Northend United Youth FC

Barn United U10s 0 Northend United U10s 1 BEAYIL Cup Final

Wednesday 28th April 2010

With the Shield in the bag on Monday Night, Northend returned to the Mallusk pitches to face Barn United once again, in the Knockout Cup Final, looking to finish the season in spectacular style lifting two trophies in three days.

The game started with Barn on the front foot, obviously stung from their defeat 48 hours earlier, and the Northend defence of Campbell, O'Boyle, MaCrory and Sempey were busy dealing with a constant stream of Barn attacks, but they held firm, cutting out the Barn attacks and clearing their lines, leaving the Barn boys with nothing to show for their fine early play.

As the half wore on, it became strikingly apparent that tonight was to be a very different affair to Mondays Shield final, and with tension in the air with so much at stake, play was largely congested into a middle of the park scrappy affair, with neither team able to create any clear cut chances, the game remained goalless at half-time.

In the second half, Barn continued to apply the pressure, and when their big striker rifled a shot towards the top corner, it seemed certain they'd take the lead, but Montgomery in the Northend goal flung himself high and wide to make a miraculous save and keep his team in it.

Northend came into the game strongly after this, and both Cory Little and Shea O'Brien were unlucky when they broke clear only to see their shots fly narrowly wide, and the game remained on a knife edge.

With 10 minutes left, the deadlock was finally broken, when Cory Little received the ball on the halfway line, he ghosted past 3 or 4 challenges, found himself twelve yards out from a tight angle and rifled a shot into the corner of the net to make it 1-0 Northend. It could have been even better two minutes later when Shea O'Brien skinned his marker on the edge of the area but his shot flew just over the bar.

James O'Loughlin and Kieran O'Boyle replaced Erwin and Scott to give fresh running to the Northend midfield.

With nothing to lose, Barn threw everything at Northend for the remainder of the game, but the boys stuck to the task and held firm, with the exception of once, when the big barn striker raced through, but Aaron Montgomery raced off his line to dive at his feet, injuring himself in the process and saving his team again, and in the end, Northend U10s held on to win the knockout cup 1-0 and finish off a fine season in perfect fashion, winning both the shield and cup within 48 hours.

Not as rampant as Monday but a resolute performance from the Northend babies, winning two trophies in three days against Barn, the league champions.

The U10s coaching staff would like to take this opportunity to thank all the players and parents for their help this year. It has been a privelege working with everyone and we look forward to seeing you all next season.......

Men of the Match: Cory Little, Aaron Montgomery

Panel: Aaron Montgomery, Aaron Campbell(c) , Scott Sempey, Tarlagh MaCrory, Alex O'Boyle, Blaine Scott, Jamie Stevenson, Matthew Downey,Matthew Erwin, Shea O'Brien,Cory Little, Kieran O'Boyle, Taylor Kernohan, Jamie Wray, James O'Loughlin, Aidan Graffin, Eoin McNally

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Barn United U10s 1 Northend United U10s 3 BEAYIL Shield Final

Monday 26th April 2010

Northend United Under 10s travelled to Mallusk playing fields on Monday evening to contest the shield final against Barn United, looking to end the season strongly after finishing runners up in the league to the same opposition. From the start it was clear that the Northend boys meant business, with Jamie Stevenson and Matthew Downey winning virtually every challenge in the middle of the field, and kept Barn camped in their own half for the vast majority of the opening period. The first chance came when Matthew Erwin found space in the box but his shot was well saved by the Barn 'keeper, but from the resulting corner, Cory Little recieved the ball and drilled a low shot into the net to make the score 1-0 to Northend.

Not content with a single goal lead, the Northend boys continued to push forward looking to add to their tally, and they were robbed when Little played a fine ball over the top and Matthew Downey raced through and slotted into the net, only for it to be harshly ruled out for offside. Downey was soon rewarded though, when he arrived at the back post to convert an Alex O'Boyle corner with an unstoppable strike into the roof of the net to make it 2-0 Northend.

The boys had a real head of steam built up by now, with Stevenson and Downey pulling the strings in midfield, Scott and Erwin torturing the full backs on the wings, and it was only a matter of time before the third goal came, and Matthew Erwin duly obliged when he collected a through ball from Shea O'Brien, cut inside the defender and made no mistake, finding the bottom corner of the net. 3-0 Northend.

With the half coming to an end, Barn won a corner, and when a header was goalbound, Scott Sempey cleared from under the crossbar, but the linesman ruled it had crossed the line, a debateable decision, and at half time it was 3-1 Northend.

The second half saw Barn come into the game a bit more, and Northend's defence of Campbell, O'Boyle, MaCrory and Sempey were called into action on several occassions, keeping the Barn boys at bay, and on the few occassions Barn managed to break through, Aaron Montgomery in Northend's goal was having none of it, frustrating the Barn strikers with save upon save, to sustain his team's two goal lead.

Barn continued to press though, but were caught with a swift counter, and Cory Little broke clear, was brought down on the edge of the area when bearing down on goal, and Alex O'Boyle was mightily unlucky to see his resulting free kick rebound off the bar and cleared to safety.

