No Home Comforts For Park View As RCA Rule The Day

Alex Clark - POTM

Ebac Northern League Division 2 - Saturday 5th September 2026 Park View AFC 0 v 2 Sunderland RCA

After two League wins in a row halted a seven-game winless streak PArk View returned to The Riverside looking for a third successive victory. Standing in their way were Sunderland RCA side that have not had a great start to their season.

PV's wins had taken them into the top ten of the table whilst RCA were at the opposite end of the standings in 16th place. But this game showed exactly how tight and tough the Division is with RCA upsetting the apple cart on the day.

Perhaps it was 'new manager bounce' as RCA had confirmed on the eve of the game that Lewis Dodds had take on the reigns permanently from Mark Forrest following an interim period in charge.

Or perhaps it was just that Park View's transitional squad lacks a bit of experience and could well be set for a season where on their day they can beat anyone and on their day they can lose to anyone.

Park View made one enforced change to their starting XI from the previous week's 3 - 0 win away at Tow Law. Markus Giefalk was serving a one-match suspension sp Ollie Taylor came in to the midfield to replace him.

However on the bench they had three players returning from injury with the Young brothers Brandon and Frankie joining Carter Bell in returning to the first team squad.

A very very cagey opening to the game saw neither side able to create any clear cut chances with defences being well on top. Park View did have the brighter of the play and more possession but RCA were standing solid and firm.

The only two incidents of note inside the first 22 minutes were a great cross from Jacob Mallinson for Park View where Alex Clark had a great chance that he completely miskicked although the flag was up for offside.

Then Mallinson again tried to open up the RCA with a whipped in free-kick from 25-yards out that saw the visitors keeper Zach Wilkinson come from his line and make an excellent claim.

PV though did create the first real opportunity when skipper Ben Gallagher played a great 1-2 on the edge of the box with Nathan Conroy. But going for the return his touch was just too heavy and Wilkinson smothered the chance.

The slight opening saw Park View up the tempo. Mallinson playing Conroy into the box. The PV striker getting to the byline and pulling a dangerous ball across the six-yard box where Chris Trewick did well to deflect it for a corner.

Mallinson delivered a dangerous in-swinger that Luke Richards did well to head clear from inside his six-yard area to avert any possible danger. Reyhan Grimaud then played Charlie Loveday in on the right.

Loveday showed good pace and poise to control the ball well but his cross was turned behind by Trewick for another PV corner and another chance for Mallinson to deliver.

The wide man did exactly that and found Clark just outside the six-yard box. The big centre back getting a firm downward header on target but was unfortunate to see his effort strike his own player Loveday and deflect away to safety.

RCA then bared their teeth in attack in response to PV's promptings. Jack Patterson hitting a great diagonal ball from the left to find his opposite full-back partner Richards in space on the right.

Richards doing well to turn inside past Mallinson and into the box before hitting a 14-yard angled effort that fizzed at goal but was too close to Davy Carter in the Park View goal who firstly parried the shot and then gathered the rebound well.

New RCA signing Ethan Docherty had looked lively for his side up front and just after the half hour mark went close with a 20-yard drive that was just wide after he showed good footwork to creat the opening.

RCA were now looking the more likely. Patterson trying his luck from fully 30-yards but again although well-struck it was straight at Carter who parried and collected comfortably.

Jamie Frizzel then gave a poor free-kick away in a central position with a push on Docherty about 25-yards out. Archie Dodds stepping up and driving the kick not far wide of the left hand post.

With five minutes to go in the half Park View produced the best moment of the match with a superb flowing move that almost brought them a rich reward. It was started by Mallinson who made a great run into space down the left flank.

Mallinson turned the ball inside to Conroy who held it up momentarily and then laid a great ball into the path of Loveday who took it in his stride superbly. The goal opened up and from 12-yards out Loveday let fly.

But PV's top scorer was denied the chance to add to his season's tally as the alert Wilkinson dived low to make a brilliant block. The ball rebounding to Gallagher at the edge of the box but he blazed the follow-up over the bar.

Taylor then played a neat ball from midfield to find Loveday in space not far from the RCA goal. Loveday in turn found Mallinson about 16-yards out but his first time effort was well blocked by Owen Jordan.

