Northend United Youth FC

Ballysillan Youth U10's 2 Northend United U10's 1

Saturday 24th October 2009

On a very wet and windy day, Northend United Youth U10's took the field against Ballysillan Youth at the Valley Leisure Centre on Saturday, determined to erase an opening defeat against the same team.

Northend started very lively with early chances going to Cory Little and Aidan Graffin. Indeed Cory Little did score but it was ruled out for offside.

After twenty minutes, Ballysillan took the lead against the run of play with a good strike from fifteen yards. Soon after they doubled their lead with a dubious goal seemingly kicked from the Northend keeper's hands.

In between both goals Cory Little unluckily struck the woodwork with a Northend penalty. The half time score remained 2-0 in Ballysillan's favour.

Very early in the second half Alex O'Boyle played a great ball through to Cory Little who made no mistake this time to leave the score 2-1.

Northend continued to pile on the pressure for the rest of the match with midfield of Matthew Downey, Aaron Montgomery, James O'Loughlin and Shea O'Brien pulling the strings.

Eoin McNally came on for Scott Sempey, Thomas Adams for James O'Loughlin and Taylor Kernohan for Aidan Graffin. Man of the match Alex O'Boyle played excellently from start to finish and was unlucky to end up on the loosing side as were the whole team who at least deserved a point from this game. Final score was Northend 1 Ballysillan 2.

Man of the Match - Alex O'Boyle

Panel: Kieran O'Boyle, Scott Sempey, Alex O'Boyle, Aaron Campbell(c), Jamie Wray, James O'Loughlin, Shea O'Brien, Matthew Downey, Corey Little, Aaron Montgomery, Aidan Graffin, Thomas Adams, Taylor Kernohan, Eoin McNally

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Barn United U10's 3 Northend United U10's 6

Saturday 17th October 2009

Northend United Youth U10s went into this match high on confidence following their first win of the campaign last week against Whitehead Eagles, and looking to avenge a 9-1 defeat to the same opposition in their last encounter.

Right from the start Northend dictated the play, and were rewarded with a well deserved goal when Cory Little raced through to slot home after some fine build up play to make it 1-0. Northend continued to apply the pressure and after a series of corners, Aaron Montgomery was on hand to convert an Alex O'Boyle corner and make the score 2-0.

Northend continued to dominate play, but Barn pulled one back with a fine counter attack of their own. Northend regained a two goal lead though when Cory Little beat two defenders and fired home from fifteen yards. With the wind in their sails now, the Northend boys were relentless in their attacking play, subjecting Barn to a barrage of pressure and even had one chalked off for offside.

They grabbed another before the break though, when Shea O'Brien was on hand to slot home a Cory Little corner, to make the half time score 4-1 to Northend.

Barn United looked shell shocked at half time, and the second half saw Northend continue where they left off, with the midfield of Montgomery, Downey, O'Brien and O'Loughlin giving Barn very few opportunities to test Northend's defence, and the score was soon 5-1 when Cory Little completed his hat-trick with a left foot volley following some fine attacking play.

Barn upped their game a little and Northend's defenders were called into action, with Scott Sempey and Ruairi McAllister making an excellent job of snuffing out any Barn attacks down the flanks, and the ever reliable Aaron Campbell solid as a rock at the heart of the defence once again.

Northend introduced their subs to freshen things up a bit, with Taylor Kernohan, Aidan Graffin, Thomas Adams and Eoin McNally coming in to replace O'Loughlin, Montgomery, McAllister and Alex O'Boyle.

Another Barn counter attack made the score 5-2, and the game opened up with play going from end to end, and it was Northend who capitalised when Cory Little found space in the box to score his fourth and Northend's sixth of the match, after some excellent skill from Shea O'Brien opened up the Barn defence to make the score 6-2 to Northend.

