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Crusaders U10s 4 Northend United U10s 2 Saturday 17th December 2011

Northend travelled to the Grove pitches on Saturday to take on Irish League academy side Crusaders. The game started off with Northend taking the game to Crusaders. They got their reward with ten minutes into the game a pass from Aidan Graffin through to Sean Higgins making it 1-0.

The game continued on as Northend kept pressing on for goals, however a high ball over the top off Northend defence allowed the Crusaders striker in to level the score at 1-1.

Crusaders edged ahead five minutes later when another throughball allowed their striker to score , leaving the half time score 2-1 to Crusaders.

Northend started the second half in a similar fashion to the first, attacking the Crusaders defence. Northend broke through the Crusaders defence only to see Sean Higgins hauled down in the box, but to everyone's amazement, the Belfast referee waved play on.

Play continued as a through ball from the Wee Blues was intercepted by the Crusaders midfielder and he went on to score their third goal.

Northend kept pressing for goals but numerous chances went a begging including a Jude Scullion shot which went narrowly past the post.

In an exciting finish to the game, Crusaders cored a fourth goal before Dane Kyle score for the Blues, leaving the final score 4-2 to Crusaders.

This was a good team performance from the Wee Blues and a game where they should have got a share of the spoils but inexperience in key areas cost them dearly.

Man of the Match: Josh Coates

Panel: J Givens, J Coates, O Hampshire, E Fischer, A Graffin, J Scullion, O Connolly M Stewart, S Higgins, D Kyle, R Lennon

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Dromore Amateurs U10s 2 Northend United U10s 2

Northend travelled to play Dromore youths at Loughmoss on Saturday. Northend started brightly and they created chance after chance but just couldn't score. Play kept moving from end to end as Jason Givens keeping Dromore at bay with his spectacular saves. Northend kept on pressuring but still didn't get any reply. Dromore broke away to score, making it 1-0.

Northend pressurised and got a reply Aidan Graffin made it 1-1 with a pass from Jude Scullion. Shortly after Sean Higgins broke from the middle of the park and was brought down in the penalty box, Aidan Graffin stepped up to take the spot kick but straight at the keeper. Half time score 1-1.

Second half started just like the first half with Northend pushing them back to the 18 yard line. Northend kept passing the ball with some good football. However as Northend pressed for a second goal, a pass went wrong and Dromore broke away, making it 2-1.

Northend pressed forward with chances going abay, then a few minutes later Aidan Graffin cut into the box and was pulled down, as another penalty awarded. Oisin Connolly stepped up to slot the ball home as cool as you like, making the score 2-2.

With no further scoring the match ended 2-2.

At the end of the match, the Blues Manager thought he would have to carry out first aid on the line as the score proved too was too much for one of the parents. This was a great team performance from the Northend Babies and on the balance of play deserved full points from the match but ended up earning only one

Man of the Match: Oisin Connolly

Panel: J Givens, J Coates, O Hampshire, O Connolly, M Stewart, A Graffin, J Scullion, S Higgins, C Forsythe, D Kyle(c), R Lennon, E Fisher

Northend United U10s 0 Hillsborough Boys U10s 4 Saturday 26th November 2011

Northend United travelled to the Grove pitches in North Belfast on Saturday to take on Hillsborough Youth. Game got off to a good start for both teams with Jason Givens making good saves to keep Hillsborough at bay. With a swirling wind at their backs, Hillsborough made the break through on ten minutes when their striker outpaced the Northend defence and slotted the ball past Givens. This goal visibly shook the Wee Blues and Hillsborough went on to score another three goals before half time in the strong breeze. Half time 4-0

The second half started with Northend taking the game to Hillsborough and on a few occasions they had chances to score but the Hillsborough defence and keeper had outstanding games.

In an exiting second half, play flowed from end to end but neither team could add to the scoring of the first half, and the final score of the match was 4-0 to Hillsborough Youth.

