Final Third Blues As Park View Push Splutters Again

Jamie Frizzel

by Jeff King

Ebac Northern League Division 2 - Wednesday 18th March 2026 Park View AFC 0 v 0 Boldon CA

Another midweek fixture under the lights at The Riverside and another where Park View failed to sparkle as brightly as the fittings illuminating the surroundings. Midweek wise a third consecutive 0-0 draw.

It meant more points dropped than gained. A feature and habit that is starting to eat into the PV physique and one that could cost them dear in the end of season reckoning.

Once again Park View were defensively excellent. In midfield they battled, ran and competed well as usual but unfortunately that killer edge and touch in the final third was missing.

Not that they didn't have chances. They did and plenty of them but by the end of the 90 minutes Boldon CA had weathered the storm and deserved their point. A point more welcome and useful to them than perhaps Park View's.

Micky Nelson was forced into one change from Saturday's starting XI that had beaten Billingham Synthonia 1-0. Ben Gallagher had limped out of Saturday's game early to be replaced by Jacob Mallinson who retained that spot in the XI.

Zac Boddy was fit enough again to return to First Team duties and was named on a four-man bench which also included Lewis Stephenson for the first time in a while.

Boldon came into the game on the back of six successive league defeats and early on looked like a team that was lacking confidence. Park View pressing and pushing forward from the first whistle and had a chance within two minutes.

Jamie Frizzel's cushioned left volley clearance freeing Charlie Loveday for a solo run at the Boldon goal. Loveday getting within 22-yards before hitting a well-struck right foot effort that cleared the bar comfortably.

The next chance perhaps should have been taken by Park View. Ollie Taylor was fouled by Adam McGuinness on half way as he tried to break forward. Mallinson delivering the free kick to the back post where Frizzel headed it on.

Skipper Dylan Wilkinson got up well to the ball and nodded it down well and in to the path of Stephen Siyanbola. However Siyanbola's right foot shot from about 8-yards out was lifted over the bar.

Brandon Young then found Niall Armstrong on the right with a great first time flicked pass. Armstrong speeding away before firing in his cross dangerously only to see Aaron Williams put it out for a corner.

Mallinson delivered. Wilkinson up well again headed the ball forward into the six-yard box where Frizzel under pressure could only volley over from virtually point blank range. Three chances inside the first ten minutes and all spurned.

Then Taylor who had made a bright start to the game did well to create space on the right before finding Armstrong just inside the box with a good ball forward.

Armstrong controlled well but in trying to turn and twist to effect a better shooting position failed to get a shot off and Luke Grant made a vital interception.

Another great run down the right by Taylor saw him cross into the box. This time it was Frazer Barker that cleared at the expense of a corner. Mallinson delivered deep to the back post but in a sea of bodies Boldon scrambled the ball clear.

Little had been seen of Boldon in the PV half but perhaps encouraged by the home side's inability to convert their confidence and forward progress increased.

Chris Bell popping up free on the right level with the 18-yard box turned a neat pass back into Joe Kerridge's path. Kerridge attempted a little dink over the Park View defence for Jack Young breaking into the box.

Brandon Young got a slight touch with his head. The ball falling to James Hughes who caught it but then under pressure from Jack Young spilled the ball and conceded a corner.

The corner delivered by Charlie Whitfield saw McGuinness get his head to the ball but there was no power on it and Hughes picked it up as it rolled towards him.

Following Hughes' clearance the ball was returned into PV territory by Kerridge with a long diagonal ball to the left. Taylor winning the foot race with Whitfield and putting the ball out for a throw-in.

McGuinness launched it long but Wilkinson won the header although only heading it back to McGuinness who tried a long ranged effort from out wide left.

The ball though on target did not have the power to trouble Hughes who collected cleanly and cleared. Park View then produced a really good move that almost opened up CA.

Started by Frizzel who recycled a visiting clearance with a ball to Wilkinson on halfway. He swept it square to Dylan Robson who exchanged passes with Taylor on the right who set off down the right.

No-one came to challenge Robson who calmly strolled forward before clipping a superb ball down the right to the overlapping Taylor. His pinpoint low cross found Brandon Young breaking late into the box.

But despite ghosting on to the ball unmarked Young couldn't control his first time flicked half volley from just outside the six-yard box and it went just over the bar.

From Lewis Charlton's long goal kick Jack Devlin got a great flick on that found Whitfield who controlled the ball wide and transferred it right to Kerridge. He turned inside Frizzel just outside the box and curled a left footer at goal.

It was a nice effort but always rising and drifting and Hughes watching the ball carefully saw it go wide of his goal. Then another Lawrence goal kick almost saw Park View create a great chance.

Frizzel starting the move with a powerful clearing header that went all the way back up field to Siyanbola who turned well and chested the ball into the path of the speedy Loveday.

He raced into the box before spotting Armstrong unmarked on the right side of the box. Loveday lifting a cross towards the Park View forward but Charlton came off his line and got to the ball first.

Some nice interplay between Frizzel and Mallinson saw the latter make ground on the left before squaring the ball inside to Loveday. Loveday moving forward before crashing a long range effort not far over the bar with Charlton covering it.

Boldon had a great chance on 37 minutes when Frankie Young did foul Whitfield inside the Park View half but perhaps did not deserve a yellow card for the challenge. Jordan Laidler firing the free kick into the Park View box.

Wilkinson headed clear but only to Kerridge who worked a crossing position after exchanging passes with McGuinness. Kerridge's cross only headed down by Siyanbola and not clear.

Devlin latched onto the loose ball but from 12-yards out he could only flash his left foot drive just over the bar from a great open position. Boldon were now well in the game and had the last chance of the first half.

