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Northend United 10 Waveney 0 Saturday 11th December 2021

Looking to build on the previous weeks performance Northend United Seniors hosted bottom of the league Waveney FC this week.

Northend dominated from the first whistle and should have had a couple of early goals as Ronan McKillop twice forced good saves after finding himself in behind the Waveney defence.

It was James Hunter who broke the deadlock as Jamie Spiers split the defence with a drilled pass into the feet of Hunter, and after a quick 1-2 with Christy McKillop, Hunter slotted into the bottom left corner.

A second goal came as a ball over the top again fell to Hunter and this time he dummied to shoot before rounding the keeper and finishing from a tight angle.

A first half hattrick was completed by Hunter as R McKillop dribbled past one defender on the left and his low shot forced a good save before James slid in to tuck home.

The dominant performance continued as Northend kept possession well, and one passing move which started from the goalkeeper and worked down the left hand side of the pitch, ended with R McKillop again providing an assist, this time with a great diagonal ball which was controlled by Conall Gordon before flicking the ball past the keeper with the outside of his foot.

It could have been a much higher score, with R McKillop and Gordon in particular having some golden opportunities which either forced good saves or were blasted over the bar.

Hunter did however have his shooting boots on, and added 2 more goals before the half. First, Jamie S again split the defence to find Hunter who had timed his run perfectly, and in a carbon copy of his second goal, he rounded the keeper and finished on his left from a tight angle.

Then just before the half, another flowing Northend move started with the goalkeeper, and this time culminated in R McKillop getting to the left byeline and cutting the ball back for Hunter who swept the ball home. Half time 6-0

Northend struggled to match their first half tempo early in the second, and a number of chances went astray as it looked as though Waveney had weathered the Northend pressure. Jamie Montgomery went closest with a header from a set piece, and R McKillop continued to do everything except score, as he created a great change for himself, only for the keeper to come out on top again.

However, Christy McKillop turned on the style to light up the game and score a fantastic goal. He picked up the ball just inside the Waveney half on the left wing, and went on a jinking run, beating 4 defenders, and then rounding the keeper to tap home for one of the goals of the season.

Northend youth player Conor McKenna came off the bench for his second appearance for the senior team, and his good midfield performance was rewarded with a goal as the ball was worked from the right by Conall Gordon, laid off by Speirs, and McKenna’s late run was found before he smashed into the roof of the net for his first senior goal.

After 3 assists, Speirs got in on the scoring as Jack Agnew slid a pass behind the defence for Spiers to nutmeg the keeper with a tidy finish.

Northend finished the game on a high as Christy McKillop again cut in from the left before rifling a low shot past the keeper for his second. Full time 10-0

Panel: D Hawksford, J McClelland, L Rea, M Armstrong, J Montgomery, C Gordon, P McClelland, J Speirs, C McKillop, R McKillop, J Hunter, C Black, C Metrustry, J Agnew, C McKenna

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Northend United 5 Antrim Eagles 0 Saturday 4th December 2021

Northend hosted Antrim Eagles this Saturday looking to get back to winning ways. After a bright start from Northend the first big chance actually fell to Antrim after a diagonal ball left a player 1 on 1 and Darren Geddis made a great low save. Northend managed to find some great rhythm to their passing and the after a double save from the Eagles keeper forced a corner, Northend found the breakthrough as Conall Gordon swung the ball to the back post, Mike Armstrong headed back across goal and Jamie Montgomery came sliding in to find the finishing touch.

A second came, and Conall Gordon again was the provider, as Northend work the ball through the defence comfortably, before Gordon chipped a ball into Ronan McKillop, who touched the ball past the keeper, before reacting fastest to tap home.

The lead could have been extended as Ronan McKillop went close twice, first with a volley from a James Hunter header which was saved well, and the follow up was smothered by the keeper.

Christy McKillop again forced a super save as again a flowing passing move ended with Hunter teeing up Christy on the edge of the box and his left footed effort looked destined for the bottom corner before the keeper dived low to tip it around the post.

A great team move saw Peter McClelland release Charlie Metrustry who rounded the keeper and finished, only for the referee to call it offside. It looked like Northend wouldn’t find any more goals in the half, but after a throw in from Jonny McClelland, Ronan McKillop used his strength to turn his defender and fire home into the top corner with his left foot. Half time 3-0

In the second half Northend still had excellent control of the ball in very tough conditions, and Christy McKillop seemed to be at the heart of every move, constantly releasing Gordon, Hunter and R McKillop. Again it was Gordon who created another goal, this time firing a shot from the edge of the area which hit the inside of the post before falling to James Hunter who managed to swivel and finish from a tight angle.

Conall Gordon completed a hat trick of assists as Ronan McKillop completed a hat trick of goals, as Gordon’s low pass from the right was controlled and finished by McKillop into the bottom corner.

The defence had to work hard for their clean sheet as Eagles created some pressure, and on one occasion looked destined to score but for a brilliant sliding block from Montgomery.

Northend attempted to add to their lead and Chris Fullerton went close twice with efforts which forced saves, before Jack Agnew floated a great cross to the back post and Mike Armstrong just put his sliding effort wide.

A special mention should go to Jack McIlhatton and Conor Mckenna from the U18s who made their debut from the bench and looked well at home at this level. Full time 5-0

Panel: D Geddis, J McClelland, J Montgomery, L Rea (c), M Armstrong, C McKillop, P McClelland, C Gordon, C Metrustry, R McKillop, J Hunter, J Agnew, C Fullerton, C Black, C McKenna, J McIlhatton

Carnlough Swifts 2 Northend United 8 Saturday 20th November 2021

Northend travelled to Carnlough to face a side in good form. It was the home side that started the game the quicker and Northend got a let off as a Carnlough shot was rifled against the post.

