Late Late Show Grabs A Share Of The Spoils

by Jeff King

Ebac Northern League Division 2 - Saturday 2nd August 2025 Durham United 3 v 3 Park View AFC

With Head Coach Micky Nelson still away on his international scouting mission in Zante it was his Assistant Micky Barron that continued in charge. He took the squad to Northern League newcomers Durham United at Maiden Castle.

Barron was hoping for a repeat performance and result from the previous Wednesday's trip to Jarrow to make it three wins from three on the road to open the League season.

Durham United were still looking for their first point at this level having lost both their opening game at home to Boldon CA 4 - 3 and then suffering a 4 - 0 reverse in Northumberland at Alnwick Town.

Team news for Park View centred around the bench. The starting XI was unchanged from the win at Jarrow but Alex Clark, Riley Everett and Harvey Lawrence were all available for the first time and were among the substitutes.

On a gloriously hot sunny day the game got underway at Durham University's fine facility Maiden Castle. Durham United's home having gained promotion to the Northern League after winning the Wearside League Premier in 2024/25.

A quiet opening to the game as both sides weighed each other up saw 8 minutes pass before the first strike on goal which came from Park View.

Jamie Frizzel won a ball on the left flank and found Charlie Loveday who run through into the box before flashing an angled cross shot well across the face of goal.

Durham United responded by taking the lead in their first meaningful attack on 12 minutes. Charlie Bramwell dispossessing Dylan Robson in midfield and sending the ball right to Phil Kay.

Kay advanced into the box before pulling the ball back to the unmarked Tomas Boothroyd. He in turn laid it off to Bramwell who had continued his run and who clipped a great strike from the edge of the box that gave PV's keeper James Hughes no chance.

But Park View answered in fine style only four minutes later. Stephen Siyanbola being upended on the angle of the 18-yard line just outside the box. Brad Hughes took the free-kick and delivered it into the Durham 6-yard box.

Siyanbola timing his run perfectly to get away from the defenders and plant his head from close range past the stranded Pat Dixon in the United goal. Siyanbola's first strike of the season.

Park View then began to get on top in terms of possession and chances although they were always troubled in midfield by Durham's efforts and the United front line was lively.

On 21 minutes Nathan Conroy showed good close control on the right before sending Brandon Young away. The midfielder got into the box and put a dangerous looking cross towards the back post.

It was aimed for the waiting Siyanbola but Ben Crew helping out his defence got their first and made a great covering clearance to deny Park View's centre forward. Brad Hughes' resulting corner coming to nothing.

Nice football from Park View then almost opened United up. Loveday skinning Max Blackbourne wide left before playing the ball into the box to Siyanbola. He held the ball up well and then rolled it back to Young.

Young was about 20-yards out and struck his shot goal wards only to see it blocked by Jakob Routledge and the alert Durham defence cleared the rebound and their lines effectively.

Park View then had a sweeping move that almost brought them a reward. Young finding Siyanbola with a superb reverse pass. Siyanbola turned well inside the Durham half and then making ground towards goal.

Loveday looked the likely recipient of a pass as he burst through the middle but Siyanbola returned the ball to Young who had looped around on the left hand side of the box.

He delivered a great cross back into the danger zone and Siyanbola got up above the United defence but on the stretch could only direct his header narrowly wide.

Durham were looking dangerous on the counter attack and with the Park View midfield standing off and giving them room created the next chance of the game.

The ball arriving at the feet of Kay just inside the PV box. He held it up well and then laid it back to the onrushing Boothroyd who curled a lovely left-foot effort just wide of the diving James Hughes' far post.

On 32 minutes Ben Gallagher who was playing at right back was cautioned for a bad tackle on Oliver Stewart right on the left touchline at halfway in front of his own bench.

Three minutes later Park View should have taken the lead. Siyanbola putting Loveday through on goal with only the keeper to beat. Dixon though did very well to spread himself and make a great block to keep Loveday's effort out.

The rebound though fell to Siyanbola who was following up but with Dixon on the ground and the goal at his mercy his finish lacked composure and he blasted the ball over the bar.

It was a costly miss for the visitor's as the home side took full advantage on 36 minutes to go back in front. A goal that owed a lot to Gallagher's yellow card. The youngster gave the ball away to Crew who advanced down the left.

With Gallagher not wanting to put a tackle in and risk a second yellow Crew was able to put a dangerous cross into the Park View 6-yard box. Boothroyd was alive to the delivery and got to it first in front of the Park View defence.

His first time sliding half volley effort crashed against the post but Boothroyd showed great presence and coolness to get to the rebound and slot it into the empty net.

Park View's initial response was to withdraw Gallagher, send Clark on to play at the heart of the defence and move Reyhan Grimaud to right back in a change of personnel.

It didn't deter Durham who almost went further ahead in first half injury time. Boothroyd on the left curling a ball over everyone's heads where Max Sanni arrived unmarked at the back post.

His close range volley although well struck was from a tight angle and James Hughes was in the right place at the right time to turn the ball around the post. Stewart's corner although delivered well and causing problems was eventually cleared by the PV defence.

