Festive Cheer As Park View Deliver Seven Christmas Crackers

by Jeff King

Ebac Northern League Division 2 - Saturday 20th December 2025 Sunderland West End 0 v 7 Park View AFC

Park View went into their last league fixture before Christmas looking for a win to take them back into the play-off positions and extract a bit of revenge on their former Landlords and hosts.

Back in August West End had arrived at The Riverside and in a smash and grab raid handed Park View their biggest league defeat of the season to date. An emphatic 3-0 win for the visitors on that day.

Since then, Park View have gone on to mount an impressive play-off contention run whilst Sunderland are having a solid mid-table season.

Both sides were therefore looking to deliver an early Christmas present to boost their league standings.

For Park View there were two changes to the starting XI that had beaten the ‘other’ Sunderland side, RCA, 11 days earlier 2-0 away in their last game. Jacob Mallinson missed out through injury and Reyhan Grimaud was unavailable.

In came 16-year-old Zac Boddy for his first full senior start on the right-hand side of the attack and there was also a return to PV colours for Michael Mallaburn doing a ‘Lewis Miley’ at right back.

Mallaburn having returned to the Club following the end of a successful first season in the USA on a scholarship and slotting in at right back. Forward Kobe Bewicke had also returned from the States and was on the bench to start his second spell with PV.

The game opened with the hosts on the front foot and testing the NL Div 2’s best defence. PV holding strong under pressure and not allowing West End to create any real chances before producing a wonderful first attack of their own.

It came on six minutes and gave them an early lead and platform to progress for the rest of the game. Jamie Frizzel playing a ball from left back up to centre forward Stephen Siyanbola who held it up well before neatly finding Charlie Loveday.

Loveday’s incisive through ball split the home defence superbly and Ben Gallagher breaking strongly from midfield got on the end of it just inside the box. He swept a first-time sweet left foot finish past Andrew Coulson in the West End goal.

A great start for PV and it got even better on 12 minutes when they doubled their lead. This time Gallagher playing the role of provider. He had the ball on the right-hand side just inside his own half and spotted Siyanbola in space.

A superb ball over and through the Sunderland defence saw Park View’s top scorer sprint clear of the trailing defenders. As he entered the box and Coulson came off his line to meet him, Siyanbola slid his left foot shot unerringly into the awaiting net.

Two-up inside the opening quarter of an hour would have killed off most teams. But to their credit West End tried to stick to their task and rallied well. A long ball over the top by Tom Hunter found Liam Appleby in space inside the Park View box.

The angle was tight, but the much-travelled experienced striker did well to strike a good left-volley from about 10-yards out. It required a good, parried save from PV’s James Hughes to keep the effort out.

Mallaburn then marked his return with a booking for needlessly kicking the ball away after conceding a free kick to leave him on a tightrope for the rest of the game. He atoned moments later with a good tackle in his full back position.

It freed the ball to enable Brad Hughes to pick it up and find Brandon Young who played a delightful ball for Siyanbola to run on to. But West End player-manager Joe Walton got across well to deny the big forward a strike at goal.

The corner was delivered well by Mallaburn and Young just failed to make contact when well placed 12-yards out with West End scrambling the ball clear.

The sides were going a bit back and forth with both realising the next goal could be crucial. Siyanbola being fouled centrally some 25-yards from goal by Dan Martin. Mallaburn stepped up put his free kick though well struck was well over the bar.

Walton played a long ball from the back to find Appleby with his back to goal on the edge of the PV box. The striker turned well and struck his left foot effort well, but it was straight at Hughes who saved easily.

A driving run by David Hodgson was stopped just outside the box by a Young trip that earned the Park View midfielder a yellow card. Hunter went for goal from a dangerous position, but his free kick cannoned off the wall for a corner.

Mark Robinson took and aimed for the near post where Mallaburn was on hand to clear for another corner. This time Robinson swung the ball in to the back post where back peddling Hughes palmed the ball away in fine style.

Gallagher picking up the ball just outside his own box driving towards halfway before finding Young in space just inside the West End half. Young in turn playing a brilliant reverse ball to Loveday who attacked the box.

Loveday tried to get a shot on goal, but it was well blocked by Adam Anderson. PV launched another attack soon after with Gallagher breaking from midfield to find Siyanbola out wide right.

Siyanbola delivering a great cross to the back post where Loveday tried to get on the end of the dangerous delivery, but he was just beaten to the ball by Anderson who conceded a corner.

Mallaburn’s place kick was a good one and Frizzel met it inside the six-yard box but watched on with frustration as his goal bound header took a deflection and went just wide for a corner on the opposite flank.

This time Mallaburn’s delivery caused the West End defence problems and fell to Siyanbola who prodded to ball towards goal. It found Loveday unmarked inside the six-yard box who instinctively diverted it past Coulson to make it 3-0.

A goal a minute into first half injury time and if that blow didn’t see off Sunderland the very next attack surely did. It was Anderson bursting forward to almost get in on goal, but he was adjudged to have fouled Frizzel attempting to do so.

Anderson clearly didn’t agree with the referee’s decision and told him so in what can only have been an unacceptable manner by the official who brandished a red card to the home full back.

Three-down and now down to 10-men it was a dejected West End side that left the field in an unhappy manner. Park View meanwhile could hardly have wished for a better 45 minutes, and it got even better within a minute of the resumption.