Soon after however some quick counter attacking play through Conall Gordon and he flicked a ball into the path of Ronan McKillop, and on his first start of the season he turned and passed the ball home.

Carnlough quickly struck back and after a series of balls into the box and one eventually got turned into the Northend net by a defender. Northend struck back immediately from kick off as Peter McClelland sent a long ball forward which deceived the defender and James Hunter got in behind to slot home and restore the lead. Northend nearly conceded again but Jason Givens made a fantastic save tipping a shot onto the bar when it looked destined for an equaliser.

At the other end, 2 set pieces for Northend extended their lead as first, Gordon put a wicked cross in which curved in the wind and flew straight into the net. Soon after, another Gordon corner flew through a lot of bodies and Jonny McClelland dived low to head the ball home. Half time 1-4

The second half started with Northend putting the game beyond doubt as McKillop kept the ball well in the corner and crossed for Hunter to tap in for his 2nd of the match

Carnlough did strike back as a free kick forced another fantastic save from Givens, but it unluckily ricocheted off the post and it was headed home from a yard out.

McKillop got his second soon after as he chested a ball down and swivelled with his left foot to fire home brilliantly.

As the changes rolled the intent from Northend didn’t and after a deliberate handball in the box they had a penalty as Carnlough were reduced to 10 men. Jack Agnew stepped up and fired into the roof of the net.

The game was wrapped up in fine form as the ball rolled to Callum Black on the edge of the box and he placed it into the bottom corner for his first goal for the team and make it 8-2.

A super team performance from the young Northend side and that now strings 8 league wins in a row together. Full time 2-8

Panel: J Givens, J Dallas, L Rea (c), M Armstrong, J McClelland, C McKillop, P McClelland, C Gordon, C Metrustry, J Hunter, R McKillop, J Speirs, J Agnew, C Fullerton, C Black

Northend United 2 Woodside 1 Saturday 13th November 2021

Northend managed to edge past Woodside in a game where the two halves couldn’t have been more different. The first half brought chance after chance for Northend as Conal Gordon twice got in behind the Woodside defence only to fire wide, as well as Ben Dallas forcing a good save, before volleying a good cross from Peter McClelland onto the bar.

With all chances going begging, the goal for Northend came in cruel fashion as an in-swinging corner from Speirs snuck into the net (with Jonny McClelland lurking to hammer the ball home, but it had already crossed the line)

A free kick routine then allowed the ball to be laid off to Gordon only for his low shot to come off the post. Half time 1-0

The second half was a complete contrast as a high energy Woodside put Northend under immense pressure throughout the half with the Blues really unable to get any momentum in the half at all.

However for most of the half the Northend defence did stay strong and restrict any clear cut chances. The equaliser did come with 12 minutes to go as a Woodside attacker broke through a couple of tackles before firing high into the net.

Northend, determined to come away with the full share of points, and another set piece led to the winner as Speirs put in another corner and a flick on at the near post allowed Armstrong to sneak in at the back and head home to secure the win. Full time 2-1

Panel: J Givens, J Dallas, L Rea (c), M Armstrong, J McClelland, J Montgomery, J Speirs, C Gordon, B Dallas, C Metrustry, J Hunter, D Young, J Agnew, C Black

Northend United 4 Ahoghill 0 Saturday 6th November 2021

Northend United Youth hosted Ahoghill FC at Waveney pitches after a run of good league form. In a morning of horrible weather conditions and a pitch that was cutting up neither team really managed to assume full control of possession.

Ahoghill did hold the ball the better of the two teams in the earlier stages but failed to create any chances of note as the Northend defence held firm and keeper Jason Givens dealt with any threat in behind as Northend played into a strong wind.

The first major chance came from the conditions as a slip in the Ahoghill defence gave Charlie Metrustry possession, and some neat passes between himself and Jack Agnew left Conall Gordon to finish a chance at the back post to give Northend the early lead.

A second goal was to follow as a blistering counter attack from an Ahoghill corner led to a goal within seconds. Luke Rea headed the corner clear and it fell to Jamie Spiers on the edge of his own half. Spiers swivelled and played a blind pass brilliantly to Gordon, who showed great pace to pick up the ball on the halfway line, who showed great pace to drive past a defender and into the box, before pulling back a composed pass to Charlie Metrustry to finish in the bottom corner.

For the rest of the half Northend tried to build on their lead, with the best chance falling to Jack Agnew as a body feint got him space in the box only to strike straight at the keeper. Half time 2-0

A change of shape in the second half allowed Northend to prevent Ahoghill possession better and the whole team defended hard from the front to keep Givens well protected at the back. A third goal looked unlikely to come as Northend missed 3 or 4 half chances either firing over the bar or straight at the Ahoghill keeper. As the substitutions rolled, Northend managed to find that finishing touch and a Spiers corner met the perfectly timed run of Peter McClelland to head home.

Finally, James Hunter finished the game off as a loose ball fell to him and he squeezed his shot through the keeper to kill the game off. Full time 4-0

Panel: J Givens, J Dallas, J McClelland, L Rea (c), M Armstrong, J Speirs, P McClelland, J Montgomery, C Gordon, C Metrustry, J Agnew, J Hunter, C Black, C Fullerton, D Young