Hard Earned Point Keeps Park View In Play-Off Position

Brandon Young

by Jeff King

Ebac Northern League Division 2 - Tuesday 3rd March 2026 Alnwick Town 0 v 0 Park View AFC

Following a tough 2-1 home success against Durham United the previous Saturday, Park View ventured as far North as they can go on Tuesday night. The destination was the 'other' St. James Park to take on Alnwick Town.

That win had taken Park View back into the play-off positions in fifth place so they were looking for another win to consolidate. Alnwick though are always tough opposition and especially on their own turf.

The hosts though did come into the game on the back of four straight league defeats so Park View were hopeful of taking advantage. The dip in form for Town taking them out of the play-off race at this moment in time.

But with lots of games still to go a reversal in their recent form could well see them climb back into contention. For Park View their results have been a bit inconsistent since the New Year but they are still very much in the mix.

Park View were forced into two changes from Saturday's victory. Ben Gallagher carrying a slight knock dropped down to the bench and Dylan Robson was unavailable due to other commitments.

It meant starting places in the midfield for two 17-year-olds, Ollie Taylor and Frankie Young to play alongside Frankie's brother Brandon. Reyhan Grimaud also made his last start before a forthcoming four-match suspension.

From the off on a lively bumpy pitch it could be seen that both sides were determined to push forward and there was going to be little between the sides as the game progressed.

Alnwick being the first of the two to come close to the other's goal. Yannick Aziakonou sending Antonio Agostinho away down the left. Alnwick's number 11 twisting and turning inside before lifting a ball into the box.

It was aimed towards Lewis Fairburn but Alex Clark got his head to the ball and deflected it over for a corner. Luke Duffy taking it but Clark was there again to head clear.

Park View's first meaningful foray forward saw a Grimaud long throw flicked on by Jamie Frizzel in the Town box. The ball fell to Jacob Mallinson who turned sharply and fired at goal. The angle against him as it crashed in the side netting.

Evan Wilkinson then fouled fouled Frankie Young as he tried to burst down the right hand side. Mallinson took the free kick from wide out and his delivery found Clark in the box but he could only put a weak header well wide.

Another Mallinson free kick not long later and another Clark header almost saw Stephen Siyanbola get in on close from close range. But he was crowded out by the Town defence who managed to scramble the ball clear.

Alnwick's first shot on goal came after 27 minutes. Agostinho finding Ryan Smith just inside the Park View box with a neat pass. Smith controlled well but didn't strike his angled shot with any venom. James Hughes saving easily.

Park View created the best chance of the first half thus far when clever play by Siyanbola released Brandon Young into the box and he looked like being one-on-one with Aaron Carr in the Alnwick goal.

Unfortunately Brandon's touch was just too heavy as he looked to control and set his sights and Carr was able to come off his line and smother. Carr though nearly went from hero to villain shortly afterwards.

Dealing with a back pass Carr's clearing kick went straight to Siyanbola who had a clear run on goal with only the keeper to beat. But once again a Park View touch was poor as the ball got away from Siyanbola and Carr was able to claim.

Up to this point Park View had been on top but as the half ticked on the home side did come more into the game and began to look dangerous. Hughes and his defenders having to do well to keep the score line blank.

Hughes diving well to his right to parry away a good drive from Usman Ogidan from the edge of the box after the Alnwick player had controlled a nice pass from Fairburn. The ball going out for a corner.

Clark then fouled Agostinho wide on the left. Duffy delivered the free kick that Hughes did well to punch away under pressure. Smith retrieved the ball and won a corner on the opposite flank off Frizzel.

Duffy again the deliverer and Wilkinson stole in to the centre of the box to meet the ball but could only send his header wide of the target from a dangerous position.

Park View's midfield trio was combining well to probe and stretch the Alnwick defence orchestrated by Brandon Young. Some neat interplay with his brother Frankie and involving Taylor saw Brandon almost put Siyanbola through.

The big striker just thwarted by Josh Iley as he threatened to get beyond the last man and in on goal. Both sides at this stage looking compact and defending their lines well.

The last action of a combative but fairly contested first half saw Hughes excel once more for Park View. A long throw from the left by Wilkinson was flicked on by Iley and Fairburn inside the six-yard box came on to the ball.

His header was firm and on target but Hughes plunged to his left and kept the ball out in fine style. The save ensuring that the score line stayed blank as the half time whistle went.

Park View made a blistering start to the second half and were unlucky not to break the deadlock within twenty seconds of the restart. A ball up to Siyanbola from the back saw him hold it up well and lay it into the path of Brandon Young.