Barn United rallied in the closing minutes of the game and were unlucky when their big striker rattled the crossbar with a finely struck free kick from all of twenty-five yards. They were rewarded with a consolation goal with time almost up to make the score 6-3, but its Northend United who take the spoils after their best performance of the season so far.

Men of the Match - Cory Little and Aaron Campbell.

Panel: Kieran O'Boyle, Ruairi McAllister , Jamie Wray, Aaron Campbell(c), Scott Sempey, James O'Loughlin, Aaron Montgomery, Shea O'Brien, Matthew Downey, Cory Little, Alex O'Boyle, Aidan Graffin, Thomas Adams. Taylor Kernohan, Eoin McNally

Whitehead Eagles U10's 0 Northend United U10's 3

Saturday 10th October 2009

Northend United Youth U10's took the field against Whitehead Eagles on Saturday, determined to erase an opening day defeat against the same team.

In a match that saw Kieran O'Boyle make his debut in goals and a revamped forward line of Cory Little and Aaron Montgomery, Northend dictated play from the kick-off.

Playing their best football of the season, Northend went into a 1-0 lead when Shea O'Brien was on hand to volley home a Cory Little corner. The Northend midfield of Downey, O'Brien, O'Loughlin and Alex O'Boyle was dictating play, giving Whitehead few opportunities to test the Northend defence.

Kieran O'Boyle in the Northend net was seldom troubled during the first half. The half time score was 1-0 in Northend's favour

With only a slender lead, Northend knew that they must score more goals in the second half to gain a victory. In one of the best moves of the half, Ruairi McAllister who was introduced shortly after half-time, raced through the middle and lobbed the Whitehead keeper to make the score 2-0 to Northend.

It was all one way traffic in this half and Cory Little scored Northend's third goal, when a high shot from the edge of the penalty area, flew past the keeper and into the top corner of the net.

This first victory of the season was an excellent result for Northend's Babies and one that gives them a lot of heart for the rest of the season.

Panel: Kieran O'Boyle, Thomas Adams, Jamie Wray, Aaron Campbell(c), Scott Sempey, James O'Loughlin, Alex O'Boyle, Shea O'Brien, Matthew Downey, Cory Little, Aaron Montgomery, Aidan Graffin, Ruairi McAllister, Taylor Kernohan

Northend United U10's 2 Ballysillan Youth U10's 4

Saturday 26th September 2009

Northend United Youth U10's made history by being the first Northend team to play a competitive match under floodlights, when they entertained Ballysillan Youth at The Showgrounds on Friday night.

Ballysillan Youth beat Northend 4-2, but the result could have been so different if Northend had taken all of their chances, especially in the first half.

Northend dominated the first half and created a lot of good chances with their quick passing and movement off the ball causing Ballysillan lots of problems. However, this Northend side again failed to capitalise on their procession. Against the run of play, Ballysillan took a quick free kick over the top of Northend's defence and allowed their striker to slot home with ease.

This only spurred Northend on and they equalised straight away, when Matthew Downey volleyed home from twenty yards to give the Ballysillan keeper no chance.

Northend pressed on looking for more goals and Ruairi Campbell nearly got one when Shea O'Brien played a great ball across the goal and Campbell struck it first time, only to see it crack against the post with the keeper well beat.

Ballysillan came out a different team in the second half after making a few changes and put Northend under pressure but again Aaron Campbell and Kieran O'Boyle cut out most of the attacks and Scott Sempey at left back sniffed out the overlaps down his wing and counter attacked when he could. The game went from end to end with both teams having chances but it was Ballysillan who went in front when their big midfielder raced on to a through ball to fire home from close range. The same player got their third before Taylor Kernohan volleyed home for Northend to make it 3-2.

With Northend pushing forward looking for an equaliser, they were exposed at the back and Ballysillan capitalised on this when they scored close towards the end.

This was an inspired performance from The Northend Babies, who are improving game by game, and whose next opponents are Newington Colts.

