Stalemate By The Sea

by Jeff King

Ebac Northern League Division 2 - Tuesday 26th August 2025 Seaham Red Star 0 v 0 Park View AFC

It was third v fourth on a warm summer evening's on the Durham Coast as the higher placed hosts welcomed the team one place below them to the Alexandra Steakhouse Stadium. On paper it looked like a tough tight clash in prospect.

For once the paper prospect matched the performance on the pitch. Neither side could be separated by goals on the night. However, Red Star will be ruing a massive opportunity spurned particularly after a first-half missed penalty.

For Park View it was a battling defensive orientated effort that shows how far this project has come. Not one player backing down physically and mentally as they shut the Second Division's highest scoring team down.

Park View were forced into one change from the side that knocked Steeton AFC out of The FA Vase just three days earlier. Brandon Young picking up a knock that kept him out of the starting XI.

Dylan Robson returning after missing Saturday to take B Young's place with Bradley Hughes also returning from unavailability to be named on the bench.

This was a game which opened with plenty of endeavour, commitment, energy and purpose from both sides but for a long time no end product as both sides defences dominated and snuffed out any clear-cut chances.

Seaham were on top and pressing without creating anything. The first corner of the game going to the home side but taking 18 minutes to come along. Even then James Robinson's delivery was headed well clear by Dylan Wilkinson.

It was Robinson who had the first meaningful shot of the game after 24 minutes. Red Star were awarded a free-kick for a Robson foul on Ryan O'Connor some 25-yards from goal.

Robinson trying the surprise element of trying his luck from the distance but James Hughes in the PV goal was alert and dived across to his right to parry the ball away in fine style.

Jack Thynne was first to the loose ball on the left keeping it in play and crossing deep to the back post where Thomas Lawson pulled it back from the byline finding dangerous striker Ryan Appleby in space about six-yards out.

He crashed a first time effort on target but a combination of Hughes and his defence did well to block the shot and then clear their lines. It was though the home side that were on top and looking the most likely.

A foul by F Young on former Park View Skipper O'Connor earning another Red Star free-kick inside the PV half. This time Lawson took it looking for players at the back post but there was Hughes to come off his line decisively and claim it.

Park View's main attacking threat in the final third was coming courtesy of Robson's ability to launch a good long-throw. From one of these Alex Clark flicked the ball back to Charlie Loveday.

Loveday's first time effort was well blocked by the Seaham defence and the ball rolled back to Robson following up his throw. The midfielder's shot was powerfully struck but lacked direction and went out for a throw-in on the other side.

Park View were dealt a blow on 37 minutes when the often influential Loveday tweaked a groin muscle and had to be replaced by substitute Zac Boddy. Three minutes later PV's pain should have been doubled as Seaham were awarded a penalty.

A ball down the left saw Appleby get the wrong side of Wilkinson inside the area. In his efforts to try and recover his position the Park View skipper unfortunately only succeeded in bundling the striker over for a definite foul.

Chris Luaba was the designator taker but after a short run-up he blasted the spot-kick well over the bar and the ball was off into the Durham night air for a swim in the sea. A glorious opportunity spurned.

Red Star continued to attack but were finding the visitor's defence standing rock solid and firm. Luaba did win a corner off Ben Gallagher but once again Robinson's delivery was well cleared.

The referee's whistle for no-side brought an ending to a first half that had promised but failed to deliver at either end and honours even with 45 minutes to play.

Again Red Star started the brighter on the resumption going close when Lawson's cross was met by Appleby in a good position inside the area. But he could only steer his effort inches wide of the post.

Then Luaba did well to wrestle a ball free from the Park View midfield but as he advanced creating space he got his 25-yard left footer all wrong and the ball flew well wide of the post.

Park View though were indebted to goalkeeper Hughes for keeping the score sheet blank on 54 minutes with a brilliant double save. O'Connor snaked away from the right touchline drifting inside before finding Appleby in the box.

The striker took the neat pass really well in his stride and from about 12-yards out composed himself and lined up his left foot shot. It was struck beautifully but perhaps just too close to Hughes who made an instinctive superb parry.

The ball ricocheting straight back to Thynne on the edge of the box and he smashed the rebound back on target. But once again Hughes was well placed and showed strong hands to beat the fierce effort away.

Hughes blotting his copybook slightly though moments later when he picked up a yellow card for adopting an aggressive attitude towards the referee.

Robson joining him in the book shortly afterwards for a foul on John Stephenson as the midfielder looked to burst away from him to set-up a home attack.

O'Connor then cleverly won a corner off Reyhan Grimaud for Robinson to deliver again. Both centre backs Cam McHarg and skipper Mason Burton joined the packed penalty area as the kick was swung in.

Once again though it was Hughes who came and dealt with the danger for his side showing good clean hands to make the ball his. Park View then made their second substitution with B Hughes coming on for F Young.

Boddy was the next PV player in the book although Seaham were also receiving their fair share of yellows as well. The home side also looking to change things around with a succession of changes in personnel.

However whether it was out wide or long into feet or fired at the heads the Park View defence superbly supported by their battling midfield and once again held firm.

A Lawson throw-in deep on the right saw McHarg flick the ball back to substitute Lewis Rutherford on the edge of the box. His first-time half volley was well struck but rising. However, J Hughes took no chances and palmed the ball over.

Park View were managing to get the ball forward and Boddy in particular was doing well to occupy the home centre backs. He even helped create his side's only real meaningful attack of the second period.

Good holdup play and a neat lay-off to Sam Beattie saw his fellow attacker roll the ball into the path of the advancing Gallagher but from 22-yards the midfielder's shot was well over.

Beattie making way shortly afterwards for Keane Mitchell as Park view dug in again late on. They were successful as well. The home side throwing bodies forward.

But other than a McHarg header from a flick-on from Rutherford that flew well wide in stoppage time they were unable to breakdown the resolute Park View defence and the stalemate was confirmed on the referee's final whistle.

Not a game Park View will remember fondly from an attacking point of view but definitely from a defensive one. Against a well-organised strong side that pressed hard they showed real steel and metal to come away with a good point.

The hosts though will look at that 40th minute penalty miss in particular which would have made it a totally different game had the golden chance been taken.

Next up for Park View is the visit of Ryton & Crawcrook Albion to The Riverside this coming Saturday with a 15:00pm kick-off.

TEAM : 1. James Hughes 2. Reyhan Grimaud 3. Jamie Frizzel 4. Dylan Robson 5. Dylan Wilkinson (c) 6. Alex Clark 7. Jacob Mallinson 8. Ben Gallagher 9. Sam Beattie 10. Frankie Young 11. Charlie Loveday

SUBS : 12. Stephen Siyanbola (not used) 13. Keane Mitchell (for Beattie 82 minutes) 14. Brad Hughes (for F Young 63 minutes) 15. Joe Sykes (not used) 16. Zac Boddy (for Loveday 37 minutes)

MAN of the MATCH : James Hughes