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Northend United 1 Ballymena United 1 Saturday 1st December 2012

This long awaited local derby, got off to a controversial start even before a ball was kicked, when Ballymena United were asked and failed to produce ID cards for their players. Rumours were abound about the same team fielding ineligible/older/U11 players in past matches, so suspicions were only heightened when Ballymena failed to produce required IDs for any of their players. NWCDYL representatives were informed, Northend were advised best way forward was to proceed with match, then report this affair to NWCDYL in writing. Perhaps the fact that Ballymena were six points behind and 17 goals behind in goal difference, made this a must win match for Ballymena United.

As for the match, Northend started like a house on fire and deservedly went ahead on eight minutes when Oisin O'Mullan fired in a great shot to put Northend one up. Northend were outpassing and outplaying their Ballymena counterparts and it was a joy to watch. Ciaran Campbell, who has been outstanding for Northend all year, missed three great one-on-ones, when clear on goal with only the goalkeeper to beat. Christy McKillop and Oisin O'Mullan also had chances to put Northend further ahead but sadly failed to hit the target. In the few occasions Ballymena had possession of the ball, they created little and failed to get a shot on target until the seventeenth minute. In summary, Northend dominated the first half in terms of possession and scoring chances and should have went in to the break at least three goals ahead. Half time score 1-0

Like the first half, Northend started well and looked the more likely team to score the very important next goal. Again Oisin O'Mullan, Rhys Dennison and Christy McKillop all had great chances to score that crucial second goal, but failed to hit the target. This was a combination of bad finishing on Northend's part and some great and brave goalkeeping by the young Ballymena keeper, who was Ballymena best player on the day. Northend's failure to hit the target again, appeared to give Ballymena more confidence and for the last quarter of the match they attacked Northend with everything they had. At this stage of the match, Euan McSparran in nets, Fiontan McQuillan and Harry Wylie, then Pat Ferris and Calum Kilgore, in defence were outstanding. Ballymena produced some great attacking moments, throwing everyone forward but two players, but left themselves wide open at the back. Again, when Northend attacked they could not find that important second goal. The equaliser came with two minutes to go, which Ballymena celebrated like they had won the match. Both teams held on until the final whistle, and the match finished 1 - 1.

Northend's young players were visibly disappointed at the final whistle not to have won this match, but they will learn to understand that you do not always get the deserved result, for the effort you put in. Sometimes its just not meant to be. On the other hand, Ballymena appeared happy to get a point, even though playing a visibly strengthened side. Northend still lie in second place in the league behind Bertie Peacocks, Ballymena remain six points further back.

This was a hard match for all players involved and players in both teams gave their all. Northend's best players were Harry Wylie in defence who then moved into midfield, and Euan McSparran in nets who was outstanding, especially in the final quarter of the match, when under pressure from Ballymena.

Men of the Match: Harry Wylie, Euan McSparran

Panel: E McSparran, H Wylie (c), F McQuillan, O O'Mullan, C McKillop, C Campbell, C McCarroll, R Dennison, P Ferris, C Kilgore

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Northend United 9 Carniny 0 Saturday 17th November 2012

Northend's young players had been looking forward to this Ballymena derby for some time, and from the first whistle, they went on the attack. Within three minutes Northend were unlucky not to go ahead through Oisin O'Mullan and had already forced three corners off Carniny. In the fourth minute, Northend deservedly took the lead after Christy McKillop headed home from a Harry Wylie cross. Northend dominated possession, their passing and movement, causing headaches for Carniny early on. Harry Wylie, playing at the back for Northend today, controlled the tempo and flow of the game, looking for the ball of his own goalkeeper and regularly finding Caolan McCarroll on the right and Oisin O'Mullan on the left. It was Oisin O'Mullan who made it two nil to Northend on ten minutes, after knocking in from close range after the Carniny keeper spilled a Christy McKillop shot. Caolan McCarroll made it three on 12 minutes, after being the first to pounce on the ball, in yet another goalmouth scramble. From then until the break, Northend enjoyed the bulk of possession, passed the ball well, created several chances with Oisin O'Mullan missing a clear header on goal and Christy McKillop hitting a post, just before the half-time whistle. Half time score 3-0.

