Three Goals For The Visitors Gives Three Points To The Hosts

by Jeff King

Ebac Northern League Division 2 - Satutday 4th October 2025 Park View AFC 2 v 1 FC Hartlepool

A big game for Park View brought a great response and an excellent all-round team performance. Going in against 4th Placed FC Hartlepool PV knew they needed a win to keep in touch at the top of the Division.

A win they subsequently got albeit with a helping hand or even foot or two from their battling opposition. Three points achieved and a great confidence boosting win on a very blustery day at The Riverside.

Park View knew it was going to be a tough afternoon as they faced FC for the second time this season. The hosts had lost 1 - 0 on the road back in August at Grayfields to a Mikey Mcgee penalty in a close fought encounter.

There was no Mcgee for the visitors this time around nor second top scorer Fin O'Gorman who had a loan spell with Park View/Chester-le-Street United a couple of seasons ago. O'Gorman now a West Auckland Town player.

Hartlepool were further hit when Callum Williams pulled up in the warm-ups and sustained an injury that dropped him down to the bench with Olly Burrows stepping up to take his place.

For Park View Ben Gallagher's continuing injury kept him out of the squad and Brad Hughes was also unavailable for the game. Alex Clark after a tough week of college fixtures only fit enough for the bench.

Dylan Robson did return following suspension and took his place alongside skipper Dylan Wilkinson at the heart of the defence. Top scorer Nathan Conroy also returning to the starting XI.

A new name on the PV bench as another 16-year-old in Oliver Taylor a midfield player that has impressed during training and the college fixtures taking a place alongside Ethan's Connelly and Lowery who had been on the bench 7 days prior.

Under-21 player Joe Sykes making up the PV bench as the home side prepared to face the teeth of the wind with the game kicking off on a pitch that looked in good condition given all that had been thrown at it by Storm Amy.

Within 8 seconds of the start both sides got an idea of how the wind was going to play. Robson's attempted clearance being blown out for a corner for FC. Lewis Green took it aimed for the back post with the wind taking the ball beyond everyone at the far post.

Park View whose normal style is playing to feet and trying to create passing opportunities showed quickly that the wind wasn't going to daunt them as Reyhan Grimaud sent Jacob Mallinson away down the right touchline.

Mallinson swung in an early cross that was too deep for Stephen Siyanbola but was recycled by Charlie Loveday on the left. He in turn found the breaking Brandon Young just inside the FC penalty area.

But B Young couldn't get the strike away to his liking and fired wide from 16-yards out. It was though a good start from PV who looked in the mood and were retaining the ball well.

A lovely attack saw Conroy show great control and awareness to hold the ball up in the centre of the Hartlepool half before releasing a rampaging Grimaud on the right. The full back cutting into the visitor's box.

He was crowded out and turned the ball back to B Young just outside the box who was tripped as he attempted to move forward. Jamie Frizzel came across to take the free kick but his effort was weak and easily saved by Harry Carr.

The home side's intent though was good and they kept pushing. Loveday getting to the byline on the left before firing in a low cross that Burrows did well to clear out of his box.

Grimaud pounced on the loose ball moved forward with purpose but could only lash his 22-yard effort wide of the left-hand post with Carr watchfully seeing the ball flash past his goal.

After PV's pressure the first clear cut chance actually fell to FC on 13 minutes. Frankie Young almost playing Siyanbola through the middle but Carr came from his line outside his box and cleared long.

The ball catching the wind and the PV back line out as Nathan Bayes raced on to the ball getting to it first. With James Hughes hurtling off his line to meet him the Hartlepool striker hit a first-time effort that smashed into Hughes face.

A brave stop by the PV keeper that required attention for his pains but worth it to keep the score line blank in the circumstances. It was a minor blip as PV immediately resumed taking the ball to Hartlepool and pressing them hard.

The Young brothers combing well in midfield to give Brandon a shooting opportunity that he struck well but saw Tom Gavin block to prevent Carr having to make a save.

