Where There's A Wilko There's A Way

by Jeff King

Ebac Northern League Division 2 - Tuesday 23rd September 2025 Boldon CA 0 v 1 Park View AFC

It was back to League action for Park View after Saturday's defeat on penalties at Eccleshill United in the Isuzu FA Vase. The hosts had Boldon also gone out of the competition on the same day against Newcastle Benfield.

Going into the game Boldon CA who have been in fine form could have overtaken the visitor's with a win. For Park View a win would see them move back into the playoff places.

Boldon had been hit with the departure of their Management duo after Saturday's loss to Benfield. David Palmer and Dan Crooks moving on to First Division Whickham AFC.

However the men from The Villa wasted no time in filling the vacancies with ex-player, ex-captain and former player/coach Chris Spence taking the reins bringing in Daniel Johnson as his Assistant.

For their first game in charge they also paraded a new Centre Forward in Lee Appleby who came in on the day of the game from Sunderland RCA and who had played for RCA against Park View earlier in the season.

For Park View there was one change to the line-up with Jamie Frizzel now fully recovered from injury coming back to the starting XI with Ben Gallagher dropping to the bench to make way.

There was also a return to the bench for PV's top goal scorer Nathan Conroy who had missed the FA Vase game at Eccleshill.

The game started cagily as both sides competed for possession and superiority. A lot of midfield graft and looking for the right pass for Park View and for the hosts balls to their dangerous wide men, Robbie Gateshill and Jack Robertson.

The only real incident of the early minutes being a yellow card for Dylan Robson for kicking the ball away. A needless booking for PV's midfielder who will now face a one-match suspension.

First opportunity for either side came on 7 minutes. Frizzel playing a measured ball down the left flank to Charlie Loveday who won a throw-in level with the penalty area following a tackle from Mason Gardiner.

Robson threw it long into the danger area, Alex Clark flicked it on and Stephen Siyanbola headed it goal wards but it was well wide of the target and didn't trouble Ollie Walker in the Boldon goal.

It was a very competitive game although little in the way of chances. Brad Hughes playing a ball wide left to Loveday who found Siyanbola in the box but he was denied a shooting chance with Aaron Williams blocking and giving PV a corner.

Jacob Mallinson took it an a wicked in-swinger flashed across the face of goal beyond Walker but there was no-one there for Park View to get what might have been a decisive touch.

A long free kick from halfway from Ben Robertson went deep into the Park View box but James Hughes came off his line to get to the ball first and punch it clear under pressure from Lee Orr.

A lovely move from Park View almost opened up the Boldon defence. Brandon Young pinching a ball in midfield and passing neatly to Robson. He found Mallinson on the right who played a great reverse pass inside to Reyhan Grimaud.

Grimaud cutting inside from the right played a lovely 1-2 with Mallinson before driving a shot from 20-yards just past the post with Walker struggling to cover it. This spelt a bit of Park View pressure and possession but no clear cut chances.

Gateshill trying to clear his lines on the right turned inside to the centre of the pitch and was tripped by Siyanbola unnecessarily to earn his side a free-kick. Robertson delivered into the PV box but Siyanbola put his error right by making a good headed clearance.

A half chance followed for Boldon minutes later. Good holdup play by Appleby saw him find Gateshill on the right. He cut inside to fashion a 20-yard shooting opportunity but Frizzel was quick to close him down and made a good block.

Clark played a ball to Mallinson inside the Boldon half and he found Siyanbola well who released Grimaud on the overlap. His low cross into the danger area was cleared by Corey Johns and suddenly Boldon were on the counter attack.

Jack Robertson seemingly away and into space as he crossed the halfway line and bore down on the Park View box. Mallinson though showed superb recovery powers tracking back to dispose J Robertson and snuff out the danger.

On 27 minutes Park View did have the ball in the net but it was ruled out for offside. Frizzel playing a slide rule pass to release Siyanbola in the Boldon box. The big striker struck a lovely left foot angled drive across Walker.

Walker doing well to get a touch on the ball but only diverting it into the path of the onrushing Mallinson who tapped it home from close range. The Assistant's flag went up though as Mallinson was adjudged to have been inches offside.

Loveday and Siyanbola were combining well and when the latter held up play well he gave Loveday an inviting pass to run at Gardiner who had no answer to the wide attackers' wizardry.

The left wing low cross was a dangerous one that Johns did well to clear as Siyanbola followed in. The ball breaking free to Frizzel but he lacked composure and neither shot nor crossed as the ball flew well wide and too high from the edge of the box.

