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Northend United U11s 4 Chimney Corner U11s 0 Saturday 25th February 2012

As Chimney Corner were unbeaten since early November and had drawn with league leaders Newington two weeks previously, this looked like a tough home league fixture for Northend. Having beaten other league rivals Ballyclare Colts convincingly in their last match, Northend knew this would be a tough fixture, but this young Northend team are now starting to hit form at the right time of the season.

From the first whistle, Northend played good football and more importantly, on the few occasions they did lose the ball, they won it straight back and this set the tone for the day. The midfield trio on the day of Conor Meneely, Robbie McGaughey and Eoin Hynds completely dominated the first half and got the ball wide to wingers Sean McKay and Conor McGarry, at every opportunity. Though dominating possession, it took Northend fifteen minutes to get their first goal, which came from a well taken finish from leading goalscorer, Sean McKay.

Northend made it two within five minutes when Ruairi Campbell neatly controlled the ball just inside his opponents half, passed the ball wide to Sean McKay who hit a first time cross to Conor McGarry, who brilliantly side-footed the ball past the Chimney Corner keeper. Half-time score: Northend 2 : Chimney Corner 0.

Like the first half, Northend were completely on top in the second half. Sean McKay on the right and Conor McGarry on the left, were creating havoc for the Chimney Corner defence. Northend scored their third within five minutes of the restart with another cracker from Sean McKay. The fourth and final goal of the match came from some great team interplay. Sean McKay beat two defenders on the right, squared the ball to Stuart Lecky, who laid the ball neatly into the path of Robbie McGaughey, who hit a great shot which was saved by the Chimney Corner keeper, with the rebound neatly tucked into the net by Conor McGarry.

Northend were very impressive today and such was their dominance, Chimney Corner only forced two corners the whole match, both in the last five minutes. The whole squad from one to fifteen all contributed to a great result against a good in-form Chimney Corner side. The back five of Louis McAfee, Scott Sempey, Matthew Willighan, Josh Mitchell and Robert McCluney, never put a foot wrong all day. Conor Meneely just outshone his two midfield partners. Up front Conor McGarry and Sean McKay ran the Chimney Corner defence ragged.

Man of the Match: Connor Meneely

Panel: L McAfee (c), S Sempey, M Willighan, R McCluney, J Mitchell, S McKay, C McGarry, E Hynds, C Meneely, R McGaughey, R Campbell, S Lecky, P Kyle, S McCusker, T McDowall

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Northend United U11s 3 Ballyclare Colts U11s 1 Saturday 11th February 2012

Northend had to win this match to go into second place in the League, and they put in a fine performance to win this game 3 - 1. Northend started this match strongly and created at least 3 clear cut chances before going one up through Ruairi Campbell. After some fine wing play by Sean McKay, Robbie McGaughey crossed to Ruairi Campbell, who neatly volleyed by the Ballyclare goalkeeper. Northend started to play some great football with their midfield three of Robbie McGaughey, Conor Meneely and Eoin Hynds, well on top of their Ballyclare counterparts. This domination led to Northend's second goal, when a great cross from the right by Sean McKay, was cooly slotted home by Conor McGarry. Northend created several more chances before the break, but some great goalkeeping by the Ballyclare keeper, plus some poor finishing from Northend, resulted in Northend only going in two up at the break, when it could easily have been four or five. Half-time - Northend United 2 Ballyclare Colts 0.

The Ballyclare coaches must have said some stern words at half-time as their players put in a much better performance in the second half. Early in the second half, Ruairi Campbell, who was impressive up front on the day, missed a couple of half-chances, to seal the match. Ballyclare Colts pulled one back ten minutes into the second half, after a long punt from their back, put through a Ballyclare forward ,who placed the ball perfectly into the corner of the net. Northend almost scored a wonder goal shortly afterwards when a long punt by the Ballyclare goalkeeper was volleyed straight back from thirty yards by Robbie McGaughey, but the Ballyclare goalkeeper just managed to get a hand to it , to tip in round the post. The next ten minutes were a nervous time for Northend, but they still looked the more likely of the two teams to score the decisive fourth goal. This proved to be the case when Conor Meneely was upended just outside the box, after some persistent Ballyclare fouling. Leading goalscorer Sean McKay brilliantly curled the ball into the top of the net, putting Northend 3 - 1 ahead. In the dying minutes, Josh Mitchell fouled a Ballyclare forward just inside the box. However, Louis McAfee pulled off an incredible save to seal a 3 -1 victory and a very welcome three points for Northend.

Northend were outstanding in this match, especially in the first half. They regrouped in the second half after Ballyclare scored, by putting on all four subs, this changing the tempo of the match and swinging the match back into Northend's favour. Northend were well deserved winners in the end. Both full-backs, Scott Sempey and Sean McCusker, were really impressive against both Ballyclare wingers, the main reason why Ballyclare created virtually nothing on the day. However, man of the match went to Louis McAfee who was calm and assured in goal, and especially for pulling off a brilliant penalty save.

Man of the Match: Louis McAfee

Panel: L McAfee, S Sempey, S McCusker, J Mitchell, R McCluney, S McKay, E Hynds, C Meneely (c), R McGaughey, C McGarry, R Campbell, S Lecky, P Kyle, M Willighan, T McDowall

Ballyclare Comrades U11s 1 Northend United U11s 2 Saturday 4th February 2012

Having beaten Ballyclare Comrades twice already this season, Northend went into this league match quietly confident. There was nothing between the teams for the first ten minutes of this match with both teams only really creating half-chances on goal. Ballyclare managed to take the lead on fifteen minutes through another half-chance, which was more a result of some poor defending by Northend, rather than good Ballyclare forward play.

