Weather The Winner After Park View Dominate First Half

by Jeff King

Ebac Northern League Division 2 - Saturday 29th November 2025 Park View AFC 3 v 0 Tow Law Town Abandoned After 45 Minutes

Park View were denied a fifth successive home league victory, a much needed three points and a chance to consolidate their playoff position by a torrential downpour that forced the referee to abandon the game at half-time.

There were no complaints from Park View despite being three goals to the good after 45 scintillating minutes where they completely dominated Tow Law. The Lawyers only respite on the day being the referee's last decision of the day.

The visitor's were playing their first game under the stewardship of new Manager Mattie Thompson who had taken over in midweek after the departure of Dion Raitt.

Thompson and his new back room staff had brought in several new faces for the fixture in an attempt to halt the historic Lawyers' slide down the table. Tow Law facing the very real possibility of sliding out of the Northern League.

However, the new faces failed to turn things around for the first 45 minutes of Thompson's reign and were indebted to the weather gods. The steady rain during the game turned torrential and in the end gave the referee no choice.

Park View made two changes from the side that had gone out of the Ernest Armstrong Second Division Cup at Sunderland RCA on penalties the previous Tuesday night after the sides had drawn 2 - 2 in 90 minutes.

Stephen Siyanbola returned from suspension to lead the attacking line and Ben Gallagher returned in midfield. Sam Beattie and Ollie Taylor dropping to the bench.

The first chance of the game went the way of the visitor's. Harvey Walsh showing good control just outside the box and then dinking a ball to the back post where a well placed Rhys Groves headed wide from about 8-yards out.

Park View responded with a great run down the right by Jacob Mallinson after he was found by Reyhan Grimaud. The wide right attacker putting in a fine cross that Siyanbola got too first but his glanced header was just wide.

Two good chances missed but the next one wasn't as Park View took the lead on 10 minutes. Brilliant work from Siyanbola as he drove into the box and tried to twist his way through was stop when Ellis Wymer clearly tripped him.

Up stepped Brad Hughes against his old club and he drove the resultant penalty kick high, wide and firmly past Tom Orton's dive to the right and into the side of the net giving The Lawyers keeper no chance.

Tow Law almost responded virtually from the kick-off. Kory Whitfield sliding a great ball into the path of Connor Brown who broke through the PV defence. With only James Hughes to beat Brown failed to hit the target firing wide.

A costly miss it seemed at the time especially as Park View began to dominate proceedings. Skipper Dylan Wilkinson putting a ball through to Charlie Loveday who timed his pass perfectly to put Siyanbola through inside the box.

Orton though kept his side in the contest coming off his line swiftly to make a great block on Siyanbola's goal bound effort. Mallinson swung in the corner that beat everyone but hit the top of the bar and went over the goal.

Another great Park View move almost doubled their tally. Jamie Frizzel finding Frankie Young bursting forward from midfield with purpose. Young found Siyanbola and then took the return pass well driving to the byline.

Young's pull back into the middle finding Siyanbola but the ball was just slightly behind Park View's top scorer and although he got a sliding effort on target it lacked the power to beat Orton who blocked it well.

Grimaud launched the next home attack with a probing ball down the right that looked to free Mallinson. Ashley Adams coming across to concede a throw in Dylan Robson country.

Robson launched it in long Frizzel flicked it on but the Tow Law defence scrambled it away for a corner. Mallinson delivering and finding Wilkinson in space in the centre of the box.

Park View's skipper though saw his well struck on-target effort blocked by is own player as it it Siyanbola and flew away to safety for Tow Law. Just after the half-hour mark Park View went close again.

A long diagonal ball from the left by Frizzel saw Siyanbola do really well to get up on the edge of the box and chest the ball down into Loveday's path. the forward's instant beautifully struck 20-yarder flying inches over the bar.

It was all Park View now and with the rain lashing down Tow Law were sunk even further when their captain Wymer was dismissed for violent conduct with a straight red card. It came on 39 minutes.

A ball was played up to Siyanbola who was pushed to the ground by Wymer who then seemed to foolishly and needlessly kick out at Siyanbola. The referee was right in eyesight of the incident and had no hesitation in dismissing Wymer.

Surprisingly enough it almost sparked an equaliser for Tow Law. Brown bringing the ball forward from midfield and finding Walsh just outside the PV box. His left-foot rocket beat J Hughes but was always rising and went just over the bar.

Two minutes later though Wymer's sending off did cost his side dearly as Park View doubled their lead. Mallinson's cross into the box from the right only partially headed out by Adams.

The ball landing at the feet of Loveday who controlled with one touch and then from just inside the box rifled a right foot shot straight and high past the flaying hands of the beaten Orton.

Worse was to come when Park View netted another with 43 minutes on the clock. This time Mallinson tried to turn inside from the right but was challenged well by Niall Short.

The loose ball was picked up by B Hughes who knocked it forward and then unleashed a superb 25-yard effort that arrowed into the back of the net giving the despairing diving Orton no chance at all.

As the rain got heavier so did the Tow Law hearts and when the referee blew the half-time whistle they looked mightily pleased to be able to get off the pitch and into the sanctity of their changing room.

What was very evident though at that juncture was the weather. The only thing that had beaten Park View's consistency in the first 45 minutes and been more dominant was the rain.

Whilst the players were on the pitch and taking in the ground the pitch was holding up. As soon as they left, the playing surface began to collect water as easily as Tow Law shipped goals.

It became quite evident what was going to happen and duly did. The referee and his assistants coming from the changing rooms to a pitch that now had several areas of standing water clearly showing through.

The lead official attempting to bounce the ball in a particularly wet patch and then move it forward. Both attempts were thwarted by the surface water and he had no alternative other than to abandon the game.

Tow Law were relieved, Park View frustrated but it was the correct decision as it was apparent the second 45 minutes would not have been completed as the rain continued to fall.

So, the two sides will have to do it all again when the fixtures can be assessed and a date found. Given the new management team at Tow Law that could and should be an extremely different affair.

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

SUBS : (All Not Used) 12. Joe Sykes 14. Niall Armstrong 15. Ollie Taylor 16. Nathan Conroy 17. Sam Beattie

SCORERS : B Hughes 10 (pen) 43 Loveday 41