Impressive AFC March On At Jarrow

by Jeff King

Wednesday 30th July 2025 - Ebac Northern League Division 2 Jarrow FC 0 v 2 Park View AFC

Both sides went into this game on the back of opening day victories and therefore both looking to make a statement of intent. These two teams are expected by many to be in the mix for honours at the end of the season.

This therefore was an opportunity to see them at close quarters and to see if they would live up to that billing. There was also the little matter of their previous meeting to take into consideration.

That game had been the End of Season Play Off Semi Final game at the same venue. On that occasion the home side had prevailed in a penalty shoot-out after the game had ended 0 - 0.

Jarrow then went on to lose that Play-Off Final game against Thornaby meaning these two sides are looking to see if they can improve on last season's exploits. It all added up to a very intriguing encounter once again at Perth Green.

Park View had originally named the same side and substitutes that they had used in their win at AFC Newbiggin. Unfortunately they were forced into a change before a whistle blew or a ball was kicked.

Right back Keane Mitchell forced to pull out of the game as he sustained an injury in the warm-ups. It meant Ben Gallagher moving to full back and Saturday's winning goal scoring hero Nathan Conroy moving up from the bench.

In the end the loss of Mitchell worked in Park View's favour although at the time it seemed a disruption to their plans for the game.

Both sides came out to a great reception on a lovely night and an immaculate playing surface. A big crowd was in attendance which was a testament to the feelings about supporters for both side's potential seasons.

There was a real international feel to the Park View entrance with their mascots coming from oriental shores as they showcased their international community relationship intentions.

Sean Kawai, Jo Suzuki and Ryu Suzuki leading the team out.

From the off it was Jarrow that were pressing the back line of Park View who looked sharp and up for the fight. Jarrow have invested in a couple of seasoned Northern League strikers in Jay Bates and Azza Jackson.

Both had scored on debut in the 4 - 3 home win over Alnwick Town and with their strength and aerial prowess it was obvious that the home side were looking to get the ball up to and into them quickly and then playoff that.

However it was Park View that thought they had struck first after only 3 minutes. Jamie Frizzel playing Stephen Siyanbola well with a ball down the left which the big striker controlled and finished well.

The Assistant's flag went up though and although it was thought initially for offside it transpired that Siyanbola was adjudged to have controlled the ball with his hand before slotting home.

The opening exchanges saw Jarrow pressing strongly without really creating anything whilst Park View were playing very much on the counter attack. One of which almost gave them the lead on 8 minutes.

Dylan Robson playing a great ball down the right to the marauding Siyanbola who did really well to create space and fire a low cross into the six-yard box to find Brandon Young who had made a superb run from deep to get on the end.

The angle though was just against Young who did get there first but could only flick the ball narrowly wide with home keeper Jak Wells struggling to get there.

Then it was Conroy who went close for Park View. A great flick inside the box gave him a shooting chance but he delayed just long enough to allow Harry Sawyer to get across and block his effort.

Park View were nearly undone at the other end when Keeper James Hughes' clearing kick went straight to Jay Bates who controlled and was in front of the Park View defence.

Reyhan Grimaud though showed great anticipation, awareness and pace to get back and dispossess Jarrow's new No. 9 before he could pull the trigger from a great position.

Sawyer took the resultant corner and floated it to the back post where Darryl Donnelly got free of everyone and powered a header on target from about 8 yards out. Hughes doing well to get across and parry the ball to safety.

A succession of committed challenges and good defending from both midfields and defences was restricting both sides from creating open opportunities as the evenly matched sides battled it out.

Jack Armstrong did well for the home side when he made an excellent twisting run from the back down the right flank. He fired in an excellent cross to the back post that looked as if it might find Jackson hurtling in at the far post.

But Hughes showed great athleticism to stretch in front of the striker and palm the ball out for a corner. Once again Sawyer delivered and in a crowded penalty area Jackson was first to it but headed wide of the target from about 8-yards.

Then it was Josh Willis from midfield setting the next Jarrow chance up with a ball inside the Park View area that Bates got on the end of. However under pressure he could only poke the chance wide of goal.

The closest the home side came to a goal in the first half was on 37 minutes. A long throw in from the left by Sawyer caused confusion in the visiting area deflecting off a couple of defenders to fall to Bates.

The centre forward was about 12-yards out and struck his fierce half-volley really well but it flashed inches over the Park View bar. As time ticked down and the sides cancelled each other out Siyanbola received a yellow card for persistent infringement.

An even first half ended with neither side really on top and the score line goalless although it had been a well contested and committed half of football.

Jarrow had the first opportunity as the second half unfolded. A Josh Leonard deep cross was headed back into the path of Sawyer just on the edge of the box. His shot was on target but Hughes was well placed to make a good stop.

The best chance of the game thus far fell to Park View on 51 minutes. Robson winning a ball in midfield and it broke to Charlie Loveday who was free inside the Jarrow box with just Wells in front of him.

Loveday's angled drive was well hit but flashed inches wide of the far post. Loveday and the Park View players claiming Wells had made a decisive touch but the match officials disagreed.

