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Northend United 6 Ballymena Town 2 Saturday 6th December 2014

Northend started this match at a fantastic pace and had several early chances but found the Ballymena keeper in top form making numerous top class saves. Firstly Ryan Campbell went on a bursting run down the right and unleashed a venomous strike which was saved, then Shea O'Broin fired a shot wide and again Campbell had another effort saved. From the resulting corner Jay McKeown found space in the box whose header hit the bar. Tyler Boyd was winning the 50/50's in the midfield and some neat interplay between him and McKeown put the striker through on goal, this time he beat the keeper but hit the post. Further efforts from Boyd and O'Broin couldn't find the back of the net to add to Northend's frustration. It took until the thirteenth minute for the first goal when Boyd aimed a right footed shot high towards the goal which the Ballymena keeper did well to reach but could only parry for McKeown to slot into the empty net. Soon after, a neat 1-2 between O'Broin and McKeown put O'Broin through who slotted the ball left footed into the corner of the goal. The third goal came after a good attacking move started by Ben O'Neill who played the ball to O'Broin who's lofted cross was headed into the goal by McKeown. Half-time score 3-0

The second half started as the first had finished with Northend on the attack with the introduction of Charlie McGarry added to the attacking options and his delightful ball split the defence open only for McKeown's effort to be saved by the keeper but the ball fell for Bell O'Neill to lash it into the roof of the net. Northend continued to play attractive football and the attacking duo of O'Broin and McKeown were working together delightfully and making runs behind the Ballymena defence with one of their moves resulting in McKeown completing his hat-trick. The return of Stevie Bristow in defence was crucial in snuffing out many of the Ballymena attacks with his speed in reading the game and his composure on the ball setting up numerous attacks and anything that got past the defence was dealt with by PJ McDonnell in nets. Shea O'Broin made it 6 with a thunderous shot from the left hand side almost bursting the net before Ballymena made a late rally resulting in 2 goals for them. Final score 6-2

Man of the Match: Stevie Bristow

Panel: PJ McDonnell, R Campbell, S Bristow, B O'Neill, T Boyd, J McKeown, S O'Broin, C McGarry

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Northend United 5 Magherafelt Sky Blues 10 Saturday 29th November 2014

The score line read more like a rugby match than a football match and was truly harsh on the Ballymena team. The first ten minutes were very evenly contested with both teams having a few half chances but nothing clear cut until Shea O'Broin scored directly from a corner. The lead was short lived as a long range effort from Magherafelt wrong footed PJ McDonnell in the Northend goal. Northend began to exert their dominance as livewire midfielder Ben O'Neill supplied both Ryan Campbell and Shea O'Broin; however, neither player was able to convert their chance. Northend continued to press although the lively number 18 for the Sky Blues had Zack Erwin and Ryan Campbell in the Northend defence on their toes. A delightful piece of skill and subsequent through ball by Erwin on the left allowed Jay McKeown to race clear and once again give the Ballymena lads the lead. It was once again short lived as almost immediately the Sky Blues had the ball in the Northend goal. Shea O'Broin had a strike from range which took a wicked deflection and looped into the back of the net with less than two minutes until the break. Northend's Achilles heel came back to haunt them as Magherafelt scored from a corner ,finding acres of space and a willing queue of would be goal scorers. Half time score 3-3.

Things went downhill for Northend after the break as Magherafelt adopted a new physical and direct style of play for the second half. This resulted in a seven goal blitz and the Northend defence found itself overrun on numerous occasions. However, there were a few positives that the Northend lads could take away from the second half. Jay McKeown bagged his 30th and 31st goals of the season. PJ McDonnell made a miraculous top corner saved which he followed up with a kicked clearance to deny a certain goal. However, the highlight was the individual defensive display by young Ben O'Neill with his tenacious tackling and countless interceptions.

Man of Match: Ben O'Neill

Panel: PJ McDonnell, R Campbell, Z Erwin, B O'Neill, T Boyd, J McKeown, S O'Broin, C Lutton, E Mitchell

Northend United 9 Ballymoney Town 0 Saturday 22nd November 2014

This match on a soggy Saturday in Coleraine was littered with sensational goals from all angles and ranges to brighten up a dull morning. Northend took an early lead through defensive midfielder Shea O'Broin, who lashed in a wicked left footed effort from range. It was clear that O'Broin had found his range and within two minutes Northend had doubled their lead with an almost identical strike. Two more long range efforts by Zack Erwin and O'Broin went marginally wide and it was almost one way traffic from then on as the Ballymena boys dominated. Two quick fire goals by top scorer Jay McKeown, the second a delightful flick finish after good work by Zack Erwin, preceded a third wonderful strike by O'Broin. The Ballymoney keeper had little chance of preventing any of the goals did make a reaction save to deny McKeown his third of the game. With only two minutes remaining to half time Ballymoney were defending doggedly but could do nothing to stop O'Broin's thunderous fourth goal of the match (which nearly took the nets apart).

