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Northend United 1 Hillsborough Boys 2 Saturday 22nd February 2025

After a hard fought out battle against the same opposition five weeks ago, Northend were out to make amends. It was a cagey affair to begin with captain for the day, Lewis Hill & Oisin Logan having to alert early on after some Hillsborough pressure but Sam Stewart was sharp off his line to gather the ball at the edge of the box before the onrushing striker could get his strike away. Very late in the first period, after good work from midfield duo Caleb Crilly and Eoin Walker, frontman Gabriel McQuillan was slipped through but his low struck effort just whizzed the wrong side of the left post. 0-0

Early in the second period, great covering defending from Preston Balmer resulted in a Hillsborough corner, which was whipped in at pace to the back post. Congestion at the edge of the box meant Northend couldn’t clear their lines and an effort was bundled home to put Hillsborough one up. Another corner soon after was too hot to handle for Stewart resulting in a bit of pinball in the box. Again, United couldn’t clear their line and Hillsborough doubled their advantage. Not to be deterred, Northend never gave up and after good work from Archie Gordon and Shay Termonia, Crilly was set free. After his initial effort was blocked, he was the first to react to round the keeper and bring his side back into the game. 1-2

In the last period, with 15 mins left on the clock, Northend always knew that they could get back into the game and their performance showed it. The midfield trio of Crilly, Termonia and Walker were starting to show their influence in the game with the reliable pairing of Balmer and Logan safety marshalling behind them. Northend were on the ascendancy and with Hillsborough feeling the pressure, a bit of gamesmanship was starting to creep into their play with purposeful delaying of restarts. Northend battled hard but it wasn’t to be, as a cheer filled the Dome from the red and black of Hillsborough at the sound of the referee’s final whistle, but one more of relief than anything else. Full time 1-2

This was better display from the boys in blue and white than their previous outing against Hillsborough. Every player understood their role and showed levels of improvement. In the past, this young side would have struggled to cope with the emotions of going two goals down but it was pleasing to see signs of added maturity. Whilst all nine players played well as a unit it could be said that no one player stood out as the clear POTM today so the decision to award this honour is to someone who arguably could have received it in each of the last two performances when the accolade has gone elsewhere. He got Northend’s only goal today and now has scored in back-to-back games.

Player of the Match - Caleb Crilly

Panel: Sam Stewart, Lewis Hill, Oisin Logan, Shay Termonia, Caleb Crilly, Eoin Walker, Gabriel McQuillan, Preston Balmer, Archie Gordon

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Northend United 2 Crewe United 1 Saturday 15th February 2025

After their goalless draw in the league last weekend and a cup semi final spot up for grabs this week, this game was always going to be a tense affair. It was Glenavy side who started the brighter and after a Crewe striker latched onto a through ball, he buried his shot into the bottom corner, giving Sam Stewart no chance in the Northend goal. This seemed to jumpstart the Ballymena boys into life as pressure from Lewis Hill resulted in the Crewe goalkeeper lifting a backpass. Indirect free kick. Archie Gordon teed up Caleb Crilly whose effort went just over the bar. Further pressure from

Gordon up top resulted in the second indirect free kick of the game. Take two, with Gordon to Crilly and after his initial effort was blocked down, he delivered a sweetly struck effort on the half volley into the roof of the net. 1-1

The second period started with a game of cat and mouse. Gabriel McQuillan’s introduction presented a different challenge to the Crewe defence with added pace and trickery compared to the technical awareness and guile from Gordon before him. McQuillan together with Shay Termonia and Eoin Walker on the flanks were working tirelessly to test the Crewe keeper with McQuillan and Walker both getting shots away. At the other end, astute defending from Preston Balmer and Hill were keeping the Crewe advances at bay. The one time they did get in behind, Stewart was alert and bravely spread himself wide to save the shot with his body. After good work from Balmer and Termonia, the ball found itself to Crilly wide on the right. He looked up and floated the ball into the direction of Walker, who was free in the middle. Crewe were in trouble as Walker pulled back that left peg of his and rifled an unstoppable shot into the top corner. 2-1

Coming into the final period of the game, Northend knew if they didn’t concede that a semi-final spot was theirs. Both Oisin Logan, who was reintroduced, and the impressive Hill were determined not to let anyone get past them. In the rare occasion they did, they were thankful of the lightning quick recovery defending from Walker. The energetic Crilly alongside the hardworking Termonia and intelligence from Gordon were using their experience to see the game out. In the final moments with Northend only holding a slender advantage, Walker struck a shot from distance and appeared that he had put the game to bed only to be folded by the fingertips of the Crewe keeper. In the end, jubilation as the boys held on to finally end their winless streak. Full time 2-1

