Sensational Comeback Returns Park View To Winning Ways
Ebac Northern League Division 2 - Wednesday 26th August 2026 Park View AFC 3 v 2 Durham United
Going into this game both side's were desperate for points and looking for a vital win. The visitors Durham United still winless after seven league games were sitting on only two points in second-bottom position in the table.
Park View meanwhile after winning their first two league games of the season had not won in their next six league encounters and had slipped to 14th in the table with nine points gained.
Following the 3 - 1 home to loss to Jarrow at the weekend the Park View management team made three changes to their starting XI. With Carter Bell and Zac Boddy unavailable Markus Giefalk and Nathan Conroy returned.
There was also a first senior start for last season's under-18 player of the year Bobby Gough in place of forward Niall Armstrong who dropped down to the bench.
The opening ten or so minutes were evenly matched with neither side getting a big foothold in the game and both unable to create a great deal going forward. Slowly though Park View got on top and on 9 minutes had a good chance.
A Reyhan Grimaud long-throw was flicked on at the near post by Alex Clark. Brandon Young timed his run perfectly to meet the ball inside the six-yard box. But unfortunately his header lacked power and was straight at Pat Dixon.
PV though were now looking dangerous especially from Grimaud's long throws. Another one caused problems in the Durham defence and was only half cleared. The ball fell to Ben Gallagher who on the half-turn crashed it goal wards.
The Park View skipper though denied the opener as Dixon dived low full-length to turn the ball around for a corner in fine style. Jacob Mallinson delivered the corner that Durham managed to clear well.
Then a third Grimaud launch found Charlie Loveday inside the area but he could not control his 10-yard volley which he flashed over the bar. Park View on the attack but they got a rude reminder of the visitor's abilities moments later.
Gough around 40-yards from his own goal lost possession to Dan Rehimbek who immediately played a great through ball that split the Park View defence open.
Phil Kay was away and as David Carter advanced from his line he slipped the ball past him from about 20-yards out for a great finish but he was thwarted from giving United the lead by a correctly raised Assistant's flag.
It was a warning PV did not heed as they fell behind on 17 minutes. A long ball from Max Sanni on the right found Noah Head completely unmarked inside the PV box.
Head was allowed time to control the ball before he hit a right-foot shot from about 10-yards across Carter into the far corner past the diving keeper's right hand. A goal that saw United take advantage of slack PV defending.
Park View retaliated with a lovely ball over the top from Gallagher to the free running Young. He made ground and released Grimaud on the right. Grimaud hitting a lovely cross into the box that Dixon came to claim well and cleanly.
On 20 minutes Durham struck again with a simple but effective goal that once again brought into question Park View's defending. Rehimbek playing a ball forward that Kay headed on over the PV defence to find Head.
The forward once again finding space and able to advance into the box easily and then slide the ball past the advancing Carter comfortably to double his personal and his side's tally. Park View looking a little shell-shocked.
It was almost game over on 27 minutes when once again Durham opened up the PV defence. This time Oliver Bell won a ball off Young midway in the home half before sliding a ball through for Kay to run on to.
Kay was one-on-one with Carter and it looked ominous. But Carter timed his move off his line superbly and spread himself well to block Kay's efforts to put the ball past him with his right boot. A crucial save from the PV keeper.
Gallagher then picked up a booking for a needless shirt before Park View almost responded. Mallinson doing well in midfield to set Loveday on the left. He sped past his defender and then delivered a low ball across the six-yard box.
Gough arriving late into the space but unable to make the necessary contact that would surely have brought his side back into the game. A chance missed but not that costly as on 34 minutes Park View did get back into the game.
Brilliant work from Loveday once again saw him pick a ball up from Jamie Frizzel's pass down the left. Loveday creating space to once again deliver a low cross into the six-yard box.
This time his efforts were rewarded with Young making a superbly timed run to get in front of the Durham back-line and steer it home from close range to give his side a lifeline.
Park View now had their tails up and were looking really dangerous as they poured forward. Young just outside the box doing well to find Conroy just inside the box.
Although the big striker was surrounded by defenders he showed great footwork to create space for a shot at goal and was unlucky to see his well created effort just slide wide of the post.
Then almost from nothing Mallinson was tremendously unlucky to see his 25-yard right-foot rocket flew past Dixon but hit the outside of the Durham post and bounce to safety.
Durham then ended the half with another good chance they did not take. Rehimbek not picked up and allowed to drive into the PV box and get to the by-line before pulling a ball back that Frizzel turned out for a corner.
Charlie Bramwell played the kick inside the box to Rehimbek who crossed immediately into the six-yard area where he found Bell getting on the end of it but he headed well over from a good position.
The half ending after the miss and Durham taking a one-goal lead into the dressing rooms after taking good advantage of two opportunist chances. Park View though had got an important goal to get them back in the game.
The home side started well in the second 45 minutes when Conroy turning in the centre circle played a lovely ball out left to Loveday. The speedy forward immediately cutting inside and then curling an effort from the edge just wide.
Park View were then forced into a substitution when the industrious goal scorer Young had to limp off and was replaced by Armstrong in an attacking move from the PV Management team.