A brilliant Park View move then almost brought the reward it deserved. Loveday and Siyanbola combining superbly before the latter slid the ball into Mallinson. From the edge of the box the midfielder saw his shot beat Carr but smack back off the bar.

It dropped invitingly to Conroy inside the six-yard box but he was thwarted by a desperate but well timed block tackle by Scott Close with his keeper stranded. PV were well on top now and it was no surprise when they went in front.

The goal came on 22 minutes. F Young finding Loveday on the left who once again showed great control and speed to round Harry Pilkington and get to the byline. Loveday looking up spotted the unmarked Siyanbola at the back post.

He aimed his low cross towards the big striker who would have had a simple tap-in but Burrows tried to cut the dangerous pass out and only succeeded into turning it past his own keeper into the net.

Unfortunate for FC but in reality had Burrows missed the ball Siyanbola would have surely scored anyway. A great bit of play though by Loveday and a deserved lead for Park View.

Five minutes after the goal it was almost 2 - 0. Frizzel finding Conroy in the inside left position 25-yards from goal. Conroy showing great feet to hold the ball up and then timing a great square pass for Mallinson to run onto.

Mallinson drove into the box and then hit a terrific right-foot shot that Carr did superbly well to dive full-length to his left making a great parry to keep the ball out.

Little had been seen of FC despite them having the advantage of the wind but they almost created something after Frizzel fouled Jake Stott midway inside the PV box as he covered across. Gavin looked as if he had hit the free kick too deep.

But Stott did well to keep the ball in-play and then find Bayes inside the box who attempted to turn into a dangerous area past Wilkinson who made a good tackle at the expense of a corner.

Gavin took it and produced a wicked in swinger that Hughes did well to palm away under his crossbar for a corner on the opposite side. Green wasting this one with a ball in that Robson cleared easily.

Having weathered the pressure well Park View resumed their attack. Frizzel playing a ball deep from left back that held up in the wind and was well controlled by Siyanbola who looked like he was going through.

However Close was alert to the danger and came across well to make a clean sliding tackle to prevent Siyanbola a clear one-on-one opportunity with Carr.

FC then created a shooting chance just outside the box for Tom Miller as he was found by Bayes with a good square ball. Miller struck a good shot that dipped just as Hughes went to clutch it and the keeper had to push it around the post.

Green with the corner again and this time he fizzed it across the penalty area with no-one from either side able to get a touch that might have caused problems as the ball went wide.

Another brilliant Park View move was met by great defending by FC as the half came towards a close. Grimaud playing a ball from the right flank into Conroy who's excellent first time flick sent Mallinson down the touchline.

Mallinson chose to fire in a cross early towards Siyanbola and Loveday but saw Burrows intercept well turning the ball away for a corner. Mallinson trotting across to deliver an in-swinger that was well dealt with by the FC defence.

On the stroke of half-time PV almost pierced the FC rear guard for a second time. B Young doing really well on the left to turn inside and then deliver a good cross to the back post where Conroy took a great first touch.

It enabled him to get the ball out of his feet and allowed him a strike on goal albeit at a tight angle. Conroy got a great effort off that beat Carr but hit the outside of the post to keep PV's lead at a single goal as the half ended.

The early going of the second 45 minutes saw both sides largely cancel each other out as they tried to adapt in the change of conditions kicking in the opposite direction brought.

PV were though on the offensive as the half progressed. Siyanbola taking a neat F Young pass into his stride before getting into the box and winning a corner off Close who stuck to his task well.

Mallinson delivered and Wilkinson won a good header about 12-yards out that he nodded down into a dangerous area. No-one was there though to take advantage and the ball rolled behind for a goal kick.

The next PV chance came from a Hartlepool free kick that Gavin launched into the heart of the home defence. Frizzel getting up well to head it out and Siyanbola doing even better to volley a clearance forward towards Loveday.

Loveday did well to beat Pilkington to the ball and speed towards the FC box drawing defenders towards him. It enabled him to roll an inviting pass into the path of Conroy who was about ten-yards out from goal.

