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68th Newtownabbey 1 Northend United 1 Saturday 31st March 2018

After a month without a game the Blues were glad to get back in action. Northend started off rusty in the first half, made a few good chances but failed to put them away. All in all, the game seemed in Northend's control so they went into half time happy. Half time 0-0

Northend started off the second half on the front foot and took the lead on the 60th minute when Ryan McNeill bundled the ball home from a corner. Northend were unlucky not to add a second goal on a few occasions throughout the half.

Credit to the Northend defence, who dealt solidly with any Newtownabbey attack until the 91st minute. when to the shock of everyone at the match, the referee gave 68th a penalty which they put away with the last kick of the game.

This was a cruel lesson for Northend as everyone battled for the whole game, but we will learn and move on. Full time 1-1

Man of the Match: Robert McCluney

Panel: S Quigley, S Frew, S Burns, G Owens, B Millar, A Smyth, P Thompson, R McNeill, M Logan, R McCluney, J Alexander, C Shaw, C Blair

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Northend United 3 Clough Athletic 5 Saturday 17th February 2018

Northend welcomed a 2nd in the league Clough Athletic to the showgrounds on Saturday for a goal fest of a game.

It was a very frantic first half with Clough quickly taking a two-goal lead. Northend then hit back with a back-post Gareth Owens strike. Clough straight away went up the other end and scored two more. Northend grabbed another with a Matthew Logan header. Clough then grabbed a fifth just before the half. Half time 2-5

Northend started off the better in the second half coming out with a point to prove and scored a third with a brilliant Aaron Campbell free kick. Unfortunately, that was the end of the scoring as Clough saw the game out. Full time 3-5

Man of the Match: Gareth Owens.

Panel: S Quigley, R Jones, M Logan, J Sterrett, G Owens, A Campbell, P Thompson, J Logan, R McNeil, C Moore, J Alexander, subs A Smyth, R McCluney, C Farrell

Northend United 3 Brantwood Loughside 3 Saturday 10th February 2018

Looking to bounce back after last week's defeat Northend welcomed Brantwood Loughside to the Showgrounds in a game that was played at a very fast and frantic pace with both teams going for it. Loughside started the better of the two teams making a few chances but a few good saves from Stephen Quigley kept the score level. On the 31st minute Northend took the lead with a powerful strike from captain Matthew Logan from 25 yards. Loughside hit back on the 42nd minute after a goal mouth scramble the ball was bundled in. Half time 1-1

The second half started the same as the first, very fast and frantic and the away side broke through the Northend defence to take the lead on the 49th minute. This was closely followed by Loughside' s third goal on the 55th minute. The match looked like out of Northend's reach, but on the 81st minute Sam Burns headed home to make it 3-2. This was followed by a 35-yard bullet from Peter Thompson on the 85th minute to level the scores at 3-3. As the Blues looked for the win in a frantic finish to the match, a fantastic strike from Joshua Logan was excellently saved by the Loughside goalkeeper and that's how the match ended. This was a brilliant game of football with outstanding fightback and character shown by Northend team as they look to consolidate their position in their first season of competitive football. Full time 3-3

Man of the Match: Peter Thompson

Panel: S Quigley, J Sterrett, S Burns, G Owens, J Penny, R McNeill, A Smyth, P Thompson, M Logan, C Moore, J Alexander subs A Campbell, C Blair, J Logan, C Farrell

Northend United 2 Castle Star 5 Saturday 3rd February 2018

This was Northend's first home game this year, but with a few players missing and facing a strong Castle Star team, it was always going to be a tough test for the very young Northend side.

The Blues started off brilliantly taking the lead inside the first 5 minutes with a great finish by Josh Logan from the edge of the box. Castle Star equalised on the 17th minute with great cross and header in the bottom corner, the away side took the lead on the 26th minute and then added a 3rd on the 35th minute. Half time 1-3

Castle Star came flying out of the traps in the second half scoring a quick 4th and 5th goal. With keeper Stephen Quigley in fine form, that was the last goal to be conceded, as the Northend defence began to tire. With the substitutes on, Northend grabbed a second after some nice work from Colin Moore and a lovely threw ball to Ryan McNeil who tucked the ball past the advancing Star keeper.

Northend had goalscoring chances to bag a 3rd and 4th goal but wasn't to be against a very strong Castle Star team. Full time 2-5

Man of the Match: Gareth Owens

Panel: S Quigley, J Penny, B Millar, M Logan, G Owens, J Logan, A Smyth, P Thompson, A Campbell, C Moore, R McNeill, Subs R McCluney, R Jones, T Givens

Antrim Rovers Swifts 1 Northend United 3 Saturday 27th January 2018

Back in league action, Northend took the short trip up the A26 to Antrim for a local derby, in what was windy conditions and a tortuous pitch. The first half was very much a battle with both teams having chances but nothing really coming from them. Half time 0-0

Northend started off the better of the two side in the second half and on the 55th minute after a passing move from our own box, new signing John Alexander found himself free in the box and tucked it away. The boys didn't stop there pushing on the shortly after grabbed their second on the 60th minutes when 15 year old Conor McDonald found himself free in the box and put it away.

Rovers then came back and put the Northend defence under some pressure with a string of corners but our hard work dealt with that. With Rovers pushing on, Conor McDonald played a lovely ball to another new boy Colin Moore who found himself through on goal and from a tight angle finished nicely, scoring his first goal for the club to seal the win. Rovers grabbed a late consolation but it was Northend who took the points on the day. Full time 1-3

Great performance from everyone today.

Man of the Match: Stephen Quigley

Panel: S Quigley, R Carson, D Dobbin, M Logan, S Frew, B Millar, J Logan, C Moore, P Thompson, R McNeill, D Dobbin, J Alexander Subs C McDonald, A Smyth, R Jones, C Shaw

Castle Star 4 Northend United 0 Saturday 13th January 2018

Traveling to Carrickfergus to take on a very strong Castle Star team in the Linda Welshman memorial cup it was another very youthful looking Northend side with a number of u17s playing that had played and won 3-1 the night before.

The first half started off fairly even with both team creating chances but failing to take them but midway through the first half after a long ball into the box and a goalmouth scramble Star managed to bundle the ball home to take the lead. Northend heads didn't drop as they started to apply some pressure on the Star goal just failing to put the ball in the net. Half time 1-0

Northend came firing out of the traps at the start of the second half creating a number of chances but yet again failing to put away. The game then had a massive moment of controversy when the referee to the bemusement of what seemed everyone at the match (Home & Away) decided to send off a Northend defender. However, this decision seemed to galvanise the Ballymena Boys and with a spring in their step, they pushed forward and were unlucky on two different occasions when a Colin Moore strike from 25 yards crashed of the bar and Ryan McNeill thundered one off the post.

Northend also had strong appeals for a penalty turned away in a frustrating afternoon. On the 70th minute Star doubled their lead with a great strike from a tight angle and a few monuments later failed to convert a dubious penalty decision.

A tired ten man Northend side had to dig deep but Star managed to scramble in a 3rd and 4th before the end to finish a match the Blues felt very hard done by. Full time 4-0

Good luck to Castle Star in the next round

Man of the Match: Matthew Logan

Panel: S Quigley, B Millar, J Logan, C McDonald, M Logan, G Owens, P Thompson, A Smyth, C Moore, R McCluney, R McNeill subs R Jones, C Shaw, R McQuillan