Error Strewn Park View Lose Unbeaten Run
Ebac Northern League Division 2 - Saturday 26th September 2026 Park View AFC 0 v 2 AFC Newbiggin
After a good unbeaten run of five matches in all competitions including four in the league with several fine performances thrown in it all came to a shuddering halt on Saturday.
After a promising opening half hour Park View presented a couple of gifts to their visitors AFC Newbiggin who once they accepted them held on to them comfortably for the rest of the game. Park View unable to recover their errors.
Park View were forced into a few changes from Tuesday's creditable 1 - 1 draw at FC Hartlepool. Carter Bell and Ben Gallagher who were both injured in that game both were not fit enough to be in the match day squad.
Marcus Geifalk was put was relegated to the bench replaced in the starting XI by Frankie Young with brother Brandon also returning in place of Gallagher. There was also a start for Dylan Robson returning to the Club from Newton Aycliffe.
Robson who Park View are delighted to welcome back slotting in at left back to replace Bell. In the absence of Gallagher in-form Charlie Loveday was named as captain.
Inside the first two minutes the home side almost took the lead being denied by opposition keeper Oliver Huddleston in fine style. It was a great move by Park View that created the chance.
Frankie Young winning a good tackle inside his own before finding Jacob Mallinson in the Newbiggin half. Mallinson made ground towards the box before playing a lovely 1-2 with Loveday.
Mallinson through on goal had only Huddleston in front of him but the keeper came off his line smartly to make a superb block and deny Park View a flying start to the game.
A minute later Mallinson again found Loveday who was upended just outside the box by a Newbiggin defender. Loveday getting up to take the free kick from a dangerous central area but unfortunately his effort was into the wall.
Newbiggin's first response was a diagonal ball from Cameron Elliott to the left to find Jacob Douglas coming forward into space on the left flank. He cross though well intercepted by Ollie Taylor giving the visitors a corner.
Kyle Downey took it and swung the ball into the PV six-yard box where Jack Livingstone flicked to the back post to the lurking Ethan Smith but he headed wide stretching to reach the ball.
Mallinson was showing well early for the home side and once again showing good footwork and forward intent found Nathan Conroy on the edge of the box. Conroy laid the ball back to Mallinson but his 25-yard effort was well over the bar.
Unfortunately for Park View it was Mallinson's last contribution of the game as he clashed heads with his own player Robson in a defensive situation and had to be helped groggily from the pitch. Isaac Anderson replacing him.
Matty Nelson then created a bit of space for himself in midfield but the Newbiggin top scorers' effort from distance flew well over the bar not troubling Davy Carter in the Park View goal.
A great move on 23 minutes almost brought Park View the lead that perhaps their opening display had deserved. Anderson and Conroy combining well on the left to find Niall Armstrong in a great position inside the Newbiggin box.
Armstrong twisted and turned well to create a shooting space but saw his on-target effort deflected inches wide off Livingstone. The corner was worked short to Brandon Young who crossed well only to see Matthew Bowles head clear.
AFC Newbiggin were attempting to use the wind that they had in the favour and get the ball forward quickly at every opportunity. From such a situation Elliott tried a real long-ranger that was on target but Carter saved easily.
Then Elliott dispossed Taylor in his own half before playing the ball forward to ex-Park View midfielder Harry Laydon. Laydon driving forward before unleashing a crisp low 22-yarder that was not far wide of the right-hand post.
On 30 minutes disaster struck for Park View with a catastophic error from Carter gifting the visitors the lead. Carter took a goal kick and completely miskicking the ball. It land straight at the feet of Smith on the edge of the box in the clear.
Smith merely had to settle the ball take a couple of steps inside the box and fire easily past the distraught and static Carter. A disaster for Park View particulary after their good start.
The goal rocked Park View who were struggling to deal with the long balls into their defence and when they did get the ball into midfield they kept giving away possesion.
Downey almost immediately after the goal setting up Elliott inside the box but his angled 12-yard right foot flying just over the bar. But only three minutes after taking the lead Newbiggin doubled their advantage.
Nelson was allowed time and space to drift across the pitch from right to left and then find left back Douglas on the flank. Taylor not closing down quick enough allowed Douglas to easily drift inside him. It opened up space.
