Return To The Riverside Sees PV Hit Boysie For Six

by Jeff King

Ebac Northern League Division 2 - Wednesday 6th August 2025 Park View AFC 6 v 2 Grangetown Boys Club

A return 'home' to The Riverside albeit under a new name was greeted by a crowd far in excess of last season's attendances at the Ford Hub. It was in the end a great occasion where Park View put on a great show for the crowd.

PV went into the game still unbeaten after three games and despite a worry about the performance in Saturday's 3 - 3 draw with Durham United named an unchanged starting XI and bench. A move that paid off in the end.

Grangetown knew coming into the game they faced a tough test and had their fears confirmed although they did give it a good go in the first 45 minutes. Their Management and Committe though must be worried about the start they've made.

But that's for them to think about and sort out. For Park View it's onwards and hopefully upwards as they continue to impress and get results their performances deserve.

They also got off to a flyer in this game scoring inside the first three minutes with their first meaningful attack and a delightful opening goal it was as well. Well created and finished.

A long clearance into the heart of The Boysie defence say Stephen Siyanbola battle for a ball that broke loose to Nathan Conroy who immediately controlled and sent it out to the left to Charlie Loveday.

The tricky wide man showing great feet to dance into the box past a couple of defenders and then drill a low right foot shot from 14-yards past the diving right hand of Boys Club keeper Luke Tearl.

To their credit Boysie didn't crumble and responded positively with their physical direct play. A free kick on the right delivered by Liam Williams being met well by Rhys Greenwood in the middle but his 6-yard header flew over.

Then a Charlie Paterson long throw-in was right into the danger area of the Park View box but keeper James Hughes came and claimed well. Then a long ball from defence from Greenwood caused Park View issues inside their own box.

Joe Dixon and Brandon Gredziak combining well to almost get Dixon in but Reyham Grimaud stepped in and although his short back pass meant Hughes had to concede a corner it stopped an opportunity. The corner being cleared.

A superb surging run by Dylan Robson almost got him inside the Grangetown area before he was upended by Williams. Brad Hughes clipped the free kick in and it was just inches two high for Siyanbola who had gotten free.

On 16 minutes PV should have doubled their lead. Jamie Frizzel sending Siyanbola racing away and into the box with only Tearl to beat but as he closed in on goal Siyanbola went for the narrow angle and dragged his shot wide.

It was costly as within a minute Grangetown were level. Another ball into the centre of PV's defence saw Joe Shields battle with Dylan Wilkinson whom he got the better of although there was a suspicion of a foul.

Shields though wasn't stopping and although Ben Gallagher came across as a covering defender to try and intercept he was unable to stop Shields. The striker hooking his effort back over his shoulder and it looped over Hughes into the net.

A blow for PV, a boost for Boysie. The game got a little factious after this with Robson being booked and the referee allowing both sides to indulge in a little bit of a battle.

But on 21 minutes it was PV who struck next to retake the lead. A Robson long throw causing issues in the Grangetown defence who were unable to clear fully. Brandon Young was quickest to the ball just inside the box.

He controlled the ball cleverly and then clipped a great finish high to Tearl's left hand and into the top of the net to register his second goal of the season in fine style.

Three minutes later Grangetown came back again and grabbed a bizarre equaliser to say the least. Their direct tactics were causing PV problems and they found their back four forced further and further back.

Evidence concluded when another long ball deep into the heart of the home box saw confusion between Keeper Hughes and Centre Back Grimaud with the latter heading over the top of the former and seeing the ball roll into the net.

A freak own goal indeed and one that could have been avoided but brought buoyant Boysie level and gave them something to hold onto. The game was hardly a classic as it became niggly with in truth both sides playing too many long balls.

However they say one of the best times to score is right on the half-time whistle and that's exactly what Park View managed to do. It came initially from another Robson long throw-in. This time it was cleared but only straight back to Robson.

He sent a deep cross to the back post finding Conroy who got a firm header on the ball and send it looping over the stranded flat-footed Tearl. The ball sailing over the keeper's head and nestling into the opposite corner of the net.

Perhaps a lead Park View didn't fully deserve as honours had been pretty even in the opening half. However a goal and a moment that would no doubt have changed both team's half-time chats and set-up an intriguing second half.

