Scoreless Run Continues As Park View Slip To Disappointing Defeat

by Jeff King

Ebac Northern League Division 2 - Saturday 13th September 2025 Park View AFC 0 v 2 Alnwick Town

Park View AFC were looking to bounce back from the disappointment of Wednesday's penalty shoot-out defeat against Gateshead Rutherford. That game was in the Durham FA Frank Pattison Challenge Cup.

But it was League action on Saturday with the visit of 6th placed Alnwick Town from the far flung wilds of Northumberland to The Riverside to take on a Park View side one place and two points above them.

Park View going into the game on the back of four unbeaten games in the League. Albeit the last three all 0 - 0 draws. Two away at top three sides Seaham Red Star and Redcar Town and one at home against bottom club Esh Winning.

The Management Duo of Mickey's Nelson and Barron made changes to the side that had gone out of the cup in midweek. Ben Gallagher moving to right back and Keane Mitchell coming in at left back for the injured Jamie Frizzel.

It meant Dylan Robson could move back into defensive midfield for his side with young Frankie Young dropping down to the bench alongside recent signing 16-year-old Lewis Stephenson who made his debut in the first-team squad.

The visitor's started on the front foot pushing Park View back and almost creating within the opening two minutes. Jamie Clark getting around Gallagher on the left and whipping in a left-foot cross that James Hughes did well to plam away.

The Division's top scorer Euan Potts putting pressure on Hughes and was adjudged to have fouled him allowing Hughes to clear his lines from the resultant free kick.

Then Alnwick were awarded a free kick on halfway that was launched in to the Park View box by Jordan Dobie. Town skipper Yannick Aziakonou got in around the back of the home defence and launched a 10-yard header at goal.

Hughes though was equal to the attempt and dived to his right to push the ball around the post. From Luke Baston's corner, Alnwick's Dan Cherry got up but could only put his header from just outside the six-yard box wide.

Clark again got away on the left and fired in another dangerous cross. This time a low one that Hughes fumbled but his skipper Dylan Wilkinson was on hand to hack the ball clear.

Baston again delivered a wicked in-swinger that Hughes got hands to in front of everyone and turned behind for a corner on the other flank. This time Clark took it but saw Robson clear the ball from the Park View box.

Alnwick were really pushing and winning corner after corner. Another Baston in-swinger saw Josh Iley dive full length on the six-yard box to head narrowly wide from a good position.

Little had been seen of Park View going forward but when they did they should have taken the lead on 11 minutes. Stephen Siyanbola swinging a pass left to Charlie Loveday who sped away from the defence to the by-line.

As he cut in he got his head up and picked out the onrushing Jacob Mallinson in the centre of the box. Mallinson only had Aaron Carr to beat but shot straight at the keeper who made a fantastic point blank save.

Evan Wilkinson then slipped trying to intercept Siyanbola's through ball to Conroy and the Park View striker looked to have a clear shot at goal from 22-yards but Iley got across to block well.

Just as Park View looked as if they were getting into the game they were rocked by the visitor's who took the lead on 13 minutes. There seemed little danger when the ball was played long into the heart of the Park View defence.

But Reyhan Grimaud failed to control the ball and it fell invitingly to Aziakonou. He was about 20-yards out in the inside left channel and he controlled and then tried a curling effort that deflected of Grimaud who attempted to recover.

The ball taking a slight deflection that gave it enough loop and momentum to go over Hughes' despairing dive into the top corner of the net. Alnwick were now in the driving seat.

They went close to doubling their lead when Robson fouled Dominic Hayes 25-yards from goal. Clark smashed his left-foot set-piece effort inches over the bar although Hughes looked to have it covered.

Park View tried to respond and had a half chance when Gallagher got in a good cross from the right. Siyanbola won the header which went straight up in the air and as it came down he tried an acrobatic volley from about six-yards.

But he failed to get the connection he wanted or needed to fully test Carr and the ball went wide of the target. Then Mitchell played a good ball up the left flank after winning a challenge to find Loveday.

Loveday once again showed good footwork and balance before trying to slide Conroy through on goal but Carr was alive to the situation and came off his line with purpose to clear effectively.

There was no further action in a half that had been reasonably even with Alnwick shading it especially after their strong start and being value for their one goal lead.

As the team's came out for the second half Park View had made an enforced substitution with Stephenson, normally a centre back, coming on for Mitchell who had suffered a knock to the and having to slot in at left back.

The second half opened with Alnwick in control and Park View not able to get a real foothold in their search for an equaliser. It was fully 11 minutes though into the second half before any real action took place.

Neat play from Mallinson to find Loveday opened up a little gap for him to slide the ball to Robson who made room for a shot from 22-yards. Iley though came out to make a brave block and prevent the effort from going at the goal.

Then a Mallinson free kick from halfway was met by Robson just inside the box who nodded it through a gap towards Siyanbola who couldn't get on the end of it and Carr claimed the loose ball.

Park View came close on 62 minutes after good play in the middle of the park by Conroy saw him switch the ball to Loveday on the left. The PV wide man doing well to get outside Dobie before firing the ball left footed across the box.

In the end the ball flashed wide of the far post without anyone being able to get a touch on it and the chance went a-begging. It was significant as within two minutes Alnwick doubled their lead and effectively sealed the three points.

Baston's hopeful right wing cross didn't look dangerous but the Park View defence allowed the ball to drift towards the back post where Gallagher misjudged the bounce and it fell to substitute Max Anderson.

He had all the time and space in the world to calmly control and stroke it past the helpless Hughes from about six-yards out. A gift for Alnwick gratefully accepted and doubling PV's problems.

Park View responded by bringing the youngsters off the bench. Zac Boddy for Siyanbola, Matty Henderson and F Young for Robson and B Young and Sam Beattie for Mallinson. Their energy and youthful exuberance brightened up the home play.

Gallagher going down the right before turning a pass into Boddy who laid it off for Conroy who hit a first-time snapshot that Carr had to parry in front of him and then quickly recover as Beattie looked to pounce.

But Alnwick were in truth looking the more likely particularly with substitute Antonio Agostinho looking lively. The speedy forward creating two chances late on that Hughes had to be at his best to keep out.

Firstly Agostinho danced through the Park View defence showing great control at speed before putting fellow substitute Jaymie Shell one-on-one with Hughes. The Park View keeper coming off his line quickly to make a superb block.

Then Agostinho created his own opportunity with a great cut inside from the left to create space for a right-foot rocket from 20-yards. It looked destined for the top corner until Hughes flung himself high to make a brilliant diving tip over.

There was time for one for one last Park View effort when Boddy won a free kick 25-yards from goal on the right. Conroy took it and his ball found Wilkinson inside the box but Cherry did well to compete and the PV skipper's header was wide.

The referee's whistle signalled a the end of a disappointing afternoon for Park View who slipped out of the play-off positions down to 8th in the table. Alnwick going a point above them and advancing to 4th place in the Division.

The defence has been rightly praised so far this season but now the concern is at the other end. Goals win matches and Park View at the moment are not finding a way to effect their games at the attacking end.

They have another chance to bounce back on Wednesday when they visit Prudhoe YC Seniors in a league encounter they need to win to avoid falling further behind those at the top.

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

SUBS : 12. Matty Henderson (for Robson 73 minutes) 14. Zac Boddy (for Siyanbola 67 minutes) 15. Lewis Stephenson (for Mitchell 46 minutes) 16. Frankie Young (for B Young 73 minutes) 17. Sam Beattie (for Mallinson 75 minutes)

MAN of the MATCH : Dylan Wilkinson