With a few tired legs on show, Northend freshened things up a bit with McNally, Graffin, Kernohan, O'Loughlin and Wray all coming on, and the team were now able to more comfortably deal with Barn's second half resurgence, limiting them to a couple of speculative efforts which were easily dealt with by the impressive Montgomery, and Northend were able to see out the game 3-1, deservedly winning the Shield and giving the boys their first taste of silverware.

A great performance from front to back tonight, against the league champions Barn, lets hope they can continue this fine form into Wednesday's Cup final and end the season on an even higher note. BRILLIANT LADS WELL DONE!!!

Men of the Match: Tarlagh MaCrory and Aaron Montgomery

Panel: Aaron Montgomery, Aaron Campbell(c) , Scott Sempey, Tarlagh MaCrory, Alex O'Boyle, Matthew Erwin, Jamie Stevenson, Matthew Downey, Blaine Scott,Shea O'Brien, Cory Little, Taylor Kernohan, Jamie Wray, James O'Loughlin, Aidan Graffin, Eoin McNally

Whitehead Eagles U10s 2 Northend United U10s 1

Saturday 24th April 2010

On Saturday morning, Northend United U10s travelled to Whitehead for a league match in the BEAYIL. Both teams began at a lively pace although clear cut chances were few and far between. The Northend midfield of Jamie Stevenson, Matthew Downey, Aaron Montgomery and the lively Scott Blaine had plenty of possession in the opening period, spreading play well and attacking down the wings where possible, and when a fine cross from Blaine Scott was cleared behind for a corner, Alex O'Boyle whipped a ferocious ball across the front of goal, and it managed to squirm into the net unaided, and O'Boyle will claim that as a goal for himself, and why not?

Northend continued to dominate the play after this, but were unable to add to their lead, with O'Brien and Kernohan receiving only limited service in the attacking third, and Northend were caught out when a dubious free kick was awarded to Whitehead and somehow the ball managed to wriggle into the net via a Northend players foot and a couple of nasty bobbles in a dodgey goalmouth, leaving Kieran O'Boyle in the Northend goal unable to do anything to prevent the Whitehead equaliser, and the score remained 1-1 at half time.

In the second half, Northend brought on James O'Loughlin, Jamie Wray, Aidan Graffin and Eoin McNally to change things round a bit, but it was Whitehead who started the stronger in this period, and the defence of Aaron Campbell, Jamie Wray, Alex O'Boyle and Scott Sempey were called upon on several ocassions to cut out Whitehead attacks, but when Whitehead won a corner midway through the half, Northend were left helpless as a perfect cross was met by an unstoppable header eight yards out to give Whitehead a 2-1 lead.

This seemed to deflate the Northend lads, and they struggled to get back into the game after this, and in the end, the score remained the same and Whitehead ran out deserved 2-1 winners.

A disappointing performance today, so lets hope the boys can shake it off in time for Monday's shield final against Barn United, where they will have to raise their game a bit. Good luck lads.

Men of the Match: Aaron Campbell, Blaine Scott.

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

Barn United U10s 1 Northend United U10s 1

Monday 19th April 2010

On a fine bright evening, Northend United U10s faced Barn at Mallusk Pitches in a league game. With the league settled, both teams used this match as an opportunity to size up the opposition for their forthcoming finals.

Barn started the stronger of the two, and the Northend defence of Campbell, MaCrory, O'Boyle, and Sempey had to be on their toes to deal with some attacking pressure in the first 10 minutes, and Northend were finding it difficult to get a foothold in the game. Barn were able to capitalise on this period of play on 15 minutes, when their striker found enough space in the box to pick his spot and slot home to make the score 1-0.

Northend began to get into their stride after this, with the midfield of Stevenson, Montgomery, O'Brien and Downey playing some intricate football and linking with Erwin and Graffin up front. This spell of the match led to a succession of Northend corners, and when O'Boyle placed a fine cross into the box, Jamie Stevenson was on hand to score his fifth goal in four games with a cracking volley into the roof of the net and make it 1-1 just before half time.

The second half saw Northend bring on Jamie Wray, Taylor Kernohan, Eoin McNally and James O'Loughlin for O'Brien, Graffin, Erwin and Montgomery, and both teams continued to play some attractive football, with Kieran O'Boyle in the Northend goal making some fine saves to keep the scores level, and his opposite number in the Barn goal doing likewise. With one eye on the upcoming finals next week, both teams were content to play out the last 15 minutes at a leisurely pace, with neither defence overly troubled and the final score remained 1-1.

A fair result on the night with both teams on good form coming into their big games next week.

Men of the Match: Scott Sempey, Matthew Downey

Panel: Kieran O'Boyle, Aaron Campbell(c) , Scott Sempey, Tarlagh MaCrory, Alex O'Boyle, Aaron Montgomery, Jamie Stevenson, Matthew Downey, Shea O'Brien, Aidan Graffin, Matthew Erwin, Eoin McNally, Taylor Kernohan, Jamie Wray, James O'Loughlin

Ballysillan Youth U10s 1 Northend United U10s 2

Saturday 17th April 2010

Northend U10s first game since returning from their successful Scotland Cup at Ayr was a league match against Ballysillan Youth at the Valley pitches.

