town certainly gave Park View plenty to think about particularly in the first half but the promotion seeking visitors were full value for their win even if they did leave it late to secure it.

Two goals inside the last ten minutes finally sealed the deal after a string of missed chances threatened to derail their play-off push. And for birthday boy Charlie Loveday it was a night to celebrate as he netted his first goal of 2026.

Loveday was involved in almost everything Park View did well and on his first day of no longer being a teenager he was the difference in the end. His eight goal of the season being the crucial one in a five-goal thriller.

Park View went into the game unchanged from the side that had defeated Newcastle University 2-0 at home on Saturday. Alex Clark was available again but along with the returning from injury Ben Gallagher only from the bench.

On a speedy 3G surface the game opened with both sides looking to get the ball down and pass it around. The first chance of the game falling to the home side on 7 minutes.

Park View skipper Dylan Wilkinson heading a long clearance from Darlo keeper Tyler Smith out to the Town left where Alfie Backhouse picked it up and burst forward. Approaching the PV box he squared the ball to Ciaran Dixon.

Darlington's top scorer controlled the ball well and from on the edge of the 'D' curled a right foot effort inches wide of James Hughes' left hand post with the PV keeper at full stretch not reaching it.

Park View's response was strong. Loveday drifting infield from the left played a superb cross field ball to Jacob Mallinson who from the right curled in a dangerous cross. Smith coming well to claim it in front of Zac Boddy.

Then Park View went very close to taking the lead. Boddy tried a cross from the left that Cameron Holliday blocked. The ball rebounding to Jamie Frizzel who crossed low towards the danger zone. Again Darlington half cleared.

The ball spinning to Loveday who from 8-yards out saw his left foot shot blocked by Ryan Coles and then Luke Jackson tried to clear up for the home side. His attempted clearance only finding Boddy at the edge of the area.

Boddy did well to smash a first time right foot shot from the edge of the area that beat Smith but cannoned away to safety of the outside of the far post. An immediate retort from Town though gave them the lead on 10 minutes.

Coles' long ball from the back saw James Beauchamp up well to flick the ball on to George McCowie on the left who got on the outside of Dylan Robson and sprinted away from the Park View centre back.

Getting into the box and to the byline he cut the ball back across the six-yard box where the late arriving Will Maddison outsprinted Frankie Young and had the simple task of side footing the ball past a helpless Hughes.

Park View responded well and were almost level within a couple of minutes. Wilkinson playing a good ball forward to the feet of Boddy who laid it off well to Frizzel on the left wing.

Frizzel's first time cross was flicked on well by Young on the 18-yard box finding Niall Armstrong in the box. He got the ball down and was unlucky to see his 12-yard left foot shoot fizz inches wide of the goal. A good chance for Park View.

Park View were then forced into an enforced substitution on 14 minutes when Young's hamstring popped and Gallagher returned to first team action from the bench following injury.

He was involved immediately. Frizzel with a good throw-in found Boddy who flicked it into the path of Gallagher. He switched play well to Reyhan Grimaud who crossed from the right dangerously only to Coles head out.

Not the best clearing header though and Backhouse could not control it losing the ball to Loveday who curled a left footer from about 12-yards out past both Smith and the far post. Another good chance gone.

Loveday was then left to rue another great opportunity spurned. Grimaud combining well with Gallagher on the right to win a throw-in in Dylan Robson territory. Robson launching it long into the box.

Frizzel flicked it on and Loveday came in at the back post inside the six-yard box but could only direct his free header straight at Smith from a great position. Park View were through starting to get on top.

Armstrong was fouled out on the right level with the 18-yard line by Jack Winstanley. Mallinson delivered it well into the middle where Frizzel got to the ball first and powered a thumping 10-yard header just wide and high.

Park View's pressure finally gained them the reward they deserved on 35 minutes. Coles from his defensive line tried to play a short ball to Winstanley but Gallagher was alert to it and nipped in first.