Going one nil down seemed to rejuvenate Northend and despite playing very few matches over the last 2 months, they started to get on top in this game. Ballyclare could not cope with Northend's increased possession and on twenty minutes, a Sean McKay cross from the right was flicked on by Robbie McGaughey to Conor McGarry, who nipped in front of the Ballyclare keeper to tap the ball home.

The same player scored five minutes later, after being assisted once again by Robbie McGaughey. Half-time score 1-2.

Northend dominated the second half from start to finish, but could not score the third goal to put this match to bed. Northend created many chances in the second half, their best chance falling to leading goalscorer Sean McKay just inside the box, but sadly he put it just the wrong side of the post. Despite winning twelve corners to Ballyclare's one, Northend still failed to add to their tally, and for this reason, Northend had to endure a nervous last five minutes.

The Wee Blues though held on and notched up another much needed victory in their race for the League title. Though not at their best, Northend carved out a vital victory in this match and will steadily get better as their match fitness comes back. Midfielder Connor Meneely was the outstanding player for Northend on the day, with Matthew Willighan and Ruairi Campbell in defence , also putting in solid performances.

Man of the Match: Connor Meneely

Panel: L McAfee, R Campbell, R McCluney (c), J Mitchell, M Willighan, S McKay, C McGarry, S Sempey, R McGaughey, C Meneely, E Hynds, S Lecky, P Kyle, T McDowall, S McCusker

Northend United U11s 0 Hillsborough Boys U11s 2 Saturday 14th January 2012

Northend eagerly awaited this clash with top youth side Hillsborough Boys, and although they lost this tie 0 -2, the victors were relieved to come out of this match as winners. Northend started brightly and for 22 minutes of the first half, were much the better side, forcing corner after corner. Both sides each had half chances but the first clear chance fell to Northend's Scott Sempey on 15 minutes, who after being put through by Matthew Willighan, raced clear towards the Hillsborough keeper, but agonisingly put his shot wide of the post. Hillsborough did not make the same mistake two minutes later, scoring to go one nil up. Half-time score 0-1

Hillsborough started much the brighter in the second half, edging possession, but Northend still had four good goalscoring opportunites to Hillsborough's two. Unfortunately for Northend, Hillsborough took one of their two chances to go two nil up with Northend failing to score, from any of their chances. Eoin Hynds had two great chances, Connor Meneely and Ruairi Campbell had one each, but all failed to find the net. Final score 0-2.

Despite losing this cup-tie 0-2, Northend will take great comfort from the fact that they more than matched Hillsborough for most of the match, and know that on any other day, they would have created more chances and scored at least three of those. They did visibly tired towards the end, but this was only their second match in eight weeks, and this match, against a top team, probably came just a few weeks too soon for them. Both Connor Meneely and Robert McCluney were easily Northend's best players, and probably the best two players on show that night.

Men of the Match: Connor Meneely, Robert McCluney

Panel: L McAfee, M Willighan, C McGarry, R McCluney, J Mitchell, S McKay, C Meneely (c), S Sempey, R McGaughey, E Hynds, S Lecky, R Campbell, P Kyle, S McCusker, T McDowall

Ballyclare Comrades U11s 2 Northend United U11s 5 Saturday 7th January 2012

This cup tie was finally played at the third attempt and was the U11s first match since Nov 12th. Despite this, Northend put in a hardworking performance to easily see off the Comrades in the end. Northend started strongly, with the wind at their backs, and should have gone three up in the first fifteen minutes, but placed every shot straight at the Comrades keeper. The break came on twenty minutes, when Conor McGarry released Eoin Hynds on the left, who raced through and shot straight at the keeper again, but this time the ball rebounded to Sean McKay, who tapped into an empty net. Not long after, some good hold-up play by Stuart Lecky, played in Scott Sempey, who slipped a through ball to Conor Meneely, who again raced through and coolly slotted the ball by the Comrades keeper. Sean McKay added Northend's third goal shortly before half-time, with a well-taken strike. Half-time score 0 - 3

Like the first half, Northend started strongly and were four up within five minutes of the restart when Eoin Hynds was played through by Robbie McGaughey, then calmly chipped the Comrades keeper from the edge of the box for a great goal to put Northend four up. With the match virtually over at this stage, Northend brought on all four subs to give them much needed playing time for the long season ahead. Some slack defensive play let Ballyclare in to score their first, but Northend replied almost immediately with a Sean McKay scorcher for his hat-trick. Ballyclare scored a second with a fine individual goal just before the final whistle. Final score 2-5.

Northend did not play their usual flowing passing game in this match, but worked hard to gain victory and many looked tired at the end, after seven weeks without a match. Despite being far from their best, they easily disposed of this Comrades team and will improve with every game, as their fitness takes hold again. Sean McKay, Josh Mitchell, Robert McCluney and Connor Meneely were the pick of Northend's players on the day, with Connor Meneely edging the other three, to win Man of the Match.

Man of the Match: Connor Meneely

Panel: L McAfee, M Willighan, C McGarry, R McCluney, J Mitchell, S McKay, R McGaughey (c), S Sempey, C Meneely, E Hynds, S Lecky, S McCusker, T McDowall, R Campbell, P Kyle