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Finaghy II 5 Northend United 3 Saturday 22nd October 2022

After an abandoned game 2 weeks ago, Northend travelled to Finaghy to play Finaghy 2nds in a replay of their Junior Shield 1st round match.

After a slow start from Northend, they found themselves behind after a penalty was awarded to Finaghy and well converted. Finaghy with their tails up soon after found a second with a high press which led to them winning the ball in the attacking third and finishing low into the corner to give Jason Givens no chance.

Northend managed to respond brilliantly and lifted the tempo of the game to a level Finaghy couldn’t deal with. A swift passing move down the right hand side of the pitch resulted in Conall Gordon lifting a cross to the back post and Mike Armstrong storming from deep in midfield to plant his header past the keeper and get the blues back into the game.

The team continued to apply pressure and some hard work from Matthew Taggart led to him getting away from a defender before he was pulled back and awarded a penalty which Christy McKillop smashed down the middle to level the game. Half time 2-2

In the second half Northend kept the early intensity, but Finaghy were equal to the pressure.

Finaghy got the all-important next goal as a long free kick was well struck and Jason Givens did well to keep it out before an attacker poked in the rebound.

As Northend changed shape and chased the game, Finaghy looked very dangerous on the break. Charlie O’Neill went close for the Blues with a low shot which was well held, and Christy McKillop had a free kicked well saved. As the Blues took more risks they did get punished on the break and Finaghy got 2 breakaway goals before the final whistle. Final score 5-2

Panel: J Givens, J Dallas, C Martin, J Montgomery, L Rea, M Armstrong, C McKillop, P O’Boyle, C Gordon, C Metrustry, M Taggart, C Black, C O’Neill

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Crumlin United Swifts 3 Northend United 1 Irish Junior Cup Saturday 1st October 2022

In the first round of the Junior Shield Northend United travelled to Crumlin United Swifts. The home team started the game positively and moved the ball across the pitch accurately. An early diagonal ball caused the Blues some issues and a deflected cross fell to a striker to poke home and take the lead.

The first half was predominantly played in Northend’s half with Crumlin dominating most of the ball. Jason Givens was forced into a few good saves from long range efforts and Mike Armstrong and Luke Rea both made important defensive actions to prevent chances.

Northend looked to attack on the counter but only fashioned one real chance of note after Jamie Speirs played a ball through the defence for Conall Gordon to latch on to, but from a tight angle he shot into the side netting. Half time 1-0

In the second half Northend pushed higher up the pitch and started to make the game more of a challenge for Crumlin. Their advanced positions however left them open to counter attacks and Crumlin did break from deep and finish well to extend the lead.

Northend continued to battle and managed to get a goal back after Charlie Metrustry won the ball high and passes to Jamie Speirs who showed fine feet to control the ball and slot home into the corner.

Into the last minutes of the game as Northend started to take risks, they gave the ball away in the midfield third and Crumlin killed the game with another great finish. Full time 3-1

Panel: J Givens, J Dallas, J Montgomery, M Armstrong, L Rea, C McKenna, J Speirs, C Gordon, B Dallas, C Metrustry, P O’Boyle, C Martin, M Las

Northend United 4 Carniny Amateurs 2 Saturday 24th September 2022

If ever there was a game of two halves, this was it as the Northend Blues came up against early season League leaders, Carniny Amateurs. Carniny started the game with most of the ball dominating possession and creating chances. Northend couldn’t get out of their half but kept the game level for the majority of the half. Carniny scored 2 good goals in quick succession just before halftime. Half time 0-2

The second half started and Northend knew they had to pick the performance up to get anything from the game. Northend changed formation and personnel at the break in an attempt to change the game, and the changes worked. Right from the start of the 2nd half Northend upped the pace of the game with Christy McKillop starting to get on the ball in the attacking third and create chances for the Blues. A first goal back for Northend came when Charlie Metrustry found himself unmarked at the back post to head in a great cross from McKillop.

The equaliser came shortly after when McKillop again turned creator and played a ball over the top of the Carniny defence for Ben Dallas to run onto and with composure chip the onrushing keeper.

McKillop then put Northend ahead after 70 minutes as the team passed the ball well to hold possession and the Jamie Spiers played a killer ball over the top for McKillop to race onto and round the keeper.