Northend started the second half like they ended the first and from the kick-off, immediately went in search of goals. Their early dominance let Oisin O'Mullan make it four nil, after good work from Harry Wylie. The same player made it five nil with a superb curling right foot shot for his hat-trick, the goal very similar to the one he scored last week, against Dungiven. At five nil up, the eight man rule came into play, not for the first time in a Northend/Carniny match this season, and Carniny played the remainder of the game with an extra man. This seemed to inspire Northend's young players even more, as shortly after, Caolan McCarroll scored to make it six nil. Harry Wylie was unlucky not to score just after this with another long range effort, before Oisin O'Mullan scored his fourth and Northend's seventh, from a Caolan McCarroll cross. Ciaran Campbell, who had been quietly effective but menacing for Northend all day, made it eight nil, following up a Christy McKillop shot. This just followed the introduction of Calum Kilgore, Rhys Dennison and Cadyn McGall who came on and caused Carniny a whole new series of problems. Christy McKillop finished off a neat five pass move, heavily involving Rhys Dennison, two minutes from full-time. Final score 9-0.

In the end, this was a very convincing win for Northend, totally dominating this match from start to finish, creating a bucket load of chances, scoring nine goals and keeping a clean sheet for the third game in a row. This young side are in a rich vein of form of late, improving and developing week by week, and with three points here, sit nicely tucked in behind league leaders, Bertie Peacocks, eagerly anticipating their next encounter. Oisin O'Mullan certainly caught the eye of all spectators with a strong performance laced with four goals, but it was the overall strong and determined team performance, from back to front, including subs, that caught the very pleased coaches eye. This was a good result today in a local derby, but at the end of the day it was just like any other victory, with three very important points earned.

Man of the Match: Team Performance

Panel: E McSparran, F McQuillan (c), H Wylie, C McKillop, O O'Mullan, C Campbell, C McCarroll, R Dennison, C McGall, C Kilgore

Dungiven 0 Northend United 6 Saturday 10th November 2012

On paper, this had the look of a tightly fought top five clash before kick-off, but in truth, Northend dominated this match from the first minute to the last, without really finding top gear. Northend took the lead on four minutes when a goal bound Harry Wylie corner, was deflected into the net, off a Dungiven defender. Northend enjoyed plenty of possession after this, with the midfield three of Christy McKillop, Oisin O'Mullan and Harry Wylie, all going close with efforts on goal. Meanwhile in defence, Fiontan McQuillan looked strong, solid and assured, this allowing the midfield to try and play their passing game against a big, strong and physical Dungiven side. Christy McKillop and Oisin O'Mullan both suffered heavy knocks during the first fifteen minutes, but both got up , dusted themselves down, and outplayed their opponents, for the remainder of the match. It was from Christy McKillop's pass that the impressive Ciaran Campbell knocked in Northend's second goal, to make it two nil, just before half-time. Half- time score 2-0.

Two minutes into the second half, Christy McKillop made it three nil, after being put through by Ciaran Campbell. At three- nil down and with nothing to lose, Dungiven pushed forward in droves and again both Euan McSparran in nets and Fiontan McQuillan in defence, worked hard to keep Dungiven's forwards out. Pat Ferris was introduced shortly into the second half, to help Northend in defence, as Dungiven pushed forward even more. At this stage, Northend looked even more threatening on the break, and Oisin O'Mullan finished with a great shot from a Pat Ferris pass, to make it four nil. Christy McKillop made it five nil to Northend nine minutes into the second half, from a Ciaran Campbell assist. Not for the first time this season, Northend were up against eight men for the remainder of the match, when the 'eight man rule' was applied at five nil. It was at this stage of the match when Northend were at their most impressive, because all seven players dug in and although much smaller than their opponents, they all defended resiliently and still created more chances, scoring another goal. That goal, and Northend's best of the day, came from a super Oisin O'Mullan curling right foot shot into the top corner, after being set up by Christy McKillop. Calum Kilgore almost made it seven nil with virtually the last kick of the match and the referee blew up shortly after this. Full Time 6-0.

