Park View's Hopes Go West After Cup Exit

by Jeff King

Ebac Northern League Brooks Mileson Memorial League Cup Wednesday 14th January 2026 Park View AFC 0 v 3 West Auckland Town

Both teams were playing their first game of 2026 after the horrendous weather had seen a spate of postponed games. This tie was due to be played originally on 19 November 2025 but finally got played on a freezing cold night.

The Riverside played host to over 100 spectators as Park View welcomed historic West Auckland to their home venue for the very first time. The First Division outfit looking to stop Park View's run of seven consecutive wins.

Wests had last played on December 16th when they went out of the Durham Challenge Cup 1 - 0 at Second Division Seaham Red Star. They were looking to avoid another Cup upset on the night.

Park View on the converse were hoping those seven wins in the League would give them a platform and confidence to progress in the Northern League's biggest Cup competition.

Park View last having played on Boxing Day in the 'Chester Derby' when they'd gone 4th in the table following their 1 - 0 win thanks to Ben Gallagher's goal against their town rivals at Moor Park.

Despite almost a three-week lay-off, Park View were unchanged from that Derby Day win. They were also boosted by the return of Reyhan Grimaud on the bench following his recent planned absence.

The pitch looked in pretty good condition given the weather thrown at it and in the end stood up well to the 90 minutes. Both teams being able to get the ball down and play football on the surface.

Wests opened well and had the first effort on goal when Michael Mallaburn's defensive header was won by James Hughes and knocked inside to Leo Robinson. Robinson advanced into space but put his 25-yard curler wide.

Park View should have perhaps taken the lead in the fifth minute. Brandon Young doing really well to win a ball in midfield in his own half and then driving up to halfway before playing a superb ball through the Wests defence.

It gave Charlie Loveday who had run in behind the centre backs a clear path to goal. Loveday sprinting away and into the visitors box but with only Zach Wilkinson to beat in the Auckland goal he shot wide of the target.

A great chance spurned and it was made doubly costly as within a minute Wests took the lead with a great goal from their point of view although perhaps Park View's would be different.

Liam Hegarty on the left touchline played a ball in centrally finding Robinson in space and he in turn played a delightful first time pass into the feet of Wests top scorer Craig Moody.

Moody being allowed time and space and not closed down quickly got inside the box showed great footwork to settle the ball and curled a superb finish from the left hand side of the box into the far top corner of the net.

The Second Division's Goalkeeper of the Month for December James Hughes being unable to do anything about such a precise well executed finish. The goal certainly settled the visitors down quickly.

They had the majority of the possession were looking very lively and pinging the ball around well. Moody almost had a second when Cobi Jones slid a ball toward him inside the box. The pass directed too far out of the unmarked striker's reach.

He did though recover it wide and then played a great one-two with Hughes before getting back in the box but despite looking to have space he fired his left foot shot well over.

Park View began to respond to the challenge and strung together a really nice move. Brandon Young winning a header well and finding Stephen Siyanbola who nutmegged his marker with a pass to Brad Hughes.

Hughes in turn finding Loveday who cut inside well from the left and then from the edge of the box fired not far wide of the right upright as he looked at the goal.

Then when Jacob Mallinson's attempted cross from the right was headed clear by Ben Trotter, PV's skipper Dylan Wilkinson picked up the loose ball and stode forward with purpose.

Once again the outlet on the left was Loveday. This time the speedy wide forward made space and delivered a great cross into the middle. Gallagher getting on the end of it but his 10-yard header was straight at Wilkinson who saved easily.

Gallagher who has been in fine scoring form recently looked eager to continue that run. Picking up a loose ball in midfield he attacked the Wests defence and created a shooting chance. From 22-yards it lacked power and again Wilkinson saved easily.

Gallagher was certainly catching the eye and one tremendous burst took him fully 60-yards and deep into the right corner of the pitch. Trotter coming across to stop his progress and conceding a throw-in.

Mallaburn launched into the box and Hegarty put it out for a corner that Mallinson floated in dangerously but saw his delivery well cleared by an organised Wests defence.

Park View came very close to an equaliser when Brandon Young won a great challenge inside the Wests half and found Mallaburn on the edge of the box. Mallaburn's goal bound deflecting off Oscar Eckley-Aldsworth and going just wide.

Mallinson's corner finding Wilkinson who was slightly impeded by his own player Siyanbola and unable to get enough purchase on his header which his namesake in the Wests goal grabbed comfortably.

Wests were probably having the greater possession but without creating much in the way of chances whilst Park View were actually creating chances mainly on the counter attack.

One such sweeping counter attacking move created another decent chance. Mallinson from the right getting enough space to cross into the box. Siyanbola doing well to lay the ball into Gallagher's path.

Gallagher inside the box shifted the ball right to Young who had found space but unfortunately the midfielder's effort from 12-yards out failed to find the target.

Wests ended the half well moving the ball around well and finding pockets of space as they searched for a second. Hughes finding Moody on the right who put in a great cross to the middle.

Adam Mitchell was about 8-yards out and his header looked destined for the bottom corner but PV's keeper Hughes dived full length to make a superb save. He didn't though have to face a corner as the referee gave a goal-kick instead!

The final act of an entertaining first half where both teams had their moments fell the way of Town. Hegarty coming in off the left touchline to try his luck from 25-yards out. The ball dipped late but was still well over the Park View crossbar.