It was the last action of a pulsating half where Park View had not been at their best and Durham with neat incisive counter attacks had taken full advantage. Both sides looking to play passing football on the 3G surface.

Durham came out of the changing rooms in fine style looking to build on their half-time lead. Sanni, Kay and Bramwell combining well before Sanni found Bramwell in the box. The midfielder hooking his volleyed effort just over the bar.

Park View's response was more good play by Young who did well to find Robson inside the area with a neat pass. It was a chance but Robson delayed his shot and United blocked the chance at the expense of a corner.

Brad Hughes' delivery was good but Dixon's come and claim in amongst a pile of bodies was better as he took the ball cleanly and well under pressure high above his head.

Hughes then found Siyanbola in the inside right channel and he delivered a good cross towards the back stick where Conroy was clearly unmarked. Dixon though was alert to the danger and made another great claim.

Park View were then given a warning they failed to heed. After failing to clear their lines convincingly the ball fell to Stewart just outside the box and he crashed a shot inches wide.

Almost immediately a similar situation did give Durham clear daylight in the game on 61 minutes. It was Bramwell that had the opportunity to hit a volley from about 20-yards and his low right foot shot nestled into the bottom corner.

Durham 3 - 1 up now and looking in charge it seemed a long way back for Park View but to their credit their heads didn't go down and in the last 30 minutes they finally upped their game and laid siege to the Durham goal.

On 68 minutes a Robson long-throw found Young inside the box who teed up a 10-yard volley that Dixon tip well to tip over the bar. From Brad Hughes' corner Dylan Wilkinson stole in at the back post and guided his effort past Dixon.

But Blackbourne was right on the line to make a superb last-ditch clearance to keep the ball out. Then Siyanbola sent Young away on the left and he played a superb incisive pass for Conroy to run on to.

But Dixon was there again coming off his line really quickly to dive bravely at Conroy's feet and take the chance away. Park View were putting real pressure on the home defence and won a corner.

Brad Hughes' delivered and Frizzel did well to get above the Durham defence and get a header on target from about 8-yards. Once again though Dixon was able to get up and across to tip the ball over the bar.

Again Hughes delivered and this time a mistake from Dixon almost cost his side as he allowed the ball to go through his hands and drop towards the far corner of his goal. This time though it was Stewart well placed to hack it away.

United though still dangerous on the break almost sealed the deal with a couple of chances in quick succession. A long clearance from defence found Kay in space and he cut across the 18-yard box before firing low towards goal.

James Hughes though diving down well to his left to keep the ball out. Then from a similar sort of situation Boothroyd got away from the Park View defence. But as he advanced on Hughes he could only put his effort into the car park.

Finally Park View grabbed a lifeline in very strange circumstances on 84 minutes. It came again from a Brad Hughes free-kick won after another foul on Siyanbola just outside the 18-yard area.

Hughes' delivery into the danger area actually looked slightly over-hit as it went over the heads of everyone. But perhaps distracted by those in front of him Durham's Blackbourne met the ball full on the volley from 6-yards out and it flew past Dixon. Was it game on?

It was within two minutes as Park View pulled level with a dramatic equaliser. Young the provider with a great ball curled into the Durham box. Robson timing his run perfectly to get his foot to the ball just outside the 6-yard box.

Dixon though making a great point blank save to keep the first effort out was unable to recover quickly to stop Robson from putting the rebounding ball past him to equalise for Park View.

United clearly reeling and shocked by Park View's surge were really hanging on now and again were indebted to the athletic reflexes of keeper Dixon who produced a remarkable double save to keep the game level.

Young inside the box from another corner managed to work the ball back to Frizzel who smashed it on target. Dixon reacting brilliantly to keep the ball out. A scramble ensued and again Young did well to find Conroy.

Once again Dixon was there as Conroy's snapshot close-range effort looked like the go-ahead winner. Another superb reflex reaction from Dixon saw him stick a foot out and divert the ball away.

Park View were throwing everything including the kitchen sink at Durham now and as time ticked down another scramble inside the home box saw the ball fall to Siyanbola who smashed the good chance well over.

The final chance saw the ball end in the right place for Durham. Wilkinson moving forward and delivering a cross that Frizzel headed down towards Robson but Dixon got there first to smother the ball and snuff out the chance.

The referee's whistle brought an end to an encounter that both sides got something out of. Durham their first point of the League season which was a reward for scoring 3 times and always being in the game and looking dangerous.

For Park View they went into the game confident of a third successive victory. At 3 - 1 down with a tick under thirty minutes left they looked dead and buried. Their performance hadn't been good enough to that point.

But credit to them they kept going and staged the dramatic late fightback to remain unbeaten and take a point when it looked like they would get nothing.

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

SUBS : 12. Alex Clark (for Gallagher 39 mins) 13. Riley Everett (for Clark 86 mins) 14. Harvey Lawrence (not used) 15. Matty Henderson (not used) 16. Sam Beattie (not used)

SCORERS : Siyanbola 16, Blackbourne O.G. 84, Robson 86

MAN of the MATCH : Reyhan Grimaud