Panel: Thomas Adams, Jamie Wray, Scott Sempey, Kieran O'Boyle, Aaron Campbell(c), James O'Loughlin, Ruairi Campbell, Aaron Montgomery, Matthew Downey, Shea O'Brien, Alex O'Boyle, Taylor Kernohan, Ruairi McAllister, Aidan Graffin

Barn United U10's 9 Northend United U10's 1

Saturday 12th September 2009

For the second week in a row missed chances cost Northend United U10's dearly, with two missed penalties and numerous good chances wasted. Barn United on the other hand took most of their chances to give them a flattering scoreline which did not reflect the game.

Northend should have had a penalty as early as the second minute when Matthew Downey was upended in the box after weaving his way past the defender, only for the referee to award a corner. Barn United then scored two quick goals on the counter attack.

United got a lifeline after Matthew Downey was again brought down in the penalty box. From the resultant spot kick, Shea O'Brien hit the post. Taylor Kernohan was next to miss a great chance when well placed in front of the goal.

Barn United then scored another to make the score 3-0. They were also awarded a penalty but Thomas Adams in the Northend goal pulled off a great save to deny the Barn striker. Northend then missed chance after chance with James O'Loughlin, Matthew Downey and Jamie Wray all going close.

Northend continued to attack but couldn't get the goal they where looking for and with doing this they where always vulnerable at the back. Barn scored again on the counter attack.

Northend United where then awarded another penalty but again this was missed. At this stage of the game, Northend United had Barn United pinned in their own box but could not find the goal they so deserved.

The goal finally arrived when Aidan Graffin received the ball in his own box, ran the length of the pitch and crossed for Taylor Kernohan to slot home. Barn scored again to give them a victory but it was a great performance from the young Northend players.

Man of the Match - Shea O'Brien and Matthew Downey

Panel: Thomas Adams, Jamie Wray, Ruairi McAllister, Shea O'Brien, Alex O'Boyle, James O'Loughlin, Aidan Graffin, Matthew Downey, Aaron Montgomery, Taylor Kernohan, Scott Sempey

Northend United U10's 2 Whitehead Eagles U10's 5

Saturday 5th September 2009

Northend United Youth U10's made their competitive debuts in the Belfast and East Antrim Youth League on Saturday. Played before a large turnout of parents at the Waveney pitches, this game proved to be a valuable lesson in taking your chances.

Whitehead Eagles beat Northend 5-2 but the result could have been so different if Northend had taken all of their chances.

Whitehead opened the scoring as early as their fifth minute after the Northend defence failed to clear their lines which allowed the Whitehead striker to prod the ball home. Whitehead quickly got a second when their midfielder struck the ball from distance into the bottom corner of the net, giving Northend goalkeeper Thomas Adams no chance.

Northend started to get more into the game and had two great chances when Shea O'Brien and Matthew Downey where both through on goal but the ball went narrowly wide. Northend pulled one back when Aaron Montgomery slid the ball through to O'Brien who blasted pass the keeper. Both teams had chances to further the score, the better falling to Whitehead in the first half, but the score remained the same.

The second half was a real entertaining affair, with both teams playing good passing football. Whitehead went further ahead when a shot was well parried by the Northend keeper but the Whitehead striker was quickest to react and slot the ball home from close range.

Northend had chances to close the gap but found the Whitehead keeper in great form, as he pulled off save after save to keep Northend at bay. Whitehead then were awarded a penalty and scored, after their striker was apprehended in the box.

The goal of the game came from Northend when they played the ball from their own penalty box into the Whitehead penalty box with some slick passing and Shea O'Brien was on hand to get his second goal of the game. A very entertaining match from both teams.

Man of the Match - Jamie Wray

Panel: Thomas Adams, Jamie Wray, Scott Sempey, Aaron Montgomery, Aaron Campbell(c), Ruairi Campbell, James O'Loughlin, Alex O'Boyle, Kieran O'Boyle, Shea O'Brien, Matthew Downey, Aidan Graffin, Ruairi McAllister