Young did superbly to dance along the 18-yard line creating space for a left foot curler that was heading for the top corner. Carr though did wonderfully well at full stretch to get a strong right hand on the ball and claw it away in fine style.

Then Mallinson did well to find Charlie Loveday inside the Alnwick area. Loveday getting a good shot off about 14-yards out that took a deflection off Scott Shepard and deflected just over the bar.

Mallinson took the resultant corner and the ball headed back to him from Callum Morgan's clearance. Mallinson getting to the byline before firing in another cross that clearly struck Morgan's arm.

The referee though waving the appeals of Park View and giving a corner. Mallinson with the delivery that Carr was able to claim well just outside his six-yard box.

Grimaud was then upended deep in the Alnwick half as he came surging forward from his defensive right back position. Mallinson delivered the free kick to the back post where Frizzel got up well.

His header was back into the danger area of the centre of the box but unfortunately no one was on hand or free from Park View to get to the inviting header across.

Having survived a bit of a Park View storm Alnwick had a big penalty shout of their own when they finally broke out of defence. Agostinho putting Smith in the clear on the right.

Smith got into the Park View box and attempted a cross from the byline that appeared to strike Dylan Wilkinson on the arm but again the referee merely awarded a corner. Wilkinson heading Duffy's delivery firmly clear.

The ball reached Siyanbola who swept it on to Loveday who was away from the defenders at speed and racing towards goal. But as he entered the box the ball just got away from Loveday as he prepared to shoot. Another chance gone.

Park View made their first substitution of the game on 67 minutes with Niall Armstrong coming on for Mallinson.

Then the closest we had come to a goal in the first 70 minutes of the game. Shepard picking a ball up in his own half and bursting forward through the centre of the field unchallenged.

He was fully 25-yards out when he lashed a thunderbolt of a shot at goal. The ball flying past Hughes full length dive going inches wide as it hit the stanchion at the back of the goal and rocketed back on to the field.

Many inside the ground including the Alnwick bench thought the ball had actually gone in but their hopes and anyone else connected with the home side were dashed with a correctly awarded goal kick being the result.

Park View's second substitution saw Harry Laydon continuing his comeback from injury coming on with thirteen minutes to go to replace Frankie Young who had put in a great shift.

A clever free kick not long after almost brought Park View a reward. Taylor with it who spotted Loveday running across the defence and slid the ball into his path rather than hitting it long into the box.

Loveday controlled well then spun around his defender before crossing into the middle. Siyanbola got to the ball first and flashed a glancing header from about 10-yards out not far pas the far post.

Laydon then played an incisive ball down the left once again finding Loveday in space. The PV wide forward playing a good ball inside to Brandon Young who took a great touch to give him a shooting chance just inside the area.

He took the chance well with a left foot strike that saw Carr having to react smartly to make a good parry as he dived to his right. Young again going close as he continued to impress.

It was Loveday who was suddenly looking like the man that could unlock the Alnwick defence. Making a terrific run across the pitch from left to right he found space to deliver a dangerous cross into the box.

Armstrong who had darted inside meeting the ball on the full with a terrific 16-yard right foot volley that was only just over the bar with Carr struggling to get anywhere near it.

Sam Beattie replaced Siyanbola late on before Alnwick in injury time had perhaps their best chance of the game and almost stole the win. It came from a left wing cross initially from Wilkinson.

Hughes diving out to push it outside the box where Aziakonou retrieved and slid it square to substitute Max Anderson. With the goal at his mercy and Hughes slightly out of position following his punch, Anderson shot narrowly wide.

Last chance of the game done and gone for the home side, the referee calling time on a well fought even contest that both sides would have felt hard done to had they not got something out of the game.

For Alnwick though it's five games without a win as they continue to slip away from possible play-off contention. Park View on the other hand took a point away from home that keeps them in the final play-off position.

TEAM : 1. James Hughes 2. Reyhan Grimaud 3. Jamie Frizzel 4. Ollie Taylor 5. Dylan Wilkinson (c) 6. Alex Clark 7. Jacob Mallinson 8. Frankie Young 9. Stephen Siyanbola 10. Brandon Young 11. Charlie Loveday SUBS : 12. Ben Gallagher (Not Used) 14. Harry Laydon (for F. Young) 77 mins 15. Sam Beattie (for Siyanbola) 87 mins 16. Joe Sykes (Not Used) 17. Niall Armstrong (for Mallinson) 67 mins

PLAYER of the MATCH : Brandon Young