Man of the Match: Jason Givens, Josh Coates

Panel: J Givens, J Coates, O Hampshire, F Andrews, M Stewart(c), J Scullion, A Graffin, S Higgins, C Forsythe, K Mitchell, R Lennon, E Fisher, D Kyle, T Murdock

Northend United U10s 1 Larne Youth U10s 5 Saturday 19th November 2011

Northend United took on Larne youth at Dunfane on Saturday. The game got off to a good start with Northend having chances but just didn't take them. The game was even up to then until Larne scored on the fourteen minutes with a hint of offside.

Then in-between Jason Givens kept Northend in the game with some super safes. Larne scored their second goal but Rian Lennon managed to pull one back for the Blues, making it 2 1. With bad luck once again for the Wee Blues team, their keeper Givens got injured and had to be replaced. The half time score remained 2-1 to Larne.

Second half Larne pressed on getting their reward making it 3-1. Larne broke away again crossed the ball into the box with Josh Coates trying to clear but put it in his own net making it 4-1.

Northend came back at Larne and with a run from Oisin Connolly at their defence saw him slip the ball past the keeper into the net only for the referee to inexplicably disallow the goal. Then Larne broke away and scored another before full-time.

Man of the Match: Aidan Graffin

Panel: J Givens, J Coates, O Connolly, O Hampshire, F Andrews, J Scullion, A Graffin, C Forsythe, K Mitchell (c), R Lennon, E Fisher, T Murdock, S Higgins, D Kyle, M Stewart

Glentoran U10s 4 Northend United U10s 0 Saturday 12th November 2011

Northend travelled to play Irish League kingpins Glentoran at the Billy Neill Sports Complex on Saturday in a George Best Youth League match.. First half started as the Glens broke down the right, cut into the box and scored the first goal.

Both teams settled down with play flowing from end to end but then a short back pass from Oisin Connolly let in the Glens striker to score their second goal. Northend then had chances to get back into the game but did not take them. The Glens then scored a third just before half time.

Northend came out in the second half a changed team but still could not open their score. The Northend Babies played some excellent football but luck was not on their side as chances went a begging. With ten minutes of the game remaining, the Glens grabbed their fourth goal, putting the game beyond the Northend Blues.

Men of the Match: Jason Givens, Aidan Graffin

Panel: J Givens, J Coates, M Stewart, O Hampshire, O Connolly, A Graffin, R Lennon, K Mitchell, J Scullion, S Higgins, F Andrews, D Kyle, T Murdock, E Fisher, C Forsythe

Northend United U10s 3 Dromore Amateurs U10s 0 Saturday 5th November 2011

Northend United took on Dromore Amateurs at the Grove pitches in North Belfast on Saturday Northend got off to a good start with Rian Lennon getting a couple of breaks down the field but could not put them away. Northend kept on pressing and the break they wanted came after ten minutes when a ball from Rian Lennon to Aidan Graffin and he made no mistake to make it 1-0.

Then the Dromore striker broke away from the Northend defence but Jason Givens made a superb save to keep Northend in the game. The Northend Babies kept attacking and in the twenty-fifth minute, a through ball from Oliver Hampshire to Aidan Graffin allowed him to control the ball and beat the Dromore keeper to score his and Northend's second goal. With no further scoring before half time, the score reined 2-0 to the Blues at the break.

Second half started and again both teams attacked from end to end. Dromore hit the cross- bar with Givens in nets looking on. Northend had chances in the second half but it was one of those days for Rian Lennon who went close on a number of occasions. With about ten minutes to go Northend were awarded a corner. From the resultant corner, a goalmouth scrambled ensured and when the ball broke to captain Jude Scullion to slot the ball home making it 3-0 to the Northend Babies.

This was the first clean sheet for the team with some good play throughout the team.

Men of the Match: Aidan Graffin, Jason Givens

Panel: J Givens, J Coates, M Stewart, O Hampshire, O Connolly, A Graffin, R Lennon, K Mitchell, J Scullion, S Higgins, T Murdock, E Fisher, D Kyle