Douglas seizing the opportunity to move forward and then unleash a 22-yard thunderbolt that arrowed above Carter's despairing full length dive and crashed into the back of the net with some force.
Park View were now struggling particualry to hold on to possesion of the ball. Brandon Young giving it away poorly to Laydon who picked out Nelson. Nelson getting into the home box before rifling in a shot that was just wide of the post.
If anyone was going to get Park View back into the game it was likely to be Loveday. Picking up Frankie Young's neat pass in his own half he weaved and twisted running 50 yards to fire just wide from just outside the box.
Park View almost pulled a goal back on the stroke of half-time. Anderson was fouled on half-way earning a free kick that Robson delivered long into the Newbiggin box.
Clark at the back post getting up and nodding the ball back across the goal where Armstrong inside the six-yard box got a header onto it but saw his effort hit the top of the bar bounce over.
The last action of a half that had started brightly for Park View but ended in awful style. Not that AFC Newbiggin were complaining as both sides trooped off to talk things over.
The start to the second half was a bad one for Park View. Frankie Young injuring himself as he slid into Nelson and sustaining a back injury that caused him to be carried from the field. Bobby Gough coming on in his place.
Substitute Michael Johnstone who had come on for Smith set a good Newbiggin attack up with a pass to Laydon who then found Nelson inside the Park View area. Nelson though firing wide from a great position.
Eoghain Sheppard then made a determined run down the right past Gough and then cutting inside Anderson as he got to the byline. Clark coming across to clear for a corner.
Nelson delivered towards the near post but Anderson put it out for another corner. This time Downey delivered into a dangerous area but saw Reyhan Grimaud do well to scramble the ball clear.
Park View did go close and were denied by good Newbiggin defending. Armstrong combining well with Brandon Young before hitting a goal bound shot from the edge that Sheppard blocked bravely.
Then it was Loveday fouled once again about 25-yards out that whipped in a free kick under the bar that Huddleston managed to palm around for a corner. Loveday delivering the corner but unable to find a teammate in the box.
A long throw from substitute Harry Scott almost caused a problem for Park View. Anderson clearing only to see the ball reach Downey just outside the box but his effort was just too high.
Brandon Young then made a good burst from midfield before picking out Loveday inside the box but his left foot angled drive was wide of the far post. Park View were pushing but in truth Newbiggin were defending well.
Loveday did get through the resolute defence with ten minutes to go with a brilliant burst and hit a great effort across towards the far corner from 16-yards. Huddleston though was equal to it diving full length to make a great save.
Time was ticking against Park View who did not give up. Anderson from the left finding Gough inside and the PV getting a good shot from distance on target but it was straight at Huddleston who held it comfortably.
Indeed the closest Park View came to a goal was almost courtesy of former player Laydon. Loveday sending Armstrong away on the left and his cross almost turned into his own goal by Laydon but flying just wide.
Loveday took the corner which eventually fell to Brandon Young but his last effort of the game was well blocked by Dan Hadfield. The whistle went seconds later signalling a great first ever victory for AFC Newbiggin over Park View.
The result meaning AFC Newbiggin leap frogged their hosts going back into fourth two points ahead of Park View having played two fewer games. Park View's current fifth place is under threat with them having played more games.
They have done well to get to the play-off positions but this was not a performance worthy of that position. A bit of niavety, defensive errors and a lack of energy all needing to be addressed before their next game.
That will be at Ryton & Crawcrook next Friday night and they will be hoping to have some of their injured players back for that game. Although it could be the opposite after picking up what looked like another couple of bad ones.
TEAM : 1. Davy Carter 2. Ollie Taylor 3. Dylan Robson 4. Frankie Young 5. Alex Clark 6. Reyhan Grimaud 7. Jacob Mallinson 8. Brandon Young 9. Nathan Conroy 10. Niall Armstrong 11. Charlie Loveday (c)
SUBS : 12. Isaac Anderson (for Mallinson 12 mins) 13. Lewis Stephenson (for Robson 75 mins) 14. Markus Geifalk (for Taylor 65 mins) 15. Bobby Gough (for Frankie Young 48 mins) 16. Kieran Woods (for Conroy 69 mins)
PLAYER of the MATCH : Reyhan Grimaud
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