He drove into the box and was trying to line-up a shot but went down under a challenge from Jackson. No penalty and Gallagher got up to retrieve the situation. A scramble ensued and Loveday got a shot in that Jackson blocked.

The ball looped to the edge of the box and there was Armstrong to crash a precise left foot volley through the crowd of players past a static Smith who could only watch the ball nestle in the left hand corner of his net.

Equaliser One From Niall Armstrong

Park View's parity though only lasted three minutes when Darlo retook the lead with a breakaway goal. Armstrong hit a high ball into the box. Smith coming to punch away. It wasn't a convincing punch but reached the edge of the box.

Maddison flicked it away and found Beauchamp who lifted it over the Park View defence from just inside his own half. McCowie getting in behind Wilkinson and goal side. Wilkinson looked to be pushed as he tried to clear but play went on.

McCowie running into the box before lobbing the ball over the advancing Hughes from 8-yards out to restore the Darlington lead. Wilkinson and Hughes remonstrating with the referee but the goal stood.

Park View and Armstrong almost had a chance to level things back up in the last minute of the half. Another excellent win in midfield by Gallagher opening things up as he found Boddy.

Boddy slid the ball into Armstrong's path as he broke into the box. There was a chance for Armstrong to shoot almost first time but instead he tried to turn on to his right foot allowing Coles to intercept tackle and clear.

A good half of football ended soon after with the home side in front but Park View still very much in the game and perhaps shading the possession and chances.

Park View opened the second half very much on the front foot as they looked for an equaliser. A delightful move almost brought it in the early going. Frizzel's header forward was picked up by Gallagher who found Loveday on the left.

The speedy wide man cut inside and drove across the pitch finding Mallinson with a forward pass. Mallinson waited for Grimaud's overlap and rolled the ball into the marauding full back's path.

At speed on the run he crossed low into the six-yard box looking for Boddy but Jackson got their first for Darlington slicing the ball and almost slicing it into his own net.

The next opportunity for PV came when Frizzel found Loveday in space from a throw-in. Once again he showed great control as he cut across the pitch and passed to Armstrong who tried a 22-yarder with his right foot that was wide.

Boddy was the next one to go close. Wilkinson's brilliant diagonal ball to the right finding Grimaud in acres of space. His pinpoint cross picked out Boddy in the middle of the box and his first time instinctive flick was just over the bar.

Gallagher then won a ball just inside the Darlington half after great pressing. He played it right to Grimaud once again coming forward before turning the ball back inside to Ollie Taylor who tried a 20-yard shot that was a touch too high.

Park View really on top at this stage getting shots in but not being accurate with their finishing and not really troubling Smith in the Darlington goal. Little had been seen in the second 45 minutes thus far in attack from Town.

Another sweeping Park View move started from the back by Robson's ball forward to Grimaud who played it first time to Mallinson who turned it inside to the roving Loveday. He advanced to the edge of the box before shooting.

The ball deflecting off Winstanley for a corner. Mallinson worked a 1-2 short routine with Armstrong before finding Boddy just outside the box. Boddy crossing to the back post and finding Frizzel in space.

Frizzel controlled the ball beautifully before crashing a close range angled drive past Smith into the back of the net only to be thwarted by the Assistant's flag going up correctly for offside.

The next effort came from Mallinson. A Robson long throw flicking off Coles and dropping to Mallinson who on the half turn from 10-yards hooked it on target. The alert Smith back peddling to catch the ball just under his own cross bar.

On 69 minutes Park View replaced Boddy who had put in a great shift with top scorer Stephen Siyanbola as they continued to push for an equaliser. Loveday setting up the next chance.

Taylor winning a header on halfway that set Loveday away again and he showed superb ball control as he ran fully 30 yards twisting turning and weaving through the Town defence.

Deep into the box he pulled the ball back to Armstrong inside the six-yard box but Smith did brilliantly well at point blank range to block the forward's effort and then grab the loose ball as Armstrong tried to get to the rebound.