It was the last action of a half that had started slowly but that Park View by the end of it were probably on top and had definitely had the best of the few chances created.

Park View started the second half in good style as well immediately getting on the front foot. Loveday putting Conroy in on goal with a good shooting chance but once again Wilkinson was up to the task making another superb block.

The ball rebounded off the RCA keeper and fell to Mallinson following up but his well-hit volley from the edge of the box went just over the bar. Another good chance going begging for PV.

They almost paid the price moments later when Lewis Lukeman turned Grimaud about 20-yards out and hit a terrific goal bound right foot shot. Clark doing really well to put his body on the line and deflect the ball to safety.

Back came Park View with Gallagher finding Loveday in the RCA box. Loveday then slid a pass to Conroy who on the turn fired over the bar from about-14 yards out. On 63 minutes PV brought Kieran Woods on for Niall Armstrong.

Woods' first contribution was to send Loveday away. Although forced wide the speedy forward managed to square the ball to Conroy who trying to create room lost the ball but it rolled to Mallinson in space.

Mallinson was really unlucky to see his effort from 16-yards that was heading for the top corner of the net take a deflection off Trewick that just took it inches too high as the ball hit the cross bar and bounced over.

The corner was taken by Bell literally just on the field replacing Bobby Gough. He swung in a dangerous left footed kick that Trewick headed out for another corner. Another Bell delivery and this time Wilkinson punched the ball clear.

On 69 minutes RCA though should have gone in front. Richards finding Dodds on the right who whipped in a great cross to the back post. Docherty was inside the six-yard box unmarked but could not control the ball as it hit his chest.

It was though only a temporary reprieve for Park View as a minute later Park View went behind as the became architects of their own downfall. Firstly Taylor gave the ball away to Dodds who hit a shot straight at Carter who saved easily.

Carter clearing his lines with a throw to Bell who in turn give the ball away to Docherty and then failed to recover the situation allowing Docherty to find Richards who slung in a low cross from the right uncontested.

And right on the six-yard box there was substitute James McGeorge diving to deflect his header past Carter with his first touch since coming on for Logan Robinson to open the scoring and give RCA the lead.

Park View responding by bringing Brandon Young on for Conroy but he'd barely been on the pitch four minutes when RCA doubled their lead with a calamitous goal from PV's point of view.

Woods fouling Richards wide right on the halfway line. Jordan took the free-kick and smashed it long into the Park View box. Clark looked like he could clear it but getting a call from Carter left the ball to the keeper.

Unfortunately Carter hesitated and allowed the ball to bounce awkwardly and did not get to it in time. Docherty nipping in instead and lifting it over the stranded PV keeper for a gift of a goal and to double the RCA lead.

The goal deflated Park View and gave RCA something really solid to hold on to. Frankie Young came on for Gallagher with 10-minutes to go but RCA were now in complete control.

A Woods effort as time ticked down looked promising but once again a RCA defender got a partial block in slowing the shot down and enabling Wilkinson to make an easy save.

Park View then missed a late late chance to grab a consolation goal when three of their substitutes combined well. Bell with a good ball down the left wing to Woods who controlled well and found Brandon Young breaking into the box.

But the story of Park View's afternoon was summed up when Young could not find the target with his effort that went wide. It was the last action of what was a disappointng afternoon for PV but a victorous one for RCA.

The end analysis seemed simple. Park View had to work really hard to create opportunities that in the end they could not take. Conversely they practically gifted RCA two golden chances that the visitors certainly did not squander.

TEAM : 1. Davy Carter 2. Reyhan Grimaud 3. Jamie Frizzel 4. Ollie Taylor 5. Alex Clark 6. Bobby Gough 7. Jacob Mallinson 8. Ben Gallagher (c) 9. Nathan Conroy 10. Niall Armstrong 11. Charlie Loveday

SUBS : 12. Carter Bell (for Gough 66 mins) 13. Lewis Stephenson (Not Used) 14. Frankie Young (for Gallagher 80 mins) 15. Brandon Young (for Conroy 70 mins) 16. Kieran Woods (for Armstrong 63 mins) PLAYER of the MATCH : Alex Clark