It was Siyanbola who was once again involved as he picked up a ball some 30-yards from goal and showed good control and composure to wait for Gallagher to make a really well-timed run forward.

Siyanbola then slipping the ball through for Gallagher who advanced into the box rounded the onrushing Coulson and then from a tight angle steered the ball into the waiting empty net. Gallagher’s second and Park View’s fourth.

Five minutes later and it was Siyanbola getting his second of the afternoon and PV’s fifth. It came from great pressing from Gallagher who won the ball and found Boddy inside the West End box.

Boddy tried to turn on to his left foot but was blocked by a defender. The ball though ran loosed and there was Siyanbola 10-yards out who rifled it high into the net giving Coulson no chance.

There was a little moment of concern straight after this when Boddy lunged in on Hunter, but the referee deemed a yellow card to be the sufficient  punishment. Boddy though was withdrawn by the Park View management with Bewicke coming on.

Mallaburn almost earned his side a sixth goal when he found himself covering across on the left and swinging a high long ball towards goal. Coulson was unsure as the ball bounced but managed to divert it over his own bar.

Liam Clarke had replaced Appleby for West End, and he looked lively. Taking a ball well on the left just inside the Park View half he turned past Dylan Robson and sprinted towards goal with the ball at his feet.

He got just inside the box but spotting Dylan Wilkinson coming across to challenge him he lacked composure and put his left foot shot from an angle about 14-yards out over the bar.

Park View though now were making their presence felt and swarming forward at every opportunity. Brad Hughes finding Bewicke just inside the box who fired in a good effort that saw Coulson get down well at his near post to make a good save.

Then Wilkinson played a great ball wide right to find Mallaburn bursting forward. He in turn took the ball well lifted it over Hunter and tried to lob Coulson. His effort beating the keeper easily but unfortunately from a great position dropped just over the bar.

A sixth goal had looked inevitable and duly arrived on 65 minutes. Once again Gallagher involved as he won a tackle, recovered the ball, and got into the box. His shot though was blocked.

But Bewicke showed great awareness and determination to get to the loose ball first and fire it into the net from about 8-yards out to mark his return to Park View colours. Bewicke almost netting another a couple of minutes later as well.

Brad Hughes sent Frizzel away on the left on the overlap. Frizzel delivered a great cross into the box picking out Gallagher who took it down well and then rolled into Bewicke’s path.

But the striker was denied a second when his well-struck on target 12-yard drive was well saved by the under-siege Coulson.

With twenty minutes to go Park View made a triple substitution. Joe Sykes, Frankie Young, and Ollie Taylor coming on for Mallaburn, Brad Hughes and Brandon Young.

Loveday then created a great chance for another Park View goal which really should have been converted or at least brought Coulson into action. The speedy wide man sprinting down the touchline then cutting across the by-line.

Getting his head-up Loveday saw Siyanbola spin free of his marker and laid the ball neatly into the forward’s path, but Park View’s top scorer blazed the ball high and wide from about 12-yards out with the goal at his mercy.

On 80 minutes though Siyanbola thought he had a hat-trick only to be denied by his own teammate Gallagher who actually completed his own hat-trick.

Bewicke doing really well from halfway to slide a ball through the defence.

Siyanbola was on to it and only had Coulson to beat which he did. As the keeper came at him Siyanbola slide the ball past him. It was on target and with no-one covering rolled towards the empty net.

But Gallagher chasing the play decided to make sure himself and from barely two yards out smashed the ball home to net his third of the afternoon and Park View’s seventh to complete a fine day at the office.

There was a little dispute between Gallagher and Siyanbola as to whether Gallagher should have followed up or allowed the ball to go in but in the end, it was another Park View goal registered on the day.

The final ten minutes were played out fairly comfortably by Park View although West End did keep going and from a short corner Frazer Barker had a long-range curler turned away by James Hughes.

Then Bewicke tripped Frazer and that allowed Hodgson a sighting of goal as time ticked down but his free kick over the wall was always drifting wide and brought an end to proceedings.

So, six wins in a row now for Park View who moved back into the play-off positions at the expense of neighbours Chester-le-Street Town. The two local rivals see-sawing that final position at the moment which makes Boxing Day a big, big day indeed.

It is the Derby on The Moor as Park View travel to Town for a huge vital encounter for the traditional holiday fixture that will kick-off at 11:00am. Park View are travelling in form and full of confidence but they know Town are waiting and it will be a tough, tough game.

TEAM : 1. James Hughes 2. Michael Mallaburn 3. Jamie Frizzel 4. Brad Hughes 5. Dylan Wilkinson (c) 6. Dylan Robson 7. Zac Boddy 8. Ben Gallagher 9. Stephen Siyanbola 10. Brandon Young 11. Charlie Loveday

SUBS : 12. Joe Sykes (for Mallaburn 69 mins) 14. Kobe Bewicke (for Boddy 51 mins) 15. Ollie Taylor (for Young 69 mins) 16. Frankie Young (for Brad Hughes 69 mins)

SCORERS : Gallagher 6, 46, 80 Siyanbola 12, 50 Loveday 45 + 1Bewicke 65

PLAYER of the GAME : Ben Gallagher