Northend put in a hard-working, battling performance against this Dungiven side, and this allowed them to play their football when required, to score six goals and win the match comfortably. They never really found top gear today, but as stated already, they really were impressive when it was seven versus eight, and all players defended well from up front, back to their own goalmouth. Although all players performed well today, it was a defender Fiontan McQuillan and goalkeeper Euan McSparran, who both scooped the Man of the Match award this week.

Man of the Match: Euan McSparran, Fiontan McQuillan

Panel: E McSparran, F McQuillan, C Kilgore, O O'Mullan, H Wylie, C McKillop, C Campbell (c), P Ferris

Institute 0 Northend United 6 Saturday 3rd November 2012

Northend started this match tentatively and in all honestly took some time to get going, but they improved as the game went on , running out six nil winners in the end. Despite starting the match slowly, Northend still managed to create chances and get plenty of shots on target, unfortunately all these were straight at the goalkeeper. Both Harry Wylie and Christy McKillop hit the post before Christy McKillop put Northend one nil up in the 12th minute, shooting home, after a goal mouth scramble. Going one nil up, Northend began to work hard at closing the opposition down, and this paid off as Ciaran Campbell, Oisin O'Mullan and Harry Wylie all had great chances to score, but unfortunately the Institute goalkeeper appeared in top form. Half-time 0 - 1.

Northend started the second half much better , and began passing the ball ith precision and pace, which caused Institute all kinds of problems. Fiontan McQuillan went close on 4 minutes before Harry Wylie rifled home from ten yards to put Northend deservedly two nil up. Within 2 minutes, Northend went three nil up after Oisin O'Mullan finished off a great move involving five 'two -touch passes'. The introduction of Caolan McCarroll at this stage on the left hand-side, changed the tempo of the match entirely, and quite simply, Institute could not cope with his touch and pace. Ciaran Campbell, who had been good all match, noticeably went up another gear at this stage also. Ciaran Campbell made it four nil after good work by Christy McKillop, Rhys Dennison and Cadyn McGall. At four nil up, and now full of confidence, Northend produced some great attacking play, with Caolan McCarroll on the right and Cadyn McGall on the left, causing Institute all kinds of problems. After some nice interplay between Rhys Campbell, Ciaran Campbell and again Caolan McCaroll, Cadyn McGall made it five nil, beating the Institute goalkeeper with his trusty left foot. Oisin O'Mullan scored the last goal of the game, with a well struck left foot shot, after yet another goal mouth scramble. Full Time 0 - 6.

All eleven players were great today, but special mention in this match must go to the subs on the day, yet again. Pat Ferris, Cadyn McGall, Caolan McCarroll and Rhys Dennison have been brilliant when called upon in the last two matches, and will play a very important part in the long season ahead. Goalkeeper Euan McSparran also had a good day. Although Northend won by six goals to nil, he made several good saves, at vital stages of the game, to keep another clean sheet. In the end, this was another impressive victory for this young side, with the hard work in training now beginning to pay dividends. On the day, Caolan McCarroll was tremendous when he came on, but Ciaran Campbell was consistent from the start when he played up front, to the finish when he moved back into midfield, so he just edged Caolan to win Man of the Match.

Man of the Match: Ciaran Campbell

Panel: E McSparran, C Kilgore, F McQuillan, C Campbell, C McKillop (c), O O'Mullan, H Wylie, R Dennison, P Ferris, C McCarroll, C McGall