On 52 minutes it paid off as Park View drew level and it came from another Grimaud long throw. This one bouncing into the six-yard box where Armstrong hooked it over Dixon and find Mallinson who volleyed home from close range.
Durham in reply though almost immediately restored their lead. Fred Walton hitting a fierce 22-yard snapshot that Carter did superbly to tip on to the cross bar at full stretch keeping his side level in great style.
In Durham's next attack Giefalk picked up PV's second booking of the night with a trip on Walton who was threatening to break free and open things up for the visitors.
Armstrong had looked lively since coming on and he won his side a throw-in in a dangerous position after Sanni did well to stop his run. It gave Grimaud another chance to deliver a long range throw.
Once again it was well delivered and Conroy got a delicate back header to the ball inside the six-yard box to send it towards the bottom corner of the goal. Dixon getting down well to make a great parry at his near post.
Both keepers were having their moments and it was Carter to the rescue again as the game hit the hour mark. Oskar Duenkel putting another ball over the top of the Park View defence to set Kay free and in on goal.
Durham's top scorer though did not add to his tally for the season as Carter was alert to the situation coming off his line well to make another vitally important blocking save for his side.
Park View then replaced Giefalk with Ollie Taylor on 63 minutes and within a minute took the lead although the substitute was not involved. Loveday on the other hand almost inevitable was.
Conroy started the move with good holdup play and then a neat ball into the inside left channel for Loveday to burst into the box. Park View's top scorer taking a lovely touch to open up the angle.
Loveday then from about 8-yards out showed composure and class to slide his left foot finish clinically past and under the diving Dixon for his fifth goal of the campaign.
On 71 minutes Loveday very nearly made it two for him and four for Park View. A great clearing header from Clark dropping just in front of him in the Durham half. Loveday controlled it instantly and then sped away from two defenders.
His pace took him clear and left the defence trailing. It was another 1-on-1 opportunity in the game but Dixon this time was the win. The United keeper timing his advance from his line superbly to block the goal bound effort.
The game was on a knife edge. Park View in the ascendency but Durham looking really dangerous on the counter attack as Park View almost found out to their cost. United keeper Dixon an instigator of those counters.
He took a cross from Armstrong well off his line and then threw a quick ball very long that took out the PV defence and found Walton who streaked away and into the box. Frizzel tracking him all the way getting in a crucial tackle.
Walton did go crashing to the ground under the challenge and the Durham cries for a penalty were very loud. However the referee well placed waved the claims away and play continued.
Then a curious incident on 75 minutes led to a red card for the already substituted Giefalk. A foul by Noah Melville on Armstrong in front of the Park View bench saw the young Swede leave his seat and remonstrate the decision.
The referee saw it as clear and obvious unnecessary dissent and brandished a second yellow card to Giefalk who was then dismissed from the bench with a subsequent red card.
Substitute George Killick who had come on at half-time for injured goal scorer Head almost helped bring his side level as time ticked down. His cross into the PV box finding the unmarked Kay who side-footed wide from a great position.
At the other end Park View almost went in front from an audacious effort from Armstrong. Some 30-yards from goal there seemed like there was nothing really on but Armstrong had other ideas.
He unleashed an absolute rocket of a right-foot shot from out of nowhere and it flew past the fully stretched Dixon in a flash. Unfortunately for Armstrong and Park View the ball went inches wide of the left-hand post.
The last ten minutes or so saw Park View remain on the front foot as the best form of defence seemingly to attack. It almost brought them a fourth goal late on that would have sealed the game.
Substitute Kieran Woods on for Conroy finding Mallinson inside who controlled advanced and hit a crisp low right-foot 20-yard effort. Dixon was alert to it and dived to his right to make a great parry.
The ball ran loose and Loveday's pace saw him get to it first. But he was denied a strike on goal as the covering defenders crowded him out. It was the last significant action of the game as Park View took a vital win on the final whistle.
This was an extremely important and welcome three points for Park View. A superb comeback from being two goals down after twenty minutes and very nearly three down at one stage.
Young's goal was vital and set the platform for the home side bringing them back into the game and then their opening to the second half brought them the rewards they deserved after showing great character and togetherness.
Durham played like a side belittling and belying their lowly position and will feel they may have done enough to earn a point. But in the end it was that crucial second half that got Park view a very welcome three points.
TEAM : 1. Davy Carter 2. Reyhan Grimaud 3. Jamie Frizzel 4. Markus Giefalk 5. Alex Clark 6. Bobby Gough 7. Jacob Mallinson 8. Ben Gallagher (c) 9. Nathan Conroy 10. Brandon Young 11. Charlie Loveday
SUBS : 12. Ollie Taylor (for Giefalk 63 mins) 13. Andre Clayton (Not Used) 14. Lewis Marshall (Not Used) 15. Niall Armstrong (for Young 50 mins) 16. Kieran Woods (for Conroy 84 mins)
GOAL SCORERS : Young 34, Mallinson 52, Loveday 64
PLAYER of the MATCH : Charlie Loveday
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