Same Result, Different Perspective But Unbeaten Run Continues

by Jeff King

Ebac Northern League Division 2 - Saturday 6th September 2025 Park View AFC 0 v 0 Esh Winning

On Tuesday night a hard-working resilient relentless Park View side that had delighted their coaching staff had gone to league leaders Redcar Town and took a point in a 0 - 0 draw.

Fast forward four days and the result was the same but the feeling was somewhat different. Despite dominating the game they came up against a rear guard defensive effort from the visitor's that they couldn't penetrate.

It added up to a little bit of frustration and disappointment as they remained in the play-off positions but lost ground on the top three who all won.

The Management duo of Mickey's Nelson and Barron did make three changes from the side that had started at Redcar. Alex Clark was injured meaning the versatile Dylan Robson went from centre midfield to centre back.

Both Charlie Loveday and Stephen Siyanbola were deemed fit enough to start and they came in for Frankie Young and Sam Beattie who both dropped to the bench.

Brad Hughes was the designated hitter to come in for Robson in defensive central midfield. Brandon Young joining his brother on the bench as he too returned from injury to join his brother on the bench at least from the start.

PV earned a corner in the openings minutes. Jacob Mallinson the taker and his delivery was aimed at the back post with Dylan Wilkinson penalised for a push as he went for the header.

Robson's long throw was utilised early twice by PV with Siyanbola in particular causing problems in the area but the Esh defence looked well organised and solid and was standing firm.

Mallinson and Siyanbola then combined nicely inside the Esh half to put Loveday away on the left. His cross was too deep for his strikers but Ben Gallagher retrieved the ball at the far end of the box.

Gallagher winning a corner off Jackson Cherrie for Mallinson to deliver. This led to a real scramble in the Esh box with Nathan Conroy, Robson and Gallagher all having goal bound shots blocked as Esh held on.

Park View dominating possession with a real attacking intent and Loveday at the heart of most of their promptings. The home side almost netted the opening goal on 13 minutes.

It came from another corner won by Jamie Frizzel who's cross was headed to safety by Ellis Swinburn. Mallinson the taker and Frizzel got up to power a header past Esh keeper Jack Halton that was hacked off the line by Swinburn.

Five minutes later and great hold-up play by Conroy saw him find Loveday on the left. He switched the ball inside to Mallinson who showed great feet and then unleashed a 22-yard right foot rocket that whistled just wide.

It was 21 minutes before Esh ventured forward. Cherrie's throw being headed out of the PV area by Wilkinson and was picked up by Issac Jowett who squared the ball to the onrushing Aaron Willoughby who shot well wide from distance.

On 27 minutes Park view should have taken the lead. B Hughes winning the ball on halfway and finding Conroy who's lovely first time ball freed Siyanbola for a run on goal with only Halton to beat.

As Siyanbola bore down on the goal his composure and finish let him down. He tried to flick the ball past Halton with the outside of his left foot and saw the chance drift wide from a great position.

Back came PV with Mallinson reversing his pass to Loveday who slid Gallagher in on the left hand side of the box and his angled drive stung the palms of Halton who stood tall and parried well.

A good burst down the left by Esh's Michael Haldane saw him cut inside and be fouled by Robson some 25-yards from goal in a central position. Sol Tones stepping up and getting the free kick on target but James Hughes saved easily.

Esh seemed content to concede corners almost at will and Mallinson kept delivering dangerous balls in. The latest saw Wilkinson and Siyanbola head balls towards goal that the Esh defence dealt with really well.

B Hughes then pushed a ball wide left to Mallinson who came onto his right foot and delivered a great cross towards Siyanbola and Conroy but ex-Park View centre back Alex Whyte nipped in between the two to head out for a corner.

This time Mallinson delivered deep where Wilkinson headed it back into the six-yard box but the ball just bounced away from Loveday who had the goal at his mercy.

As half-time approached it was Park View who again almost took the lead. This time Siyanbola rolled his man just inside the Esh half and sent Conroy away on the right. His cross to the middle was only half cleared by Curtis Curl.

The ball fell to Loveday who smashed it goal wards on the half volley from 12 yards. The ball flew past Halton but behind him was the covering Curl who made a remarkable clearing diving header to keep his team level.

It was constant Park View attacking but they just couldn't find a way through the stubborn resolute Esh defence. Conroy's right win cross drifting out of the box on the left and being picked up by Loveday.

