Match Preview - FC Hartlepool (H) - Ebac Northern League Division 2 - Saturday 4th October 2023 - Kick-Off 15:00pm

It's 4th v 7th as Park View AFC return to The Riverside for the first time in three weeks to take on high-flying FC Hartlepool in another crucial League fixture. A game that both sides will be eager to win to boost their promotion challenge.

It's actually a quick coming together again for both sides as they met down Grayfields enclosure back on August 13th. A night that proved unlucky for PV and lucky for FC as the home side ran out 1 - 0 winners courtesy of a Mikey Mcgee penalty.

FC Hartlepool actually halted a three-match losing streak last Saturday by thumping Grangetown Boys Club 5 - 0. That win came after they lost twice in the League to Jarrow and Durham United and in the FA Vase to West Allotment.

The win last Saturday lifted FC to fourth in the Division 2 table They've played 17 games with a Won 10 Drew 3 Lost 4 record for 33 points. They've scored 26 goals and conceded 15 with Mcgee being their top goal scorer with 9 in the League.

Their second top scorer was and still is Fin O'Gorman with 6 but he's now moved on to pastures new with West Auckland leaving Jake Stott as Mcgee's main support on 3 goals two of which came last Saturday.

Park View need to get back to winning ways after unluckily going down 2 - 0 at Yarm & Eaglescliffe last weekend. Both of them goals coming deep into injury time when it looked as if PV were going to hold out for a point.

It meant Park View dropped out of the playoff positions down to seventh in the table. They have played 16 games Won 8 Drew 4 Lost 4 scoring 21 goals and conceding 14. In recent weeks their lack of goals being an issue to solve.

Nathan Conroy remains their top scorer with 6 goals but he hasn't scored since August 30th which was also the last time last season's top scorer Stephen Siyanbola also netted his 3rd of this season. Charlie Loveday has 5 so far as well.

A win for the home side gets them back into the playoff picture whilst a win for the visitors would see them go seven points ahead of their hosts having played a game more.

So, it's another intriguing much anticipated encounter between two sides that like to get the ball down and play football. The action kicks off at The Riverside at 3:00pm.