Harry Laydon was the third PV substitute coming on for Taylor on 72 minutes. Laydon showing he was ready with a great tackle in midfield to release Gallagher who made ground before squaring it inside left to Loveday.

Loveday held the ball up well awaiting Frizzel on the overlap and then releasing the ball at exactly the right time. Frizzel didn't break stride and fired a great cross across the goal that a flying Siyanbola just failed to get to at the back post.

Finally Darlington got forward and had an effort on goal in the second half with barely 15 minutes to go. Good build up play saw McCowie pass to Winstanley who found substitute Leroy Hewitt sending Reece Brown scurrying forward.

Brown pushed the ball wide to McCowie on the run who crossed from the right. Grimaud's clearance only reaching Maddison on the edge of the box but he shot well over from a good position.

Darlington were suddenly going forward and looing dangerous. A neat triangle of passing between Reece Brown, Holliday and Beauchamp giving the latter a shooting chance but he shot straight at Hughes from the edge of the box.

Then finally the moment Park View had been waiting for and pressing for all second half arrived on 82 minutes. Grimaud's cross from the right was hacked clear by Holliday and retrieved by Wilkinson who advanced forward.

From 25-yards he unleashed a low shot that had Smith diving low full length to keep out. Siyanbola following up was first to the ball only two yards from goal but Smith did brilliantly to block the follow-up.

The ball though coming loose and Armstrong pounced on it controlled it well and drilled it past the covering defenders on the line from barely four yards out with his left foot for his and Park View's second equaliser of the night.

Armstrong At The Double

Park View with their tails up now and the free ranging Loveday causing havoc every time he got the ball. Latching on to a great win by Frizzel on the left he set off weaving across the pitch again.

No-one could catch him as he got into the 'D' before curling a right foot effort wide of Smith's left hand post with the keeper watching it go wide of the goal. But Loveday was not to be denied that birthday goal.

On 85 minutes Laydon won another midfield tackle inside his own half and squared the ball to Loveday who sprinted into the centre circle and then over halfway set sights on the Darlington box.

A superb jinking run saw Loveday untouched as he got to the 18-yard line before completely wrong footing Smith with a disguised effort that nestled into the bottom left hand side of the net. A wonderful finish to end his scintillating run.

Charlie Celebrates His Birthday In Style

The comeback completed and Park View in front with five minutes left of the 90. Could they hold out? Not only did they, they actually continued to push forward looking for another to kill off the home side.

They nearly got it as well. Wilkinson and Loveday playing a short free kick before Wilkinson found Siyanbola on the edge of the box. Siyanbola holding off Jackson and laying the ball off to Laydon.

From 24-yards Laydon hit a sweet right side footed effort that saw Smith dive high to his left to best away. Mallinson recycled the loose ball and in the scramble Gallagher had a goal bound 12-yard shot well blocked by Coles.

It was the last meaningful action of a pulsating game where Park View had twice come back from falling behind and then eventually got over the line thanks to a magical goal from Loveday.

A huge win and superb three points on the road against a tough well organised Darlington Town side that were in the game throughout but in the end just didn't have enough to keep Park View out.

Another game played and only three to go. Next up is Tow Law Town this Saturday on Non-League Day at The RIverside. Tow Law showing they are a tough side to beat these days with a 1-1 draw midweek against Chester Town.

TEAM : 1. James Hughes 2. Reyhan Grimaud 3. Jamie Frizzel 4. Ollie Taylor 5. Dylan Wilkinson (c) 6. Dylan Robson 7. Niall Armstrong 8. Jacob Mallinson 9. Zac Boddy 10. Frankie Young 11. Charlie Loveday SUBS : 12. Ben Gallagher (for Young 14 mins) 14. Ethan Connelly (Not Used) 15. Harry Laydon (for Taylor 72 mins) 16. Stephen Siyanbola (for Boddy 69 mins) 17. Alex Clark (Not Used)

GOAL SCORERS : Armstrong 35, 82 Loveday 85

PLAYER of the MATCH : Charlie Loveday