Northend United Youth FC

Northend United U10s 3 Ballysillan Youth U10s 1

Saturday 23rd January 2010

After a lengthy layoff due to recent weather conditions, Northend United U10s took to the field against Ballysillan Youth in the Shield and Plate competition at the Valley Leisure Centre.

The layoff seemed to affect Northend in the beginning and it was Ballysillan who started stronger, forcing Northend back for the first 5 minutes of the game, but the Northend defence of Jamie Wray, Alex O'Boyle, Aaron Campbell and Scott Sempey stayed strong to prevent any real goal threat.

Northend came into the game thereafter, with Jamie Stevenson and Matthew Downey pulling the strings in midfield, and Aaron Campbell and Matthew Erwin providing good attacking outlets on the wings.

Northend went ahead on fifteen minutes when Shea O'Brien played a great ball across the box and Matthew Irwin stole in at the back post to side foot home, to make the score 1-0 to Northend.

Northend continued in the same manner for the rest of the first half, and were unlucky when Cory Little raced through and slotted the ball past the keeper only to see his effort strike the post.

Following a series of corners, Northend soon doubled their lead when the ball was only cleared as far as Jamie Stevenson, twenty yards out, who rifled a shot through the crowded goalmouth into the bottom corner. Northend continued to push forward but Ballysillan held firm to keep the halftime score 2-0 to Northend.

The second half started with Northend again on the front foot, and soon added to their lead, when in a reversal of the first goal, Irwin turned provider with a ball across the face of goal, and Montgomery was on hand to smash the ball into the roof of the net.

Tiredness became a factor due to the lack of action in recent weeks, and Northend made substitutions to freshen things up, with Ruairi McAllister and Tarlagh Macrory coming on for Jamie Wray and Scott Sempey. Northend were still driving forward, and were awarded a penalty when Downey was upended in the box, but unluckily Aaron Campbell's spot kick sailed agonisingly wide of the post.

The game became a bit scrappy for a while, with Neither team creating any clear cut chances, and Northend used up their remaining substitutions, with Aidan Graffin, Taylor Kernohan and Eoin McNally coming on for Campbell, Little and Downey.

Ballysillan seemed to raise their game in the closing ten minutes and Kieran O'Boyle in Northend's goal was forced into action on a couple of occasions, but could do nothing to stop a fine strike from fifteen yards which flew into the top of the net to give Ballysillan a deserved goal, albeit a consolation as the final score remained Northend United 3, Ballysillan Youth 1.

All in all a good return to winning ways for the Northend Babies after the Christmas layoff, and a fine performance which should give plenty of confidence for the rest of the season.

Men of the Match: Jamie Stevenson and Matthew Erwin

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

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Northend United Youth U10s 3 Barn United Youth U10s 1

Saturday 5th December 2009

Northend United hosted league leaders Barn united at Smithfield this morning in a must-win match if they were to claw back a 6 point deficit at the top of the league, but it was Barn who started the livlier, and their domination paid off as they went into an early lead after some scrambled defending in the Northend penalty area saw them score from close range to make the score 1-0 to Barn United.

This seemed to kick start the Northend boys, who raised their game and began to dominate play, and they were rewarded when Aaron Montgomery played a through ball behind the Barn defence, and the lively Cory Little raced through to slot home from fifteen yards and make the score 1-1. It was all Northend now, with Downey,Stevenson, Montgomery and O'Loughlin controlling things in midfield, and Little and O'Brien causing havoc for the Barn defence. The second goal duly came when Cory Little picked up a poor clearance from the Barn keeper, shrugged off the defender's challenge and drilled a low shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the box to give Northend a 2-1 lead at half time.

The second half began with Barn rallying hard, but the Northend defence of Wray, Campbell, O'Boyle and Sempey coped admirably with all that was thrown at them, and Ciaran O'Boyle was equal to any shots Barn managed on his goal.

Northend introduced their subs to freshen things up, with Ruairi McAllister and Aidan Graffin coming on to replace O'Loughlin and Montgomery, and the balance of play swung back in Northends favour, with chances for Downey, Little and Stevenson were either blocked or saved by the keeper to keep the game on a knife edge.

Barn then had a period of attacking play, but once again the Northend defence was up to the task, with the impressive Matthew Downey dropping in to protect and cover where necessary.

More subs were introduced, with Eoin McNally and Taylor Kernohan replacing Sempey and injured Aaron Campbell, with the versatile Shea O'Brien shifted back into defence, and once again it was Northend who dominated play, and when Little played a short corner to Downey, his cross was met on the volley by Kernohan but his shot was well saved by the Barn keeper. Northend continued to look for the third goal to kill off the game, and Aidan Graffin duly obliged, making no mistake when Little picked him out in the box and he slotted home to make the score 3-1 to Northend with ten minutes left in the game. Thomas Adams came on for Wray and dealt well with any Barn forays down the wing, and it was Northend who finished the stronger without adding to the score which remained 3-1 to Northend at full time.

An excellent result for the boys, coming back from a goal down to beat current league leaders and reduce the deficit to 3 points at the top of the table.

Men of the Match: Cory Little and Matthew Downey

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

Ballysillan Youth U10s 0 Northend United U10s 2

Saturday 28th November 2009

Northend came into this game after a string of fine performances in recent weeks, and were looking to turn around a 2-1 defeat to this opposition in their last encounter.

This game saw a re-vamped midfield with the introduction of Jamie Stevenson and Blaine Scott, with Shea O'Brien moved up front alongside Cory LIttle.

The game started in lively fashion, with both teams playing some fine attacking football, and it didn't take long for debutant Jamie Stevenson to settle into the team, and was unlucky not to score when a fine shot was well saved by the Ballysillan keeper early on, after some fine build up play in the midfield.

