Play Off Push Splutters With Midweek Stalemate Against Basement Esh

Ollie Taylor

by Jeff King

Ebac Northern League Division 2 - Wednesday 11th March 2026 Esh Winning FC 0 v 0 Park View AFC

If Park View fail to make the End of Season Playoffs it will be their inability to convert possession and chances into goals that might well cost them. A second successive 0-0 draw on the road was hard earned but not a profitable one.

After a great performance on Saturday against high-flying Yarm & Eaglescliffe that ultimately went unrewarded this was a night where Park View hoped to cash in against a side that had only 15 points and four wins from 33 games.

The Division's lowest scorers and most porous defence stood in front of Park View picking up three much needed points in their playoff push. But once again a resolute determined Esh side showed there are no easy games at this level.

On a difficult bumpy pitch with the wind howling all around Park View still dominated proceedings and created far more chances than their hosts. Unfortunately they couldn't quite find that one clear cut opportunity.

A measure of their dominance was that after the final whistle it was notable that Taylor Bell the Esh goalkeeper picked up the home award for Player of the Game.

Park View started the game with one change from the side that had fallen at home against Yarm. Dylan Robson returning from sabbatical to take his place in the heart of the defence and Alex Clark dropping to the bench.

When the game got underway Park View were kicking downhill with the slope and were immediately in the ascendancy with their midfield trio of Brandon Young, Frankie Young and Ollie Taylor looking solid and progressive.

Frankie Young having the first shot on goal inside the first five minutes when a Dylan Robson long throw was headed out to him just outside the box. But Young's shot was not controlled and he fired well over the bar.

Then a great opportunity for Park View came with a free kick in a central position inside the defensive D. Charlie Loveday winning it with a great run from left to right ending when he was bundled over by Michael Harland.

Jacob Mallinson took it and curled it low around the wall towards the bottom corner. Bell though got down superbly to his left to turn the ball around the post at full stetch. Mallinson's corner easily dealt with.

Then a nice touch from Mallinson to a ball forward from Ben Gallagher found Stephen Siyanbola in the centre of the park. He held the ball up well before squaring it to Loveday who made room for a shot.

He attempted to chip Bell but his effort was straight at the keeper who held it easily. Robson then made a good challenge on halfway to win a ball and propel it forward to Siyanbola who was away from the defence and in on goal.

Park View's top scorer though was a bit hesitant and that allowed Bell to come sprinting off his line to make a great crucial block and deny Siyanbola. A great chance spurned for Park View.

Then Loveday and Mallinson combined well on the right with the ball being laid back into Gallagher's path. His cross was pin point and picked out Siyanbola inside the six-yard box.

But as the big striker tried to turn to get a shot on goal the ball just got away from him and once again Bell was there to smother the ball and take the chance away from Park View.

Determined driving play by Brandon Young and Taylor released Gallagher for a run at the Esh defence and he was stopped illegally by Evan Atherton's trip some 25-yards out.

Siyanbola stepping up to the free kick tried a curler with his left foot that went over the wall but again lacked the power to really test Bell who shuffled across his goal and collected easily.

After such dominance Park View almost fell to the sucker punch with Esh's first effort on goal. From Bell's clearing kick the lively Aaron Zamor getting away from Dylan Wilkinson on the right to the byline.

He cut a great ball back into the path of Harland who was no more than six-yards out but his angle was tight. He still managed to get a good strike on goal across James Hughes who dived to his right to make a great parry.

The loose ball looked as if it was going to fall to the onrushing Alex Berhan but Gallagher was on hand to make a great interception and swept the ball clear from danger.

The last opportunity of the half fell to Park View. Brandon Young driving forward centrally from midfield and running at the heart of the Esh defence. He somehow wriggled through but from just inside the box shot well over the bar.

So, 0-0 at half-time and despite Park View's greater threat and endeavour the Esh defence were dealing well with anything thrown at them and coping quite comfortably.

The second half started where the first had left off with Park View going uphill and on the offensive from the first whistle. A Jamie Frizzel free kick from wide on the left was struck well and found Mallinson in the box.

He turned sharply in the box to get a shot away that was well blocked by Kenzie Embleton covering across and conceding a corner. Mallinson's flag kick again cleared by the Esh defence.