Another Young win in midfield saw him get the ball to Frizzel supporting his attack on the left. He did well to find Loveday who did even better to find Siyanbola inside the box. The striker turning on to his right foot.

He got a good shot away from about 10-yards out but Walker was equal to it diving low to his right to make a really good save and keep the contest level. His opposite number J Hughes was also called upon as time ticked down.

B Hughes giving a free kick away in a central position some 25-yards from goal after fouling Orr. Gateshill stepped up and curled his effort around the wall. J Hughes had it covered all the way though and dived across to his right to fist the ball away.

It was the last action of a keenly fought first 45 minutes that perhaps Park View had just shaded but Boldon were still right in the game as the second half opened. Indeed in the early going in the second 45 minutes they were on top.

The lively J Robertson getting down the left before sending in a cross that almost turned into a shot. J Hughes back peddling and adjudged to have helped the ball behind for a corner.

Gateshill swung the ball in and J Hughes went for the punched clearance but the ball swung backwards towards his empty net but Clark was well placed to hook the ball off the line.

It feel to Orr about 8-yards out but in a crowded box his shot was blocked and the danger was cleared. Then Grimaud was penalised for a foul on J Robertson and B Robertson whipped in a free kick that drifted wide of the far post.

Grimaud played a ball up to Siyanbola in the centre of the Boldon half. He held it up well and then found Loveday on the left. He cut in at speed leaving Gardiner for dust before clipping in a 20-yard effort that Walker did well to get down and smother.

B Hughes then tried his luck from 25-yards as space opened up but his effort was well over the bar. It was his last action as he was replaced by Gallagher. The game seemed to be drifting despite Young and Robson prompting the visitor's.

Park View renewed their efforts as the game ticked into the last 10 minutes making another substitution as Conroy came on for Mallinson. Once again Siyanbola found Loveday in space on the left and once again he cut inside.

With the Boldon defence backing off Loveday showed great footwork to turn the opposite way and hit a shot from 14-yards with his left foot that brought a good save from Walker.

Loveday being first to the loose ball and pulling it across to Gallagher who took a nice chance and then fired in a great effort that was just over the bar. Boldon then had a rare opportunity at the other end of the field.

Substitute Kaue Foy linking up well with Appleby who then laid a good ball off to another substitute Jakub Zych in a good position on the edge of the Park View box but he pulled his shot well wide.

Park View were not letting up and Gallagher in particular was looking lively. A long ball from Grimaud found Siyanbola and then his pass was popped off to Gallagher by Loveday.

Gallagher's first touch looked as if he would lose the opportunity but he recovered and from just inside the box took a shot that deflected inches wide of Williams for a corner.

Loveday delivered and Clark got up to head through a crowd at goal but Walker watched it well and gathered it in comfortably before launching it down field only for Park View to win the ball back.

Young playing it left to Frizzel who played it up to Siyanbola who's first time turn and lay-off sent Gallagher in on the left. He looked to have been fouled by Williams in a dangerous position but the referee thought otherwise.

Gallagher though springing back off and winning a corner off Williams for Loveday to deliver. There was two minutes of the 90 left as Loveday swung in a beautiful delivery at the heart of the six-yard box.

And cometh the hour cometh the man as skipper Wilkinson go across his marker and in front of Walker to punch home a great brave header giving Walker no chance and finally getting the breakthrough for his side.

Cue the Fabian Schar celebration from the Park View skipper who made it two goals in two games and gave his side a great chance to grab all three points. a chance they saw out as they comfortably played out four minutes of injury time.

So, a second 1 - 0 away win in The League inside 7 days and a 10th clean sheet of the campaign for a defence that is looking very solid, at the moment. But it's not just about the back five doing their jobs.

The defensive workload has to be spread out, has to be controlled and has to be committed too. All on the field for Park View played their parts with central midfielders Young and Robson really putting themselves about for the team.

It all resulted in Park View lifting themselves back up the table to 5th at least for the time being but another big test looms on the horizon as they have to go to Billingham on Saturday to take on a strong and in-form Yarm & Eaglescliffe side.

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

SUBS : 12. Ben Gallagher (for B Hughes 68 minutes) 14. Zac Boddy (Not Used) 15. Nathan Conroy (for Mallinson 81 minutes) 16. Frankie Young (Not Used) 17. Sam Beattie (Not Used)

GOAL SCORER : Wilkinson 88 MAN of the MATCH : Brandon Young