Half-Time 1-0 to the visitors but still a very open game that could have gone either way and very little in it between the two sides.

The opening of the second 45 minutes was quiet apart from Robinson getting a yellow card and somehow avoiding a sin-bin when he showed visible dissent bouncing the ball away in anger after a decision went against him.

Siyanbola was fouled by Luke Bailey about 30-yards out in a central position. Mallaburn taking the free kick but whipping it too far in front of his forwards and Wilkinson caught it comfortably.

Then a great pass by Bailey through the PV defence gave substitute Cieran a clear run on goal. He advanced into the box and went for the near post. Hughes getting down smartly to make the save.

Park View replaced Brandon Young who had felt a twinge in his leg with Grimaud who slotted in at right back allowing Mallaburn to move into midfield. Then in a game that had been played in a good spirit there was an altercation.

The two skippers Wilkinson and Bailey went to contest a loose ball. The Park View captain getting there first only to be met by a late lunging challenge from his opposite number that took him down.

Perhaps anticipating the worst several Wests players surrounded the referee and then there was a little coming together between the teams. But all ended amicably with a yellow card for Bailey.

Park View went close not long after. Grimaud's throw-in to Siyanbola saw the big striker turn and find Loveday on the left hand side of the box. Loveday turned past Hughes but from 14-yards could only curl his effort just wide.

A nice move from PV almost brought a reward. Grimaud and Mallinson combing well with a neat 1-2 before Grimaud found Mallaburn in space. He did well in the centre of the park finding the galloping Gallagher.

The energetic midfielder letting fly with his right foot from 22-yards only to see Wilkinson who is actually part of Park View Academy's college set-up dive well low to his right and parry the ball away to keep Town level.

With legs tiring Park View brought on Zac Boddy for Loveday and Frankie Young for Brad Hughes and to their credit both subs injected energy into their sides search for an equaliser.

On 71 minutes Wests Wilkinson went from villain to hero in the space of seconds. Firstly he completely mishit his goal kick which went straight to Siyanbola who took a good first touch.

With Wilkinson well of his line Siyanbola went for the first time finish and struck his shot well but Wilkinson recovered superbly to turn the ball away for a corner with an outstretched leg.

From Mallinson's in-swinging near post corner it was Siyanbola again inside the six-yard box. He got a header in on goal that hit Trotter and bounced into the grateful arms of Wilkinson. Siyanbola perhaps should have done better.

Then on 78 minutes a moment that perhaps could have changed the game. Mallaburn wriggling away from a couple of markers in midfield and then crashing in a terrific 25-yard effort.

The ball beat Wilkinson all ends up but crashed down off the underside of the bar bounced out and was hacked clear. Mallaburn in particular and a couple of others felt the ball had crossed the line. The officials said not.

Had VAR been in use or available the outcome may well have been different although to Park View's credit they didn't become embroiled in a lengthy protest.

Siyanbola and Mallinson were then withdrawn. Sam Beattie and Joe Sykes taking their places before Wests should have made more of an opportunity. Bailey dropping a free kick into a dangerous area.

It fell nicely to another of Wests Park View Academy contingent Tyler Richardson but he couldn't get any power into his close range effort when all he had to beat was Hughes who smothered easily.

On 82 minutes any hopes Park View had of perhaps taking the tie to penalties or even better with a late comeback were all but extinguished with the visitors getting a second goal.

Jones starting and finishing a neat move. from Hughes' clearance he controlled well and found Robinson on the right and continued his run. Robinson's cross was perfect and Jones got in behind and between three PV defenders.

From just outside the six-yard box his well placed flicked header flew past Hughes into the bottom corner. The Park View keeper having no chance at all although his defenders should have done better.

The game drifted into injury time with Wests in control now although they were almost given a scare. Gallagher not for the first time breaking from midfield and driving a good low effort from outside the box at goal.

It was on target but Wilkinson dived well to his right and pushed the ball away in fine style. The ball however was free and Beattie was first to it but from about 8-yards out and with the goal beckoning he shot wide of the target.

Wests then added insult to injury for Park View with a third goal deep into injury time. It was the same combination that had provided the second. This time Robinson getting into space on the right to whip a cross inside the six-yard box.

Jones timed his run perfectly getting across his marker and in front of Hughes to plant another neat header into the waiting net. It was perhaps a bit harsh on Park View but it was also clinical finishing.

The final whistle signalled progression for West Auckland and an end to Park View's cup commitments for the 2025/26 season. The final score line looked comfortable but in truth it was anything but.

Park View just lacked a cutting edge when needed to back-up a pretty enterprising and good performance and were outdone by a clinical more experienced opponent.

Wests just about deserving their win and the played some neat controlled passing football at times. But they knew they'd been in a tighter game than perhaps the final score reflected.

Park View will probably have been grateful to finally get 90 minutes under their belt as they contemplate getting back to League action and a tough trip to Ryton & Crawcrook Albion on Saturday.

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

SUBS : 12. Joe Sykes (for Mallinson 79 mins) 14. Reyhan Grimaud (for Brandon Young 53 mins) 15. Zac Boddy (for Loveday 68 mins) 16. Frankie Young (for Brad Hughes 68 mins) 17. Sam Beattie (for Siyanbola 79 mins)

Player of the Match : Michael Mallaburn