Cookstown RBL Reserves 3 Northend United 3 Saturday 6th January 2018
A youthful looking Northend started back today after an extended winter break with a trip to Cookstown in what turned out to be a very entertaining game. The Blues fell behind early on when a miscued shot from the edge of the Northend box fell to an Cookstown RBL striker and he smashed the ball past debutant keeper Connor Brennan.
Northend levelled shortly after when Stephen Quigley found himself through on goal and slotted the ball past the advancing Cookstown keeper and that's how it would stay up to half time. Half time 1-1
The second half started off very quickly with both teams creating and missing chances with some fine saves from Northend's debutant Connor Brennan keeping the Blues in the game. On the 65th minute after some good football captain Matthew Logan found himself through on goal to coolly slot the ball under the keeper to put the visitors in the lead. However, this lead didn't last long and on the 75th minute the ball fell to the edge of the Northend box and the Cookstown RBL striker finished neatly in the bottom corner of the goal to level the tie.
Northend came fighting back again and created a number of chances and then on the 82nd minute the ball fell to Stephen Quigley in the box and he fired Northend into the lead once again. With Northend looking for all 3 points, the home side threw everything at the young Northend team and after a scramble on the edge of the box on the 94th minute, Cookstown RBL managed to force the ball home to draw the game. Full time 3-3
Big mention to the seven U17s that started yesterday's match and one U16 who came off the bench credit to the boys didn't look out of place at all!
Man of the Match: Calum McDonald
Panel: C Brennan, R Jones, S Burns, Calum McDonald, M Strange, M Logan, P Thompson, R McCluney, J Logan, S Quigley, C Shaw subs Conor McDonald, R McNeill
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Northend United 4 68th Newtownabbey 3 Saturday 11th November 2017
Northend come out victors in a very entertaining game against a competitive 68th Newtownabbey side.
The Blues took the lead early in the match with Charles Allen finding himself threw on goal to slot home. The second goal came on the 20th minute with Stephen Cochrane also finding himself threw on goal, following an Allen through-ball, to slot past the advancing keeper. The visitors hit back to make it 2-1 shortly after, following a mix-up in the home defence. Northend made it 3-1 on the 35th minute, Charles Allen again finding himself through on goal to slot Home. In between Ryan Mc Neill hit the Newtownabbey cross-bar with a delicate lob, which left the goalkeeper stranded but unfortunately rebounded to safety. Half time 3-1
Northend scored their 4th goal at the start of the 2nd half, following another good move and finish by Stephen Cochrane.
68th Newtownabbey hit back and made it 4-2 and then 4-3 but Northend weathered the late comeback and saw the game out to take all 3 points. Full time 4-3
Man of the Match: Stephen Cochrane
Panel: S Quigley, A Shaw, R McQuillan, D Dobbin, M Logan, C Allen, A Campbell, P Thompson, M Cochrane, S Cochrane, R McNeill subs R Jones, R McCluney, A Smyth
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Brantwood 3 Northend United 1 Canada Trophy Saturday 4th November 2017
1st round cup action saw Northend travel to Skegoneil Avenue to take on a very experienced Brantwood Reserves side. The game started off tight with no team taking control until Brantwood managed to force the ball into the Blues net from a scrappy corner on the 19th minute. The home side added to their lead on the 26th minute after a very good through-ball sent their pacey striker through and when he squared the ball to his fellow striker, he had the simple task of scoring into an empty net. Northend hit back on 30 minutes when a Peter Thompson cross found Matthew Logan in the Brantwood box and he flicked on the ball to score. Just as our luck seems to be going, on the 35th minute, the Brantwood striker took aim from the edge of the box and found the top corner of Northend's net. Great goal. Half time 3-1
The second half started with Brantwood looking to finish off the game early but Northend stood strong and some good saves from keeper Stephen Quigley kept Northend in the game. After the Blues weathered the early 2nd half storm, they began to take control of the half and only some heroics from the Brantwood keeper, it would have been an entirely different scoreline.
All in all, this was a great test from Northend's very young side against a very strong competitive opponent and a number of positives to take away from this game. Full time 3-1
Man of the Match: Stephen Quigley
Panel: S Quigley, A Shaw, S Burns, D Dobbin, M Logan, C Allen, R McQuillan, R McNeill, S Cochrane, M Cochrane subs R Jones, C Shaw
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