Carniny pushed hard for an equaliser but the Blues defence stood firm with captain Luke Rea returning from injury and putting in a great defensive performance along with the rest of the defence and managed to repel everything Carniny could throw at them.

Ben Dallas sealed the win for the Northend men with his second of the game after another great ball splitting the defence from McKillop and Dallas slotted it by the Carniny keeper to ensure Northend came away with all 3 points with a blistering 4 goal salvo in their pulsating 2nd half performance. Full time 4-2

Panel: J Givens, J Dallas, J Montgomery, M Armstrong, L Rea, P O’Boyle, J Speirs, C McKenna, C Metrustry, C McKillop, B Dallas, C Gordon, C Martin, K Barr, C Black

Seven Towers 1 Northend United 2 Saturday 3rd September 2022

After both teams getting promoted last year, it was the first meeting of Northend and Seven Towers in the BSML second division. Knowing a win was necessary after a slow start to the season for the Blues, they started the match with great intensity and quality as they dominated the early stages, with Conor McKenna and Charlie Metrustry in particular getting a lot of opportunities on the ball and making Northend tick well. James Hunter went close with a low effort and Metrustry also had a bending effort turned around the post by the Towers keeper.

First blood went to Northend as a ball into McKenna led to him beating his man in the box and allowing him to square the ball across the face of goal for Jonny McClelland to fire into the net for the opener. It was nothing less than Northend deserved for their first half of hard work and chances created. Half time 0-1

The second half was more controlled by Seven Towers as they attempted to pressure the Northend backline, who responded with some resolute defending. Jonny McClelland came close to a second as he raced in behind only for the keeper to narrow the angle well and make the save. Ben Dallas also found himself in space but could only fire into the keepers arms as well.

Late in the half Towers finally found a goal scoring opportunity and after some nice passes rifled a shot into the goal to equalise with only a short time remaining.

Northend however had battled hard all game and were not willing to lie down. Aaron Cairns ball over the top was chased down by Metrustry and he was felled as he slipped between keeper and defender to win a penalty. Christy McKillop stepped up in the moment and drilled the ball home to win the game for Northend Full time 1-2

Panel: J Givens, J Dallas, J McClelland, J Montgomery, M Armstrong, C McKillop, P McClelland, P O’Boyle, C Metrustry, J Hunter, C McKenna, B Dallas, M Las, C Martin, A Cairns, R Mark

Riverdale 1 Northend United 1 Wednesday 10th August 2022

In their first ever game in Division 2 of the BSML, Northend were away to a Riverdale side who will back themselves as one of the favourites for league title this season. The game had a good ebb and flow in the early stages with both sides trying to get on the ball but really failing to create any major chances of note. The first blood came 20 minutes into the game when Mike Armstrong earned a free kick on the right hand side of the box. Ben Dallas stepped up and hit a good strike which the keeper could only have save and with the ball on the line, Armstrong reacted quickest to tap into the net.

Riverdale in the first half struggled to create any real pressure and a free kick from the edge was their best chance which Jason Givens easily dealt with. It was Northend who came closest to extending their lead as a counter attack led to Conall Gordon beating a man on the right and firing a low shot which was well kept out by the Riverdale keeper. Half time 0-1

The second half brought trouble for the young Northend side, as the heat combined with 3 early injuries led to a tired team and Riverdale really got the bit between the teeth and dominated possession and territory. Again Givens made a few good saves from long range efforts and also smothered a chance from a corner as the home team controlled the game but couldn’t find the equaliser.

Northend did show glimpses of threat as Jamie Spiers had a good shot turned around the post and James Hunter had claims for a penalty turned down. Riverdale though were impressive in their ball retention and high pressure and the Blues struggled to get over the halfway line consistently.

With 5 minutes remaining the Northend wall finally fell as a ball from the right was turned in by the Riverdale striker and squared the game up. Northend managed to hold on for a draw and the final whistle brought an end to a tough game. Full time 1-1

Panel: J Givens, J Dallas, L Rea, J Montgomery, J McClelland, M Armstrong, C McKillop, J Speirs, C Gordon, B Dallas, J Hunter, D Young, P O'Boyle. A Cairns