PV skipper Dylan Wilkinson was looking at his imperious controlled best at the back and it was his intelligent play that created the next opportunity. Picking a loose Jarrow pass inside his own half he made space for a pass forwards.

He drilled a great ball to the edge of the Jarrow box which was well controlled by Siyanbola who was then upended right on the edge of the box as he tried to turn inside by Luke Hudson.

Conroy stepped up to take the kick and looked to put it in the far top corner but the Jarrow wall did it's job and blocked the effort which bounced away to safety. Much of the home side's danger came from balls into the big double strike force.

Another long Sawyer throw-in this time from the right found it's target inside the Park View box. Once again though the effort failed to trouble Hughes. Jackson's back header going wide of the far post.

Park View were now really starting to find the surface suiting their quick passing ability and starting to stretch the Jarrow defence. Robson almost putting Loveday through on goal only for Hudson to clear the danger.

Then a lovely measured long ball from Hughes' saw Siyanbola control well on the left before holding the ball up awaiting the probing run from Young and squaring it to the onrushing midfielder.

His run though was better than his attempted placed side-footed 20-yard effort that went well over from an open position. This lead to a real spell of Park View pressure as they began to dominate proceedings.

Loveday almost broke through but was stopped by substitute Aiden Maher who had come on in place of Donnelly. The loose ball was picked up by Siyanbola who forced a corner off Max Nelson.

Brad Hughes took it and Wells came to claim well. But Park View kept pressing and forced two further flag-kicks that Jarrow defended well. The second of which was flicked back into the box by Grimaud.

Siyanbola got a head to the ball and deflected it on target but it was an easy save for Wells. Little had been seen of Jarrow in attack as the Park View defence held them in check.

Even when Grimaud made a mistake and allowed Bates what appeared a clear run on goal the centre back showed great recovery powers to get back and win the ball before Bates could get a shot away.

Robson then did well to win a ball halfway inside the Jarrow half before finding Conroy who drifted across the 18-yard line before firing a reverse left foot shot that drifted wide.

Loveday and Siyanbola combined well to almost put Young in on goal through the middle but Hudson got across to clear. Brad Hughes picked the ball up and tried a curling effort from 20-yards that was on target but Wells saved easily.

A goal if it was coming looked more likely for the visitors and eventually arrived on 76 minutes and it was a well crafted and decisive effort. Gallagher sending Siyanbola away down the right who showed a clean pair of heels to his defender.

Young making a great lung bursting run from midfield that Ryan Hardie couldn't track. Siyanbola squared a superb low ball to the back post where Young arrived superbly and guided it home with the outside of his right foot.

A trademark finish from 'Back Post Brandon' showing great awareness and presence of mind to gamble from midfield get his just rewards and give his side a deserved lead.

Young was almost in again shortly afterwards when a brilliant one-touch move by the slick buoyant Park View side opened up the home defence. Robson to Conroy clipped out wide right to Loveday who turned it inside to Young who was thwarted by Maher's challenge.

Jarrow had no real answer. They did try to force the ball forward but the Park View defence from right back Gallagher, centre backs Wilkinson and Grimaud through to left back Frizzel.

In front of them the midfield trio of Young, Robson and Brad Hughes were solid in possession, hard-working out of it and never backed down whilst up front Conroy, Loveday and the impressive Siyanbola were always a handful.

So much so that it was little surprised when instead of just holding on Park View actually increased their lead on 87 minutes. It was another assist for Siyanbola and another swift pacey attack that set it up.

Park View's number 9 winning the ball off Hardie on halfway before finding Conroy on the right. Siyanbola continued his run and took the return ball into his stride before advancing into the box.

With defenders coming to close him down he turned well and laid the ball back to Conroy who had also continued his run and the forward flashed a first time right foot shot from 18-yards past Wells at his near post.

Two-up and with time winding down, Acting Head Coach Micky Barron was able to give 17-year-old Sam Beattie his first taste of senior first team action a mere four days after his birthday as he replaced the impressive Conroy.

So, two games on the road and two excellent wins on two vastly different surfaces. You have to be able to adapt to prosper and Park View have done that well so far.

But, it's still very early days and another tough test awaits on yet another surface. Park View travel to Division 2 newcomers Durham United for their third away game in a row where they'll play on the 3G surface at Maiden Castle.

Durham have lost both their opening games and conceded 8 goals so far so Park View after their opening two games will travel once again with confidence. Confidence but not complacency as they look to continue their great start.

TEAM : 1. James Hughes 2. Ben Gallagher 3. Jamie Frizzel 4. Brad Hughes 5. Dylan Wilkinson 6. Reyhan Grimaud 7. Nathan Conroy 8. Dylan Robson 9. Stephen Siyanbola 10. Brandon Young 11. Charlie Loveday

SUBS : 13. Joseph Sykes (not used) 14. Shay Pye (not used) 15. Matty Henderson (not used) 16. Sam Beattie (for Conroy 90 + 2 minutes)

GOAL SCORERS : Young 76, Conroy 87

MAN of the MATCH : Ben Gallagher