Teenage Terrors Shoot Down RCA

by Jeff King

Ebac Northern League Division 2 - Tuesday 9th December 2025 Sunderland RCA 0 v 2 Park View AFC

Finally Park View got back on the pitch and managed to complete a full 90 minutes despite a tricky pitch and a gale force wind. Ironically their opponents and the venue were the same as the last time they played.

That was on the 25th November when following a 2 - 2 draw in 90 minutes, PV lost the subsequent penalty shoot-out 4-1. This game though was in the League and a vital one for a Park View side looking at least at a play-off place.

Following a hard-fought committed contest from both sides it was Park View that prevailed with a superb away win and performance in the difficult conditions. A win that actually took them up to 3rd position in the table for now.

Park View were without influential midfielder Brandon Young and lively wide left forward Charlie Loveday. The two almost certain starters in the XI were on a scouting mission in Prague.

It meant a return to the starting line-up for two 17-year-olds. Frankie Young replacing brother Brandon in midfield, whilst Sam Beattie took Loveday's place up front.

On the bench there were returns to the first team squad for two 16-year-old forwards. Zac Boddy returning after a long-injury and Shay Pye for the first time since July.

Captain Dylan Wilkinson won the toss and surprisingly elected to kick up the slope directly into the teeth of that gale force wind. Right from the off it was obvious that it was going to be a factor and possibly influence the game.

An early free-kick for RCA was some 35-yards from goal but Archie Dodds decided to go for goal hoping perhaps for wind assistance. However, he could only smash his effort into the Park View defensive wall.

Luke Richards made ground on the right from full-back before sending in a dangerous cross. Wilkinson meeting it with a brave header in front of Ben Clark to clear his lines.

PV's first venture forwards saw Jamie Frizzel play a ball to Stephen Siyanbola who tussled with his marker Dom Moan. The ball fell kindly for Jacob Mallinson who hit a good strike from 25-yards. But it was straight at RCA keeper Karl Dryden who held it comfortably.

The wind was enabling RCA to exert real pressure on the Park View defence but Wilkinson marshalled his troops well and with Dylan Robson continuing to be solid alongside, PV didn't allow any clear cut chances.

There were balls constantly into the Park View box and clearances were difficult to get any distance on. One such ball saw Robson do well to block Chris Thompson's shot at the expense of a corner.

Dodds played it short and got the return ball that he curled into the PV box. A scramble ensued with Thompson jumping on a loose ball but firing it wide of the far post.

Then in the next RCA attack it was Thompson again with a shooting opportunity that he took but Brad Hughes was in the right place at the right time and blocked the effort.

Frizzel advancing on the left found Beattie just outside of the box. Beattie turned and tried a curler from the corner of the box but it curled wide of the far post.

Reyhan Grimaud then fouled Jack Patterson wide on the RCA left. It was a chance for Dodds to whip in a dangerous ball. But the wind caught it and it flew well over the Park View bar.

Park View then produced their best moment of the game thus far. It was a sweeping flowing move that defied the weather conditions and the heavy pitch.

Beattie started it skinning Richards on the by-line before finding Ben Gallagher neatly in the centre of the park. Gallagher spotting Grimaud on the move played a lovely cross field ball to the rampaging full back's feet.

Grimaud in turn knocked the ball wide to Mallinson who put in a lovely cross to the back post that Richards got to first and conceded a corner. Mallinson took it but was wayward with his delivery for once and RCA cleared.

RCA were using the slope and wind in equal measures. Park View finding it increasingly difficult to get the ball away. One such ball falling to Lewis Lukeman who it it from distance first time but the wind caught it and it flew well over the bar.

Richards was finding it easy to get into space and push forward. A lovely run square ball inside found Thompson free but his shot lacked power and James Hughes saved it cleanly and easily.

The final effort of the first 45 minutes saw Clark try his luck from distance. The strike was well hit but flew well wide. Park View making it to half-time with their goal intact and the prospect of the conditions being in their favour in the second half.

PV opened well with a lovely move. Grimaud's forward header finding Mallinson who flicked it first time to Siyanbola. He in turn slipped Gallagher into the box. It was an opening but Gallagher pulled his shot well wide of the target.

Mallinson was fouled by Kieran Charlton wide on the left. He whipped the free kick in dangerously with Moan heading it out for a corner. Mallinson delivered and the RCA defence cleared the initial ball in.

It fell to Gallagher some 40-yards out and he struck an excellent first-time effort that was deflected just wide for another corner. Mallinson went for the in-swinger to the near post but hit the side netting.

On 68 minutes Boddy came on for the limping Mallinson and then two minutes later Pye replaced Beattie as Park View continued to look for the break through.

These two combined to create the best chance of the game.

Boddy doing well on the right to find Pye who sent in a lovely cross to the back post that saw Gallagher ghost in behind the RCA defence. His header though from inside the six-yard lacked power and Dryden got down to parry it away.

On 76 minutes Dryden could do nothing to stop Park View taking the lead. A Robson long throw on the right into the box saw Frizzel nod the ball down into Boddy's path.

The youngster took a great first touch that took him wide of a defender and opened up a shooting chance. He took it with aplomb arrowing his left foot effort from 12-yards right into the bottom of the net for his first senior goal.

RCA responded well pushing forward and substitute Logan Herron won a corner off Wilkinson that he took. It was curled into the near post but once again the Park View defence stood firm and were able to clear the danger.

As the minutes ticked by Park View were in complete control of the game with the midfield trio of Young, Brad Hughes and Gallagher always in the thick of things and the back line dominating the RCA forwards.

On 89 minutes Park View doubled their lead and sealed the deal on a terrific away performance with a really well worked and decisive goal. It came courtesy of the other substitute forward Pye.

Robson won a ball superbly on halfway playing it forward to Pye who flicked it into the path of Siyanbola before spinning away from the defence. Siyanbola aware of Pye's run dinked a lovely ball over the defence into his path.

Pye allowed the ball to bounce and then from 12-yards out smashed an unstoppable strike past the helpless Dryden to record his first senior goal for the Club equalling fellow substitute Boddy.

There was still just enough time for Park View to introduce another 16-year-old from the bench as Ollie Taylor came on for the tireless Young wo ad put in a great shift.

It wasn't a classic and the pitch and wind made it difficult to play free flowing football but for Park View it didn't matter. It was three points that moved them to third in the table with two young guns hitting the target for the first time.

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

SUBS : 12. Joe Sykes (Not Used 14. Ollie Taylor (for Young 90 + 1 mins) 15. Zac Boddy (for Mallinson 68 mins) 16. Shay Pye (for Beattie 70 mins)

Goal Scorers : Boddy 76 Pye 89

Player of the Match : Dylan Robson