He waited for Frizzel to come around him and then slipped the full back in. Frizzel drove his cross low to the near post but it was hacked away for a corner by Ben Campbell which was subsequently cleared once again by the defence.

At half-time the sides trooped off goalless despite Park View's dominance. In truth they didn't take the good chances created and Esh were defending like their lives depended on it.

The second half began with pretty much the same pattern. Esh on the strong back foot as Park View probed forward trying to break them down. Rehyan Grimaud and Gallagher combining to win another corner off Whyte.

Once again the Esh defence held sway and cleared the ball away from danger. B Hughes then swept a superb cross field ball to the rampaging Grimaud who's cross on the run was headed clear for yet another corner.

This time Mallinson and Loveday worked a short ball routine and Loveday clipped the ball to the back post just failing to pick out Wilkinson who had got himself free.

Park View went very close once again to breaking the deadlock on 57 minutes. A Robson long through was flicked on by Frizzel and with his back to goal Mallinson got in an acrobatic overhead kick 10-yards out.

Halton though doing really well to spring back and tip the ball over the bar. Mallinson's corner this time only helped wide by Wilkinson at the back post with a header on the stretch.

Park View then made their first substitution with Brandon Young returning from injury replacing Conroy. Young was involved immediately when Grimaud found him on the right.

He put in a clipped cross that looked destined to give Siyanbola a sight at goal but Halton was off his line quickly to clear before the striker could get to the ball and pull the trigger.

Two bookings quickly followed. One for each side as Gallagher saw yellow for a foul on Joel Manuel and then another ex-Park View Under-18 Cherrie was given the same colour card for a bad tackle on Mallinson.

This in turn led to a raft of substitutions for both sides with Frankie Young coming on for Gallagher to join his brother in PV's midfield and Zac Boddy replacing Siyanbola up front.

In truth though Park View's verve and drive was being stifled by the superbly organised and solid Esh defence and it wasn't until the 81st minute when another major incident occurred.

Boddy showing strength to get the ball to Loveday who pulled it across goal where B Young back flicked it towards goal and Loveday headed it into the net from inside the six-yard box but the Assistant's flag went up for offside.

As is often the case when one team dominates and the other is holding on then that one chance comes for the defending unit that could make all their hard work worth while. It almost came on 84 minutes.

A ball 30-yards from the PV goal bounced the right way for Tones who then put the pass through the right-hand channel for Harland to run onto and away from Frizzel and into the box with J Hughes to beat.

He slipped the ball past the advancing Hughes but Robson was alert to the danger and got behind his keeper well to stop the ball from entering the awaiting net and clear the danger.

Two minutes after that chance was not taken Esh were hit with a further issue when left back Cherrie was dismissed after receiving a second yellow card for a late tackle on Grimaud as he tried to get down the right wing.

Four minutes on the clock plus whatever injury time the referee allowed and now it was 11 v 10 and still Park View poured forward and still the visitor's clung on.

The free kick from Mallinson that resulted from the sending off met in the middle of the box by Frizzel but he could only put his header over the bar. Then Mallinson hit a fierce shot from 25-yards out that was straight at Halton.

As the injury time ticked down Park View had two final efforts at goal. Frizzel playing a good ball down the left touchline to find Loveday. Loveday twisted inside and got to a central position just outside the box.

He shot back across the goal through a crowd of players but with Halton beaten was unlucky to see his shot roll wide. The final effort of the game came from Loveday's square pass to B Hughes but his 22-yard effort was easily held by Halton.

The referee's whistle ended a frustrating afternoon for Park View who after all their possession, probing and goal attempts could not find a way through an excellent rear guard effort from Esh who kept their first clean sheet of the season.

After deserving a point against Redcar Town in midweek with a battling performance in that 0 - 0 draw this felt like a very different outcome. Despite the same result and rewards this one felt like two points dropped.

For Esh a first clean sheet in 12 games and a point on the road at a side that has play-off pretences was an achievement they celebrated with some emotion and perhaps on the way they defended and organised themselves one they deserved.

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

SUBS : 12. Frankie Young (for Gallagher 68 minutes) 13. Brandon Young (for Conroy 58 minutes) 14. Sam Beattie (Not Used) 15. Joe Sykes (Not Used) 16. Zac Boddy (for Siyanbola 75 minutes)

MAN of the MATCH : Dylan Wilkinson