There was a sense of joy and relief from players, coaches and supporters alike whenever the referee blew his final whistle. This Northend side had been going through a difficult period of late and confidence was low in the camp but this result will hopefully be the turning point of their season. All nine kids played their part to earn the well deserved victory. Crilly’s all round game was brilliant, with a goal and an assist to his name but POTM has to go to player who played with confidence in all three position he was asked to play today. His composure on the ball, passing and hardwork showed an extra level of maturity. The hallmarks that he could develop into an excellent all-rounded footballer in the future

Player of The Match - Lewis Hill

United Panel: - Sam Stewart, Preston Balmer, Oisin Logan, Lewis Hill, Caleb Crilly, Eoin Walker, Archie Gordon, Shay Termonia, Gabriel McQuillan

Northend United 0 Crewe United 0 Friday 7th February 2025

After the rejig in the league format, Northend found themselves back in division 2 with their first fixture against Glenavy based side, Crewe Utd 2016s. Crewe had achieved back to back promotions so confidence would have been sky high going into the game. This was evident in the opening exchanges as they were the first to get a shot on target but luckily for Northend, Sam Stewart was alert and showed a safe set of hands. This seemed to settle Northend, who started to get their passing game going. Oisin Logan, like most weeks, turned defence into attack. When it appeared the Crewe striker was clean through on goal, he outmuscled his opponent before playing an excellent ball up the line to Eoin Walker. The left sided midfielder then played a neat ball inside to Caleb Crilly who carried the ball forward before slipping Gabriel McQuillan through on goal. Unfortunately, on this occasion McQuillan’s effort dragged wide. Captain for the day, Preston Balmer always relishes a footrace and, after intercepting a through ball, he played a pass forward to Shay Termonia. The Braidside schoolboy then looked left and sprayed the ball to Walker, who was unlucky not to hit the target with a long-range effort. 0-0

After finishing the first period strongly, Northend continued in a similar vein. Archie Gordon who was introduced at the the interval was instantly up to speed with his touch and vision on point. In the opening moments, the ball was played forward by Crilly into Gordon’s feet who swivelled and passed inside to Walker who, six yards out, had his effort blocked. After a short kick out by Crewe, tenacious quick work from Lewis Hill enabled him to win the ball back but like Walker before him, his effort was also blocked. Northend were on top and, on the rare occasion Crewe did get in behind, Balmer and Logan were on hand to deal with any pressure allowing Stewart to basically be a bystander in goal. When Walker then had the ball on the left, he found Gordon up top, who again had the vision to spot the run of Crilly and pushed the ball into the midfielder’s path but his effort just went past the post with the Crewe goalkeeper beaten at full stretch. Termonia who returned to action for the injured Hill won the ball back and again found Walker in space. The midfielder looked up and rifled a shot from distance which agonisingly cannoned back off the crossbar. Was it to be another one of those days? 0-0

In the final period, Northend had an early corner which was whipped in at pace by Termonia. Big Logan was up from the back and was unlucky not to head the ball home after pressure from the Crewe keeper. When Walker was played through by Termonia after good work from Crilly and Gordon, his effort was heroically blocked by the Crewe defender when a goal seemed certain. With ten minutes remaining the match had to be abandoned due to a medical emergency. Full time 0-0

A great game that was played in the correct manner by both teams but, as was explained to the Northend players after the match, football is only a game and someone’s health and wellbeing is the most important thing in life. Another life lesson our under 10s experienced this weekend, who all showed an excellent level of maturity and solidarity to help console a distressed teammate. From all within the Northend family, we wish a speedy recovery for one of our ever present supporters.

Player of the Match - Shay Termonia

United Panel: Sam Stewart, Preston Balmer, Lewis Hill, Shay Termonia, Oisin Logan, Eoin Walker, Archie Gordon, Caleb Crilly, Gabriel McQuillan

Northend United 0 Lisburn Youth 4 Friday 31st January 2025

After a slow start, Northend began to settle into the game. Preston Balmer made a few timely tackles to which his teammates responded. His defensive partner Lewis Hill’s reading of the game was on point and he was able to intercept a couple of Lisburn through balls to spoil a few more attacks. On the odd occasion they did get a shot away, Sam Stewart’s handling in the first period was impeccable. Oisin Logan, playing centre of the park, was breaking up play and often released his wide men, relieving pressure on Balmer, Hill and Stewart in the process. Eoin Walker was using his pace, Shay Termonia, his trickery, and together they were working tirelessly to provide service to Archie Gordon up top, who showed silky footwork when on the ball. First period ended goalless