There was still time for Jay McKeown to wrap up his hat trick with a precise rebound finish after a smart stop by the Ballymoney custodian. Half time score 7-0

With an almost insurmountable half time lead Northend wrung the changes and introduced both Callum McAvoy and Tyler Boyd for the mercurial duo of McKeown and O'Broin. While the pace of the match had slowed down there was still some great passing on display and it wasn't long before Zack Erwin was on the score sheet for the second consecutive week with a close range finish. A sensational run up the wing by fullback Ryan Campbell was rewarded as second half substitute Tyler Boyd lost his marker to score what was the final goal of the game. Much credit must go to a very young Ballymoney Town team who played right to the final whistle. Final score 9-0

Man of the Match: the SENSATIONAL Shea O'Broin.

Panel: PJ McDonnell, R Campbell, B O'Neill, S O'Broin, E Mitchell, Z Erwin, J McKeown, C McAvoy, T Boyd

Northend United 5 Ballymoney Athletic 5 Saturday 15th November 2014

Northend and Ballymoney played out a pulsating five all draw in what was a fantastic advert for youth football. Northend broke the deadlock after three minutes when local goal machine Jay McKeown rolled the ball past the Ballymoney keeper. However, the score was soon level as Northend conceded from a corner after some smart movement from Ballymoney allowed their number 3 to nip in at the back post. Some last ditch tackling by Callum McAvoy kept the score line level as Athletic threatened on the counter. Jay McKeown beat the last Ballymoney defender to pick up his second goal of the game after some great work on the left by Shea O'Broin. It was end to end stuff with Athletic hitting the post before a long range effort by Ben O'Neill drifted just wide. A counter attack by Ballymoney was rewarded with a goal just before an almost identical goal by the Ballymena boys made the score 3-3 on the stroke of half time. Half time score 3-3

Northend quickly regained the lead after a thunderous effort by McKeown hit the crossbar and was followed up by the industrious Shea O'Broin who coolly slotted home. The score was again level as another counter attack by Ballymoney resulted in a great team goal. Northend goalkeeper PJ McDonnell made three great saves within a 5 minute period of sustained Ballymoney pressure. A wonderful header by Zach Erwin gave Northend a 5-4 lead with just two minutes remaining. The Ballymena boys were unable to hold on for the victory as another slick counter attack by Athletic allowed them to equalise with virtually the last touch of the game. Best for Northend were midfielders Ben O'Neill and Shea O'Broin. Full time score 5-5

Men of the Match: Ben O'Neill and Shea O'Broin

Panel: PJ McDonnell, R Campbell, B O'Neill, T Boyd, C McAvoy, J McKeown, S O'Broin, Z Erwin, C Lutton

Northend United 7 Limavady Youths 2 Saturday 8th November 2014

A dominant second half performance by Northend saw them run out convincing 7-2 winners against a determined Limavady team at Ballysally on Saturday morning. The game began at a frantic pace with both teams going close before a tidy finish by Jay McKeown gave Northend the lead. A rasping left footed strike by the Northend left back went just wide before the men from Ballymena doubled their lead through Eoin Mitchell after some great link up play from Shea O'Broin and Jay McKeown. Limavady quickly reduced the deficit when some slack marking allowed them to score from a corner just on the stroke of half time. Half time score 2-1

Northend came out for the second half like men possessed as they knocked in two quick fire goals from danger men Eoin Mitchell and Jay McKeown before a sublime free kick from Shea O'Broin. Northend by now were dominating the match and playing some very attractive attacking football in the process. Limavady were able to pull back another goal as some more lax Northend marking again allowed them to score from a corner kick. Three more goals followed, the pick of which was a fantastic counter attacking goal involving build up play from Jay McKeown and Shea O'Broin before a composed finish from McKeown. While it was easy to pick out hat-trick heroes Jay McKeown and Eoin Mitchell as stand out players this would be an injustice to the rest of the team who all played their part in an assured and disciplined performance. Final score 7-2

Man of the Match: Team Performance

Panel: PJ McDonnell, R Campbell, T Boyd, B O'Neill, C McAvoy, J McKeown, S O'Broin, Z Erwin, E Mitchell