Play-Off Push Halted As Seaham Take The Spoils

by Jeff King

Ebac Northern League Division 2 - Wednesday 25th February 2026 Park View AFC 0 v 2 Seaham Red Star

After Saturday's hard-fought 1 - 0 win over Prudhoe YC Seniors, Park View went into Wednesday's game against Seaham looking for a big result in the play-off race. It was a chance to move up into the desired standings.

At the end of the 90 minutes though it was the visitors that took the win, the points and got themselves back in the picture after having lost their previous four league games.

There's still a lot of football to be played until the end of the season but there's no doubting that this was an opportunity wasted by Park View. Seaham on the other hand really took their opportunity with both feet.

There was a surprise for many attending the game with a Park View persuasion. Top scorer Stephen Siyanbola returning to the squad following his move to Blyth Town not working out for both parties at the present time.

Blyth retain his dual registration status but Siyanbola who was on the bench was a welcome sight for Park View. Also it was great to see Harry Laydon also on the bench.

The creative midfielder has been out injured for the best part of two years but has now finally regained both his fitness and place in the squad. Both players hopefully will give Park View a boost moving forward.

With Ollie Taylor unavailable it meant Dylan Robson moving into midfield to take his spot allowing skipper Dylan Wilkinson to return to the centre of the defence following his suspension.

After a cagey opening where Seaham were pressing forward with more possession it was actually Park View that almost took the lead with their first chance.

Ben Gallagher doing well in midfield to win the ball and pass it out wide to Charlie Loveday. Loveday jinked outside a defender and then from the byline fired in a dangerous low cross.

The ball fizzed across the six-yard box and Gallagher who followed the play well timed his trademark burst into the vacant area well but not quite as well as he needed as he just failed to get what would have been a decisive touch.

The ball also evading Niall Armstrong at the back post as well as he stretched to reach it unsuccessfully. Armstrong then went close moments later on a couple of occasions.

Receiving a neat pass from Brandon Young he worked space to unleash a 20-yard effort that flew just wide. Then when Loveday did well to find him inside the box with a good square his first time effort was blocked by Mason Burton.

Park View were slightly on top and Loveday was prominent early winning a corner off Lewis Cowan. Jacob Mallinson's in swinging corner just evading everyone at the back post.

Then James Hughes came to his side's rescue with a brilliant save. Kai Charlton holding the ball up well before sliding it through the Park View defence for Jayden Gray to race through on goal.

Hughes though was off his line quickly closing down the angle and making a superb block. The ball spun off him and Gray stabbed it goal wards but Jamie Frizzel was in the right place to clear.

This led to a sustained period of pressure from the visitors where they forced three corners in quick succession. All were delivered dangerously and caused problems in the Park View area but the home side were able to stand firm.

At the other end Gallagher won a corner off Jack Thynne that Mallinson delivered to the back post. Wilkinson got up well but his goal bound header was blocked by his marker Cameron McHarg.

It was Red Star that broke the deadlock on 22 minutes. Jack Leonard on the left finding too much space was able to put a low ball into the Park View box finding Charlton between defenders.

He took a great first touch enabling him to get around Alex Clark and then from about 10-yards out drilled a left foot shot into the bottom corner of the net past the diving Hughes' left hand.

Park View's response was from another Mallinson corner. This time Clark won it and nudged the ball inside the six-yard box but Loveday on the turn was unable to make a clean connection from close-in and Thynne cleared the danger.

Mallinson then turned provider for his opposition fouling Thynne about 25-yards out as the full back tried to burst forward. James Robinson tried his luck with the free kick which dipped but too late to prevent it going over the cross bar.

Mallinson and Thynne were having a dual down the flank and Mallinson trying to create space for a cross so his marker concede another corner for Park View's wide man to take.

The delivery was good and Wilkinson came onto it well. His header was powerful and on target but too close to Shaun Newbrook in the Seaham goal. The keeper taking it cleanly with both hands above his head.

Right on half-time the dangerous Charlton came very close to doubling his and his side's tally. A superb piece of ball control took him past Clark and then he drove brilliantly through the centre of the PV defence.

It looked like a second goal as he got to within 8-yards with only Hughes to beat. But the Park View stopper was once again in inspirational form and anticipating Charlton's run came off his line to make another brilliant block.

It meant that the side's went into the dressing rooms with Seaham holding a one-goal lead. On the resumption Park View were probably pleased to see Charlton not reappear as a back injury saw him withdrawn.

Any joy that discovery might have given them was almost immediately quashed as the visitors did double their lead within two minutes of the restart with a neat goal from their point of view but perhaps not a good defensive one for PV.

Ex-Park View skipper Ryan O'Connor helping create the goal. He got away down the right before sliding a ball across into the box to find Gray with his back to goal. The striker though showed good awareness of the position.

Spotting Leonard breaking into the box he laid the ball off and the maker of the first goal became the taker of the second as his low angled 14-yard drive gave the slightly unsighted Hughes no chance as it nestled into the right corner.

Micky Nelson responded by withdrawing Mallinson and sending on Siyanbola who had an immediate impact drawing a free kick from Burton who was booked for the challenge.

Gallagher took the free kick but could not find a teammate as the ball went too far and straight into the arms of a watchful and thankful Newbrook. Robson then was found by Loveday's pass and drove into the box from the left hand side.

Robson's run was ended by a good challenge by McHarg before he had a chance to make a decisive cross. Gallagher taking the resultant corner that saw Newbrook make a good punch clear under pressure.

The ball was retrieved by Young who crossed well towards the back post and Siyanbola but Newbrook came for the ball well and claimed it cleanly to avert any danger.

Gallagher and Robson then came off to be replaced by Laydon and Frankie Young as Park View looked to change things around. It was superb to see Laydon making it back on the pitch after such a long injury lay-off.

Laydon showing some neat touches and an eye for a penetrating pass in his time on the pitch although no-one was really able to spark much up front for his team.

Loveday almost did when Frizzel fed him on the left. A characteristic cut in from his wide position saw him smack a great 20-yard right foot effort past a helpless Newbrook but unfortunately the ball cannoned back off the cross bar.

Again Park View rang the changes. Sam Beattie and Joe Sykes coming on for Loveday and Grimaud as they tried to press forward. However, the Seaham defence looked solid and were coping well.

Park View's last chance came from a short corner routine with Brandon Young finding Laydon on the edge of the box. He laid the ball off nicely to Clark who struck his 14-yard shot on the turn well but it was straight at Newbrook.

The final whistle going not long after signalling a home defeat to dent Park View's play-off push but returning Seaham to winning ways and driving them back into the race.

A disappointing night for the home side no doubt but they have little chance to dwell on it as they face another home game on Saturday with the visit of Durham United to The Riverside.

TEAM : 1. James Hughes 2. Reyhan Grimaud 3. Jamie Frizzel 4. Dylan Robson 5. Dylan Wilkinson (c) 6. Alex Clark 7. Jacob Mallinson 8. Ben Gallagher 9. Niall Armstrong 10. Brandon Young 11. Charlie Loveday SUBS : 12. Frankie Young (for Gallagher 66 mins) 14. Harry Laydon (for Robson 66 mins) 15. Sam Beattie (for Loveday 78 mins) 16. Joe Sykes (for Grimaud 82 mins) 17. Stephen Siyanbola (for Mallinson 52 mins)

Player of the Match : James Hughes