Although PV's top scorer hit his shot well it was unfortunately straight at Carr who gathered it well. Conroy perhaps should have done better with what looked like a gilt-edged chance.

A spate of bookings occurred when a little flare-up between Grimaud and Joe Spalding saw both players booked. Then the referee had to produce another yellow for Close as he pulled Loveday down as he looked to burst through.

This earned Park View a free-kick about 25-yards out in a central position. Conroy lined the ball up but his first effort cannoned back to him off the wall. His second effort an instantaneous volley was better.

It flew over the disbanding wall beat Carr all ends up but unluckily for Park View and Conroy the ball also flew inches over the bar. It was very close to a second goal.

Once again PV were pressing and pushing and their next good moment came courtesy of a clever long throw by Robson. Instead of launching it deep into the box he threw it long more sideways and allowed the wind to dictate the path.

It led to a spot of head tennis in the box that eventually saw Frizzel get a firm header from about 10-yards on target but Carr was well placed to claim the ball easily.

A second Park View goal looked the more likely outcome in the game and duly arrived on 75 minutes with the creator being Conroy. This time he showed strength and composure alongside good control on the right-hand side.

Spotting Loveday breaking into the box on the left Conroy whipped in a dangerous low cross aiming it towards his teammate. The ball never gave Loveday an opportunity to convert.

Instead Close aware of Loveday racing in behind attempted to divert the ball away but sliding to cut it out he could only guide it past his own keeper who had no chance of keeping it out.

Perhaps a tad fortunate for Park View and a tad unfortunate for Hartlepool but Conroy's ball had been a good one and it looked to be destined for Loveday who would have been unmarked and close in on goal.

It was virtually Conroy's last contribution to the game as he was replaced with 11 minutes to go allowing Taylor to go on and make his first-team debut. Taylor almost providing Park View with a third goal with some individual brilliance.

Taking a ball well on the right he looked up and saw B Young unmarked and breaking into the box on the left. Taylor's awareness very good and his ball across to B Young even better.

Young taking it in his stride getting away from a defender and bearing down on Carr who did brilliantly to make a point-blank save from close range as he came from his line to thwart Young.

Then Siyanbola robbed substitute Sam Cook going around Burrows before attempting a long-range shot that he didn't quite catch well enough and saw his effort find Carr well placed to make an easy save.

Park View then made three substitutions. Connelly and Sykes coming on for Loveday and Mallinson and Lowery making his first-team bow for Grimaud. It meant PV having 4, 16-year-olds on the pitch as the game went into injury time.

Injury time that gave Hartlepool time to snatch a late slightly controversial consolation game three minutes in. It came following two corners the first of which was delivered dangerously by Captain Josh Daley.

His well placed kick was met by a thumping header from Burrows at close quarters. Hughes though somehow made a magnificent reflex save to turn the goal bound header over the bar with his right hand.

The second corner was delivered to the near post where F Young made a brave headed clearance and went down holding his head inside his own six-yard box. The ball was recycled to substitute Jack Bennett with Young still down.

Bennett to be fair curled an excellent effort from the right-hand side of the box over everyone and into the far corner beating Hughes' outstretched hand. Perhaps with Young lying prostrate the game should have been stopped.

But the goal stood and just for a minute it gave FC Hartlepool a bit of hope. However there was not sufficient time following the PV restart for them to look to snatch a dramatic equaliser as the referee blew for no-side to end the game.

An excellent three points for Park View lifting them to sixth place in the table and too within two points of the vanquished Hartlepool side with a game in hand as well.

The goals had come from the visitor's misfortune but there was no doubting that given the weight of possession and chances it was no more than Park View deserved. Had they taken their chances it could have been more decisive.

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

SUBS : 12. Joe Sykes (for Mallinson 89 minutes) 14. Alex Clark (Not Used) 15. Ethan Lowery (for Grimaud 90 minutes) 16. Ethan Connelly (for Loveday 89 minutes) 17. Oliver Taylor (for Conroy 79 minutes)

GOAL SCORERS : Burrows (OG) 22, Close (OG) 75

MAN of the MATCH : Nathan Conroy