Northend's defence had to be on their toes as Ballysillan continued to give as good as they got, but Jamie Wray, Scott Sempey, Aaron Campbell and Alex O'Boyle were excellent in snuffing out the Ballysillan attacks.

Northend's midfield then began to dictate play for a period, and when Matthew Downey was upended on the edge of the box Alex O'Boyle stepped up to strike a great free kick high into the roof of the net, giving the Ballysillan 'keeper no chance. 1-0 to Northend. Northend continued to press for the rest of the half, with chances falling to 0'Brien and Little, but the Ballysillan keeper was equal to them on this occassion, keeping the half time score 1-0 to Northend.

The second half saw the game open up with play going from end to end, and Matthew Downey was unlucky when a fierce drive was well collected by the keeper, and Ciaran O'Boyle in the Northend goal had to be at his best to deny Ballysillan on two occassions. Northend's new front pairing of Little and O'Brien began to forge a fine understanding, and a neat one-two between the pair saw Cory Little clean through, and he made no mistake, calmly lifting the ball over the Ballysillan keeper into the top of the net to make the score 2-0 to Northend.

Ballysillan continued to give a good account of themselves, but Northends defence remained solid, with Alex O'Boyle outstanding again in the heart of the defence.Northend were soon on the attack again, and this time after another clever one-two, O'Brien found himself through on goal and rounded the keeper only to be foiled by a great last ditch tackle from the Ballysillan sweeper. Northend continued to make chances with Downey and Stevenson looking a formidable pairing in the centre, Montgomery improving on the right wing as the game progressed, and newcomer Blaine Scott on the left putting in a great display both going forward and tackling back.

The last ten minutes saw both teams introduce their subs to freshen things up a bit,and play still going from end to end, but without any further clear cut chances, and so the final score remained 2-0 to Northend. A well earned victory for the boys, who move up to second in the table after another fine performance.

Men of the match: Jamie Stevenson and Alex O'Boyle

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

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

Saturday 14th November 2009

Northend United U10s came into this game high on confidence following a fine victory last week, but were a bit sluggish at the start. This allowed Whitehead to get into their stride early on, and Northend's defenders were called into action early on to keep the score at 0-0.

After this slow start Northend began to get into the game, with Shea O'Brien and Matthew Downey settling in the midfield and spreading play to the wings for a period of Northend pressure. They were rewarded soon after when Alex O'Boyle floated a free kick into the box and Cory Little scored with an amazing overhead kick which found the top corner from fifteen yards.

Both teams had chances in the remainder of the first half, but defences remained solid, with Jamie Wray making a fine goal line clearance to keep the score 1-0 to Northend at half time.

The second half saw Aidan Graffin, Ruairi McAllister and Eoin McNally replace Kernohan, Wray and Sempey, but it was Whitehead who started the stronger, and they equalised after a period of attacking play to make it 1-1.

Northend rallied again though and after some sustained pressure, Cory Little scored directly from a corner kick which curled inside the keepers near post to make it 2-1 to Northend.

Whitehead responded with some attacking pressure of their own after this, and the Northend boys had to work hard to keep them at bay, Matthew Downey in particular covering every blade of grass to make some vital tackles and keep the score at 2-1 to Northend, and Eoin McNally putting in a fine performance at left back.

With ten minutes left, Whitehead earned a free kick twenty yards out after a mix up in Northend's defence, and their big full back struck the ball into the top of the net to make the score 2-2, and despite both teams having chances thereafter, the final score remained 2-2.

A rather disappointing result for Northend having been ahead twice, but credit to Whitehead and the draw was a fair result in the end.

Men of the Match: Matthew Downey, Cory Little

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

Northend United U10's 3 Barn United 0

Saturday 7th November 2009

This fixture was deemed to be a friendly due to the fact that there was no referee for the game.

However, right from the kick-off it was played in a competitive manner, and indeed it was Northend who made all the running in the early stages. They were rewarded with a goal ten minutes into the game when Taylor Kernohan found space in the box to slot the ball home after some fine build up play and a great cross from Cory Little to make the score 1-0 to Northend.

The Northend boys continued to press on with Matthew Downey and Shea O Brien controlling things in midfield, and Aaron Montgomery and James O'Loughlin providing excellent attacking options down the wings. Northend created chance after chance in this period and were unlucky not to add to their lead before half time, where the score remained 1-0 to Northend.

The second half saw Northend continue to dominate, and the few Barn attacks were easily snuffed out by the Northend defence of Aaron Campbell, Alex O'Boyle, Scott Sempey and Jamie Wray. Northend introduced some subs to freshen things up a little, with Eoin McNally, Ruairi McAllister, Thomas Adams and Aidan Graffin replacing Wray, Sempey, O'Loughlin and Kernohan.

Northend added their second goal when Aaron Montgomery, playing his best game of the season by far, held off two challenges and drilled an unstoppable shot in off the far post to make the score 2-0 to Northend.

It could have been worse for Barn when they were lucky not to concede a penalty when Cory Little was upended in the box when bearing down on goal. Ruairi Campbell was brought on for Cory Little with time running out and was unlucky not to score after a mix up in the Barn defence, but screwed his shot just wide of the post.

Barn United had no answer to Northend's relentless attacking play, with Matthew Downey winning virtually every clearance by the Barn keeper to set up another Northend attack, and the third goal was well deserved when it came, with Aidan Graffin on hand to slot home after more excellent build up play from Montgomery and O'Brien to make the final score 3-0 to Northend.

Although the result will have no effect on the current league standings, the boys are back to winning ways and it will certainly give them confidence for the rescheduled fixture and the rest of the season.

Men of the Match: Aaron Montgomery, Matthew Downey, Shea O'Brien.

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