Luke Grant's ball out of defence being well flicked on by Devlin again finding Whitfield. He cut across the pitch well before finding Kerridge inside the box on the right.

Kerridge did well initially to cut inside Frizzel but then with space opening up his 14-yard angled left foot drive lacked power and Hughes was able to make an easy save to keep the score line blank at the half.

Park View's opening foray of the second 45 minutes saw Mallinson send Siyanbola away on the right. He made good ground but his cross was deflected behind by Grant.

Mallinson showing good awareness from the corner to play it short towards Armstrong on the edge of the box but as he ran on to the ball he didn't make a good connection with his shot which was easily blocked and cleared.

Park View then created a neat move but again they could not find a good enough touch in the opposition box. Frizzel playing a good probing ball into the feet of Siyanbola up front.

Siyanbola holding the ball up well and then releasing Loveday on the left who sped away from the defence and got to the byline. He tried to find Armstrong at the back post with a cross but McGuinness stepped in smartly to clear.

Loveday then pinched a ball off McGuinness just outside the Boldon box before trying a shot that Grant blocked. The ball came back to Mallinson who ran forward and from 20-yards drove a great right foot shot inches wide of the post.

Park View were playing some nice setup football but could not find the finish to match. Brandon Young receiving a ball from Siyanbola after good hold up play. Young played a long one-two with Loveday before shooting straight at Charlton.

Boldon went close with a direct move that almost paid dividends. Jack Young's long diagonal nodded down by Devlin to Whitfield on the edge of the box who worked it square to Kerridge who's snapshot from the edge was inches wide.

Park View almost snatched the lead but were denied by great defending. Loveday running at the heart of the Boldon defence was blocked off but the ball feel to Brandon Young who neatly played Mallinson in on the right of the box.

He crossed a superb ball to the back post where Armstrong inside the six-yard box sent a diving header past Charlton only to see Williams covering his keeper and doing brilliantly to head to ball off the line.

Another good piece of play from the visitors got them another shot at goal. Barker doing well on the left to bring the ball into the PV half before sliding the ball inside to Jack Young.

Young played a terrific reverse through ball releasing Devlin who held off Robson in the box but his angle was tight and Hughes was well placed to collect the striker's effort.

On 75 minutes Park View withdrew Siyanbola sending Boddy on in his place and he almost made an instant impact. Mallinson played a free kick forward from halfway to Loveday who did well finding Boddy in the box.

Boddy found Wilkinson with the PV skipper laying the ball nicely back to him and from 12-yards hit a good left foot shot that Grant did really well to block. The ball coming out to Frizzel on the edge but he blazed it well over the bar.

Then on 78 minutes a golden chance for Park View was not accepted. It was a brilliant move that deserved a better finish. Frizzel heading forward to find Armstrong who controlled well before finding Brandon Young.

He pushed it forward to Boddy who flicked it inside to Armstrong who in turn found Loveday free in the centre of the pitch. Loveday splitting the defence apart with a great slide rule pass freeing Mallinson inside the box.

Mallinson only had Charlton to beat which he did but unfortunately he also beat the far post as his effort slid agonisingly inches wide of the target and another chance was gone.

Harry Laydon then replaced Brandon Young who worryingly limped off injured. The game looked like petering out but Boldon seemingly had other ideas. Grant playing a superb ball down the left to give Barker a chance to cross.

He put in an excellent ball that Hughes did superbly well to punch clear under pressure from Devlin. Boldon recycled and had a player fouled just outside the box. But they still had possession and the referee played a great advantage.

The ball being played inside to substitute Ollie Reade who had a great chance from 8-yards out but his effort was snatched at and he hit it over the bar with the goal awaiting.

Back came Park View as the game ticked into injury time. Frizzel charging forward from defence before turning the ball inside to Frankie Young and continuing his run.

Young playing it to Loveday who found Mallinson on the right. He put in a good cross that Frizzel did well to get a head to 10-yards out having got into the box. But there was not enough pace or direction to trouble Charlton who saved easily.

Boldon then pushed forward and got the ball up quickly to the edge of the box. Tackles went in and the ball bobbled about eventually falling to Devlin just inside the 'D.'

His first time shot was well struck and on target with Hughes having to dive to his left to parry the ball away and then seeing Frizzel get to the loose ball to clear the danger.

One final thrust from Park View as time expired summed up a frustrating night. Once again it was good battling play from Frankie Young to find Loveday and once again Loveday found Mallinson on the right.

This time his whipped cross flashed across the six-yard box as Laydon came steaming in at the back post. Charlton though dived outwards and got a hand on the ball to divert it away from Laydon.

The ball ricocheting off Bell who knew little about it and it went flying just wide of the post instead of inside it for a corner. Laydon delivered Boldon cleared and the referee blew the final whistle.

The reactions at the final whistle told the story. Boldon clearly delighted with a hard earned point that further eases their relegation worries. Park View heads though were down as they contemplated two points lost in the playoff race.

Now thoughts will turn to Saturday when Newcastle University visit The Riverside. Park View really needing to find an answer in the final third to get back to winning ways and picking up crucial three point hauls.

TEAM : 1. James Hughes 2. Ollie Taylor 3. Jamie Frizzel 4. Frankie Young 5. Dylan Wilkinson (c) 6. Dylan Robson 7. Niall Armstrong 8. Jacob Mallinson 9. Stephen Siyanbola 10. Brandon Young 11. Charlie Loveday

SUBS : 12. Joe Sykes 14. Lewis Stephenson 15. Harry Laydon (for B. Young 80 mins) 16. Zac Boddy (for Siyanbola 75 mins)

PLAYER of the MATCH : Jamie Frizzel