The second period seen the introduction of Caleb Crilly & Gabriel McQuillan from the bench. Both showed eagerness from the off. McQuillan’s holdup play was sharp, linking well with Termonia and Walker on the flanks. Crilly was unlucky not to break the deadlock with shot on the half volley which was saved superbly by the Lisburn goalkeeper. At the other end Balmer and Logan were marshalling the back line admirably. Late in the period, with Northend well on top, they had to defend a Lisburn corner. After a bit of pinball the ball somehow trickled over Stewart’s goal line, a devastating blow. A few moments later, Stewart produced an excellent save to tip the ball onto the post, unfortunately for him, the ball presented to a Lisburn forward to tap into the open net from a yard out. 0-2

In the final period with 15mins of play remaining, Northend were determined to get back into the game. Walker constantly drove down the left and delivered some excellent balls into McQuillan. The big striker was very unlucky not to half the deficit after smart reactions from the Lisburn goalie. Good work from McQuillan and then Crilly allowed the latter to square the ball back to Walker but his effort was deflected wide for a corner. It seemed to be one of those days. Logan made a few crunching tackles when Lisburn attacked down the right. Balmer, determined not to be outshone, was defending excellently on the right and a combination from him and brave defending from Termonia kept the score as it was. Unfortunately for Termonia, he succumbed to injury and before reinforcements were properly set, Lisburn scored their third scrappy goal of the game. Very late in the game, there was no denying to quality for Lisburn 4th when their big defender stepped forward with the ball and hit an unstoppable shot from 20 yards leaving Stewart completely helpless.

Northend endured their heaviest defeat of the season but the scoreline doesn’t tell the whole picture, somewhat flattering the Lisburn side. This Northend team have been unlucky with several results in the past 8 weeks and can’t seem to get the rub of the green that their opposition seemed to been afforded. A step back to move forward seems the best solution for this ever-improving team and hopefully confidence will be reinstated. Full time 0-4

Player of the Match: Preston Balmer someone who never gave up the fight and was rallying his teammates to very last minute, he led by example in arguably his best performance in the Northend blue and white

United Panel: Sam Stewart, Preston Balmer, Lewis Hill, Shay Termonia, Oisin Logan, Eoin Walker, Archie Gordon, Caleb Crilly, Gabriel McQuillan

Northend United 2 Ballymacash Rangers 3 Saturday 11th January 2025

A lacklustre start would have been forgiven considering this United Youth side had not played a game in four weeks but this certainly wasn’t the case in the first period, with some fast flowing football on display. Preston Balmer and Lewis Hill were marshalling the defence at ease and Gabriel McQuillian was unlucky not to put his side ahead early on. Eoin Walker was driving at the Ballymacash opposition with some lung-busting runs down the left flank and after he was fouled midway through the first period, Shay Termonia stepped up and whipped a dangerous ball into the box, which was glanced home by the big target man Oisin Logan. Termonia was soon be rewarded with a goal of his own, as after charging down a defensive clearance, the ball nestled into The Rangers net. 2-0

An injury to McQuillan allowed Archie Gordon to enter the fray and with his delicate touches up top and linking up with his onrushing midfielders, it appeared Ballymacash would really have to dig deep to get back into the game. They were restricted to pop shots from distance and against the run of play, one such effort halved the deficit. Dara Butcher in his first outing for the Youth team was working tirelessly in the right side of midfield but Northend were having to weather a storm and succumb to the pressure when Ballymacash equalised late in the second period. 2-2

The final period was end to end action with Walker and Termonia hitting the crossbar and post respectively from direct free kicks. At the other end with Ballymacash bearing down on Sam Stewart’s goal, the big keeper showed all the bravery of the day by making an excellent save with his body before reacting quickly and pouncing on the loose ball. A goal had seemed destined. Late in the game, Ballymacash were afforded two attempts at an indirect free-kick. After blocking the first effort, the ref pulled it back because the opposition “hadn’t waited for the whistle” to the disadvantage of Northend. A goal was scored at the second attempt, a cruel way to lose the game. Full time 2-3

Letting a two goal lead was devastating for this young Northend team especially in the manner of how the winning goal came about. Nonetheless the teamwork and effort on display was very pleasing to the coaching staff. Termonia was excellent with a goal and assist, Stewart stood tall when his team needed him the most but Walker all round performance was something to be admired. On the left he was a constant menace with his mazy runs but never reneged on his defensive duties with some hard hitting crushing tackles.

Player of the Match: Eoin Walker

United Panel: Sam Stewart, Preston Balmer, Lewis Hill, Shay Termonia, Oisin Logan, Eoin Walker, Gabriel McQuillan, Dara Butcher, Archie Gordon