Northend started the first half very brightly with Aidan Graffin coming close on a couple of occasions. Northend took a well deserved lead half way through the first half with an excellent finish from twelve yards from Jamie Stevenson. With Northend having the majority of play in this half , they were unable to add to the score before half time leaving the score 1-0 to Northend at half time.

Ballysillan started the second half the brighter with Kieran O'Boyle making a couple of fine saves to keep the score 1-0. United settled down after a slow start to second half with the midfield of Matthew Downey, Jamie Stevenson, Aaron Montgomery and James O'Loughlin taking control, linking well with forwards of Aidan Graffin and Shea O'Brien.

Then Aaron Montgomery slid a good ball to Jamie Stevenson down the right and Stevenson calmly slotted home to make it 2-0 to Northend.

Shortly afterwards, Aaron Montgomery was unlucky with a shot from the edge of the area which struck the woodwork. Substitutes were introduced to freshen things up with Jamie Wray, Taylor Kernohan, Eoin McNally, Corey Little and Matthew Irwin all coming on.

The defence of Ben Sempey, Aaron Campbell, Alex O'Boyle and Tarlagh McCrory were all playing well with Sempey as solid as a rock.

Late on in the game Ballysillan were awarded a dubious free kick and scored a consolation goal. All in all a well deserved 2-1 win for the Northend babies. Well done!

Men of the Match: Jamie Stevenson, Scott Sempey

Panel: Kieran O'Boyle, Aaron Campbell(c) , Scott Sempey, Tarlagh MaCrory, Alex O'Boyle, Aaron Montgomery, Jamie Stevenson, James O'Loughlin , Matthew Downey, Shea O'Brien, Aidan Graffin, Cory Little, Matthew Erwin, Eoin McNally, Taylor Kernohan, Jamie Wray

Northend United U10s 4 Whitehead Eagles U10s 3

Wednesday 7th April 2010

Northend United U10s took to the field against Whitehead Eagles at the Mallusk playing fields on Wednesday night in the third and final round robin game of the shield/plate series, and with both teams level on points it was to be a really tense affair, with the victors to face Barn United in the shield final.

After some cracking football by both sides in the opening minutes, Northend began to dominate the play in midfield, with James O'Loughlin in particular providing some great attacking width on the right flank and giving the Whitehead fullback a real headache with his speed and skill on the ball, and linking well with O'Brien and Little up front.

Northend got their reward for this period of attacking play when Jamie Stevenson threaded a through ball and Cory Little was away, and he made no mistake, calmly side footing home past the onrushing 'keeper to make it 1-0 Northend.

Whitehead tried to push on a bit more after this, but the Northend defence of Scott Sempey, Alex O'Boyle, Tarlagh MaCrory and Aaron Campbell were able to deal quite comfortably with any forays forward and cleared their lines when called upon. Although both teams had a real go for the remainder of the first period, the half-time score remained 1-0 Northend.

The second half saw Northend continue to dominate the play, with Downey and Stevenson pulling the strings again, and the Whitehead rearguard were constantly under pressure, with their 'keeper called into action a few times to keep the deficit at one goal.

Northend then introduced their subs with Taylor Kernohan, Jamie Wray and Aidan Graffin coming in for Erwin, O'Brien and the impressive O'Loughlin, and the fresh legs added a bit of extra pace to Northend's attack as they continued to push forward, looking for that killer second goal, but despite creating some good openings, they were unable to capitalise on their superiority, and with ten minutes left, Whitehead sprung a counter attack, producing a corner, from which their midfielder arrived late at the back post to steer the ball home and make 1-1.

Northend pushed on with time running out, desperately seeking the goal that would win it in normal time, but they were unlucky with a few efforts going narrowly wide, and the full time score remained 1-1, so with the light fading fast, it was into extra time, and again it was Northend who made all the running, but the game remained deadlocked at the end, and they headed for the drama of a penalty shootout, watched by a large crowd of spectators, as all other games had by this stage finished.

Whitehead took early advantage with some clinical penalties, and needing only to score their 5th for the victory, they put it wide and sudden death loomed. When it looked like it could go on all night, Aaron Montgomery saved the 10th Whitehead penalty, and it was all down to wee Aidan Graffin, who struck clinically into the corner of the net to seal a most dramatic victory 8-7 on penalties, after a cracking game of football by both teams.

Thank you and good luck to the Whitehead lads in the plate final and the rest of the season. Northend now face Barn United in the Shield final - Good luck lads.

Men of the Match: James O'Loughlin and Aaron Montgomery.

Panel: Aaron Montgomery, Tarlagh MaCrory, Aaron Campbell(c), Alex O'Boyle, Scott Sempey, James O'Loughlin, Jamie Stevenson, Shea O'Brien, Matthew Erwin, Matthew Downey, Cory Little, Eoin McNally, Taylor Kernohan, Aidan Graffin, Jamie Wray