Park View continued to push hard and from good play by Taylor both Loveday and Brandon Young had half chances for shots that were blocked. The ball eventually coming to Frankie Young who squared it to Mallinson.

But his 14-yard effort was just too high to trouble Bell. It was Mallinson's last contribution as he was replaced by Niall Armstrong with a shade over 30 minutes to go.

Armstrong was immediately involved as well. A Robson long throw headed into his path by Wilkinson and the young substitute met it sweetly on the volley. The ball taking a nick of Jonny Swift and deflecting just over the bar.

Again Park View's corner came to nothing as the Esh defence cleared their lines easily. However the ball was recycled with Wilkinson still up with the attack getting the ball down well and crossing from the right.

Loveday controlling the cross before laying it back to Taylor breaking into the box but his shot was blocked by Swift and then Bell came off his line quickly to smother as Siyanbola tried to pounce on the loose ball.

Then another Park View chance was not taken. First of all Taylor broke well from midfield and then crossed from the left. Loveday helped it on and Siyanbola challenged Bell for the ball. The keeper clearing his lines only to Loveday.

He laid the ball back to Frizzel who found Taylor once again breaking from midfield on the left. This time Taylor's cross was flicked on neatly by Brandon Young to Armstrong who had a great shooting chance.

Unfortunately although he struck his 14-yard shot well it was just too high and Bell watched it go safely over his crossbar. Alex Clark then came on for Frankie Young going into central defence with Robson pushing into midfield.

A great ball down the left by Frizzel released Siyanbola who held it up well before making room for a great cross that Swift had to deal with in front of the waiting Loveday. The Esh player/manager heading out for a corner.

Again the corner was cleared by Esh but Park View kept recycling winning the ball back and pushing forward. The ball going to the opposite side where Siyanbola won a corner. Once again Esh cleared and once again PV retrieved.

This time Loveday spraying a ball from right to left where Armstrong did well to control deep in the Esh box. He turned the ball back to Brandon Young who cleverly flicked it square to Frizzel.

He knocked it forward into the box where Clark swivelled beautifully to strike a great effort on target from 10-yards. Bell's reactions though were even better as he pulled off a brilliant reflex save to his left to keep the ball out.

Then Frizzel played another ball from the left into the Esh box for Siyanbola. The striker once again controlling the ball well before laying it back to Robson who stabbed it just wide from about 14-yards.

Park View were dominating at the back and in midfield. An Esh clearance from defence headed well forward by Wilkinson to find Brandon Young who in turn played a neat ball across to Loveday on the left.

He cut inside on his right foot but his his shot from the edge of the box although on target lacked the power to test Bell who dropped on it to make a comfortable save.

A nice Park View move started by Brandon Young winning a challenge in midfield saw Loveday flick a great first time ball into Armstrong who played it forward to Siyanbola who was held by Swift as he tried to turn.

The free-kick was about 28-yards out. Gallagher took it and fired it well at goal on target and Bell took no chances with the flight of the ball and pushed it over the bar neatly.

Deep into injury time Park View had one final strike at goal and it came from their own back line. An Esh ball forward being claimed well by Hughes and then released long by him towards the Esh box.

Swift headed it clear in front of Armstrong and Gallagher picked the ball up drove to just outside the box and clipped a 20-yard effort that Bell got down to stop and then gather quickly as Siyanbola looked to get to the loose ball.

It was the last opportunity and signalled a frustrating night for Park View. They had spent virtually the whole of the second half inside the Esh half but just couldn't break down the stubborn home defence.

Once again a clean sheet for a dominating away defence. Good combative and probing play by the Park View midfield to create half openings most of the time. But just not enough quality collectively in the final third to make a difference.

Park View remain in seventh place and still outside the playoff positions. With seven games to go and only one against a top five side they need to start picking up wins to get back into the playoff picture.

That has to start this Saturday when they travel to Stockton Town the home of 20th placed Billingham Synthonia on the 3G surface that normally suits the Park View style.

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

SUBS : 12. Alex Clark (for Frankie Young 66 mins) 14. Harry Laydon (Not Used) 15. Sam Beattie (Not Used) 16. Joe Sykes (Not Used) 17. Niall Armstrong (for Mallinson 59 mins)

PLAYER of the MATCH : Ollie Taylor