PV Pay Penalty As Unbeaten Run Comes To An End

by Jeff King (with a huge nod to Michael Thorpe)

Ebac Northern League Division 2 - Wednesday 13th August 2025

FC Hartlepool 1 v 0 Park View AFC

Park View took their unbeaten League record on the road once again for their fifth away fixture out of their first six scheduled. Down the A19 to FC Hartlepool who had won their first two home fixtures.

It was always going to be a tough task for the youngsters of Park View who actually fielded what might have been their youngest side in their NL history as they were forced into three changes to the XI that had started against Tow Law.

Stephen Siyanbola who limped off in the first half against The Lawyers had not recovered from his knock. He was joined on the side lines by top scorer Nathan Conroy and utility defender Reyhan Grimaud who were also on the injured list.

In their places there were call-ups for Alex Clark who returned to the heart of the defence, Shay Pye who had completed a 3-match suspension and took the no. 9 shirt whilst Harvey Lawrence got a first start this season on the right.

Park View made the brighter start to the game without really creating any clear cut chances. Charlie Loveday cleverly beating his man down the left before firing in a cross that FC keeper Harry Carr claimed well.

Some good play from two of the players brought in encouraged PV. Clark with a superb clearing header when under pressure and Pye with a nice bit of hold-up play trying to bring others into the game just inside the FC half.

Then from a Park View free kick on halfway Brad Hughes delivered to the danger area where Clark headed deflection wasn't strong enough and the ball drifted wide.

Pye had started well and great pressing on Carr caused the keeper to shank his clearance straight out of play but the PV throw in an advanced position came to nothing.

A lovely bit of interplay between Brandon Young and Loveday saw Loveday deliver a dangerous cross that was just the wrong side of Lawrence who was bursting into the box.

FC were beginning to come into the game and started looking dangerous. A break into the PV box saw Jake Stott go down under pressure although the home side appealed vociferously for a penalty the referee waved away the claims.

Back up the other end and superb footwork from Young saw him keep the ball in deep in the corner twist past his marker and deliver a good cross that none of his forwards could get on the end of.

It had been a positive start for Park View without really troubling Carr in the FC goal. That was about to change as the players took a drinks break on a very warm evening.

It seemed to refresh FC the most who registered the first strike on target in the game. Stott with a curling effort from just inside the right hand side of the box but James Hughes got down to make a comfortable save.

Then Hartlepool's top scorer from last season, Mikey McGhee tried a long range effort that took a nasty bobble right in front of J Hughes but the keeper managed to deal with it well.

FC then won a corner that was delivered dangerously and a header at goal saw Hughes make a fine clutching save but the goal had it come would have been disallowed for a foul on Jamie Frizzel.

B Hughes tried to fire up his side from midfield with a shot from distance but it was well wide of the target. The breakthrough then came on 38 minutes for the home side.

Sloppy ball by PV allowed McGhee to put Stott through on goal and he was brought down by J Hughes before he could get a shot away. The referee rightly pointing to the spot. Hughes shown a yellow card for his challenge.

McGhee stepped up and dispatched the spot-kick with aplomb driving it hard above the diving Hughes' outstretched left hand to give his side a lead that their increased pressure just about warranted.

Park View responded well with Pye making space on the right to fire in a cross but once again no-one from his side could get on the end of it and the FC defence cleared well.

There was another loud appeal for a penalty from the home side waved away before both sides had half chances to register on the score sheet. The McGhee/Stott combination seeing the former find the latter.

But Stott's shot was well kept out by Hughes whilst at the other end Frizzel's cross from the left was directed back towards goal by Young but once again the home defence was up to the danger and cleared.

So, FC held a slender advantage going off the pitch with the unbeaten PV having work to do in the second half.

In truth though both sides were struggling for energy in the heat and on a very firm pitch. Park View did force a couple of corners through Loveday and Ben Gallagher and had an excellent cross from Lawrence.

But their lack of firepower was evident as no-one was able to get on the end of them and the FC defence was coping well. For the home side they seemed in control and were settled on their one-goal advantage.

That almost changed on 62 minutes when following a FC corner Carl Williams got a shot on goal that was deflected and came back into play off the post. So close to a second for the home side.

PV brought on Jan Niedzielski on for his debut on 66 minutes for Brad Hughes. Niedzielski a Park View Academy student having been signed earlier that day from Esh Winning.

The youngster picking up a yellow card 11 minutes after coming on just two minutes after his side had their best chance of the game to draw level. Lawrence with a free kick that was scrambled away for a throw-in.

Dylan Robson delivered long and Loveday got a good shot on target but Carr saved well to preserve his side's lead. As the game entered the final ten minutes Sam Beattie replaced the tiring Pye. The 16-year-old had put in a great shift.

Lawrence had half a chance not long after with a volley from the edge of the box but he scuffed his effort and Carr was able to save easily. It was Lawrence's last action as he was replaced by Matty Henderson.

Inside the last five minutes now and the home side were reduced to 10 men for the final part of the game with Josh Daley being sin-binned for dissent afte taking his complaints too far.

Park View almost used that numerical advantage to grab a late equaliser. They were throwing men forward and it almost paid off. A cross from the left by Frizzel landing deep in the FC Hartlepool box.

Dylan Wilkinson got on the end of it but from a great position only 6-yards out was only able to hit his volley on the stretch inches over the top. Park View still weren't finished.

As the game ticked into injury time Loveday was fouled on the edge of the box to create one final chance. Gallagher whipped a ball into the near post where a defender bravely dived to head away with Robson penalised for a high foot.

It was the last chance of a game that had very few chances. Park View had mounted their usual late game effort looking for an equaliser that they probably earned but didn't get.

That said FC Hartlepool once they got into the game in the first half and took the lead dealt relatively comfortably with Park View's advances. The home side looked solid and controlled and in the end took all three points.

Park View slipped to third in the table after this first loss of the season but it's still been a great start to the campaign for them. They'll be looking to get back to winning ways on Saturday at home to Sunderland West End at The Riverside.

TEAM : 1. James Hughes 2. Ben Gallagher 3. Jamie Frizzel 4. Brad Hughes 5. Dylan Wilkinson (c) 6. Alex Clark 7. Harvey Lawrence 8. Dylan Robson 9. Shay Pye 10. Brandon Young 11. Charlie Loveday

SUBS : 12. Joe Sykes (not used) 14. Sam Beattie (for Pye 80 minutes) 15. Matty Henderson (for Lawrence 85 minutes) 16. Jan Niedielski (for Brad Hughes 66 minutes)

MAN of the MATCH : Dylan Wilkinson