The first chance of the second period fell to Grangetown. A surging run down the left by James O'Brien saw him fire in a cross that Hughes could only parry down into his box. Sean Bending arriving but firing a 12-yard effort just wide.

Park View then began to turn the screw. Robson playing a great ball to Loveday on the left who cut inside and tried to play the ball back to the onrushing Robson. The defence scrambling it clear but only to Siyanbola on the right.

He put a lovely right-foot pinpoint cross in to the danger area. Conroy meeting it with a good header but unfortunately it was straight at Tearl who held it comfortably.

Then it was a cross from the opposite side by Frizzel up supporting the attack that found it's target. Siyanbola this time getting a header on target that again lacked direction and found Tearl grabbing it comfortably.

Gallagher then made ground on the right before putting Siyanbola in on the right hand side of the box. The striker cut inside and hit a low left foot shot towards the near corner. Tearl getting down to turn the effort aside.

A goal seemed inevitable and finally arrived on 61 minutes for Park View. Siyanbola holding the ball up well when Boysie failed to clear a corner. He laid it back to Frizzel who in turn crossed low.

There was Conroy just outside the six-yard who on the half-turn drilled his effort low and it went flying past Tearl right in the middle of the goal. The beleaguered keeper perhaps should have done better but the home side weren't complaining.

Two goals to the good the football was now flowing from Park View. Defence much improved from a shaky first half and linking well with the midfield who in turn were finding their front three who were causing the visitor's real problems.

Siyanbola gaining another free-kick that Brad Hughes floated into the box for Wilkinson to get a good downward header on. But this time Tearl was well placed to make a comfortable save. But it was a temporary reprieve.

Five minutes after his second goal Conroy was on hand to complete his hat-trick and give his side a fifth goal that put the result and the destiny of the three points beyond any doubt.

Taking Loveday's neat pass inside the box he crashed a lovely cross shot from the right angle of the six-yard box beyond Tearl and the ball went into the net off the inside of the far post. An excellent finish for Conroy's 5th goal of the season.

It was almost four for the striker and six for the home side minutes later. Loveday and Young setting Conroy beautifully for a great chance as he broke into the box. But from just inside he fired inches over the bar.

Boys Club did show some character and as the minutes ticked down forced one further effort that saw Captain Paterson hit a nice effort from fully 25-yards that flew not far wide of Hughes' far post.

Park View made a couple of late substitutions with Harvey Lawrence replacing hat-trick hero Conroy and Matty Henderson coming on for another goal scorer in Young. The substitutes may not have had a lot of time but both impressed.

Another break down the right by Gallagher saw him pull the ball back to Lawrence at the edge of the box and he struck a great effort that was inches too high. Sam Beattie was PV's third substitution coming on for Loveday late on.

As the game was about to tick into injury time Park View grabbed a sixth goal on the night. They had yet another free-kick in a central position 22-yards from goal. Up stepped Brad Hughes and drove a great effort past the diving Tearl.

Hughes was unlucky to see his shot cannon off the post but Robson was there at the back post to lift the rebound back towards goal. The ball may have drifted in anyway but Siyanbola wasn't taking any chances.

He bundled his teammate Beattie out of the way and from barely a foot out nodded the ball over the line to complete a good night's work for his side and an excellent second half.

The action though wasn't quite over! Boysie's O'Brien firing in a cross that Wilkinson headed out only for Paterson to retrieve and flash a low 20-yard daisy cutter just wide of the post.

The last attack from PV almost brought them a seventh on the night. Excellent footwork and control from Henderson setting up Lawrence who struck his 16-yarder superbly but saw it cannon to safety off the underside of the bar.

The whistle went seconds later and concluded a very satisfactory return to The Riverside for Park View under their new guise. It was a win that took them to 10 points from their first four games and to second in the table.

Up next another tough road trip as they go to recently relegated Tow Law Town on Saturday 9th August at The Ironworks Ground. A long established Northern League side and ground that will test this young Park View side to the full.

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

SUBS : 12. Alex Clark (Not Used) 13. Riley Everett (Not Used) 14. Harvey Lawrence (for Conroy 85 mins) 15. Matty Henderson (for Young 87 mins) 16. Sam Beattie (for Loveday 89 mins)

GOAL SCORERS : Loveday 3, Young 28, Conroy 45, 61, 66, Siyanbola 90

MAN of the MATCH : Nathan Conroy