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Northend United 4 Ballymena United 5 Saturday 26th April 2014

The last game of the season saw a local derby between two Ballymena teams. This was a match of two halves between the two Ballymena teams. Northend got off to a slow start and looked very lethargic against an average Ballymena team. Their star player B Rainey was head and shoulders above everyone else and looked more threatening as the half went on. Northend failed to curtail him and soon found themselves 2 down to two well taken goals. Northend did not start the game well and found it difficult to get a hold on it but they played the better football once they did start. All of the goals conceded came from mistakes made by Northend by giving the ball away in the middle of the pitch and at the back. Ballymena's third came from a corner that the Northend keeper failed to catch and parried into his own net. Northend looked shocked at this stage and Rainey got his hat trick just before the half time whistle. Half time score 0-4

It was a different Northend team that came out in the second half. Northend played great football in this half and got a goal back through Jamie Montgomery. This spurred the team on and it was all Northend piling on the pressure. But again a Ballymena free kick was partly saved after a Northend player ducked out of the way and Euan McSparron made a good save but the ball fell to a Ballymena player who tapped it in making it 5-1. Things did not look promising but Northend saved their best until last. They went straight back up the pitch and Pat Ferris made it 5-2. The come back was on! Time and time again Northend played the better football and found themselves with great opportunities and Jamie Montgomery made it 5-3, this was his best game of the season, he worked hard up front closing down the Ballymena defence and winning possession for Northend. Harry Wylie had a couple of good chances that he should have buried and Calum Higgins also had opportunities. But it was with 5 min to go that Calum Kilgore pulled it back to 5-4, and the comeback was almost complete. The boys nearly equalised from another Calum Kilgore shot but it went just wide and then in Fergie time Jamie Montgomery hit the post and Harry Wylie failed to hit the target. The final whistle went and the boys were gutted not to get the equaliser which they deserved.

This was their last match of the season in what has been an up and down year. The boys were slow to start the year but they finished in much better form. The boys have all improved throughout the year and have enjoyed their year at under 11. They have showed great commitment and have always gave their all for their manager. Final score 4-5

Man of the Match: Team Performance

Panel: E McSparron, F McQuillan, R McQuillan, C Kilgore, H Wylie, J Montgomery, J Wilson, P Ferris, P Esler, C Higgins

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Northend United 1 Maiden City 2 Saturday 12th April 2014

Northend played Maiden City in the Under 11 cup at Ballysally on Saturday. This was a rematch of the NIBFA Cup match that Maiden city narrowly won one nil, however this was a more confident Northend team. The match started with both teams playing some nice football however the Northend boys looked a bit lethargic. Maiden City were lively and put together some good moves but never really troubled Northend in front of goal but Northend were their own worst enemy which has been the trend all year. Maiden City took the lead half way through the half when Euan McSparron pulled off a great save but instead of jumping on ball the defence half cleared it off the line. The ball then came back in again and was half cleared dropping to a Maiden City player, who drilled it in from the left edge of the box and the defence stood still watching it creep in at the far post.

Northend were surprised at this and again gifted the ball away on the left allowing a Maiden City player to skip through half hearted challenges and played some neat passes with the ball being neatly put into the net. Northend were now 2 down and deservedly so. Half time score 0-2

The second half got under way much to same as the first, there was not much between the teams and if Northend even played the way they can this should have been a much easier game. They did however find their form with less than 5 minutes to go. Harry Wylie in midfield began to find his range of passes and he got a well deserved goal. The mounting pressure from Pat Ferris on the right who started to torment the opposition with his pace found Harry Wylie outside of the box who had time to control and hit a fantastic shot into the top right corner. The boys now had belief that they could get something out if the game and Harry Wylie headed against the post from a corner. The game became frantic and Northend had more chances in these last few minutes. Harry Wylie passed the ball into Pat Ferris who from a few yards from the goal line somehow had his shot saved by the goalkeeper and Jamie Montgomery just couldn't convert the rebound.

The final whistle had gone and Northend were beat 2-1. It may have been unfortunate for Maiden City if Northend had equalised as they had not played anywhere near their best until the final 5 minutes.. Final score 1-2

Man of the Match: H Wylie

Panel: E McSparron, F McQuillan, R McQuillan, C Kilgore, H Wylie, C Campbell, J Morrow, J Montgomery, J Wilson, P Ferris

This was a rematch of the game from two weeks ago which Northend won 2-1. This week saw a slightly changed team from that one but the boys put in a good performance. Ballymoney were out to avenge that defeat and were clearly up for the match. Right from the start both teams played some good football with Ballymoney hitting the cross bar on a couple of occasions in the first half. But it was Northend who made the breakthrough to go one up. The ever industrious Ciaran Campbell worked tirelessly took the ball past the defence and crossed from the by line finding Jamie Morrow unmarked who slotted home. Ballymoney came right back at Northend and Calum Kilgore who had another great game prevented them from equalising along with Euan McSparron in nets keeping Ballymoney at bay. Half time score 1-0

The second half saw the introduction of Jamie Montgomery and Pierce Esler. Ballymoney started the brighter of the two teams and quickly found themselves level from a well taken goal. Northend appeared to be still on their break when they let in another soft goal from a long range lob that appeared to be going over but dipped at the last minute and Euan McSparron could not keep out.

The reaction from the Ballymoney support and players was clearly evident from their goal and this seemed to lift the Northend boys. Northend went all out attack Harry Wylie sat in front of the defence allowing Calum Kilgore to rampage up the pitch. Ciaran Campbell was everywhere breaking up play and setting up Northend's attack. A through ball bounced kindly for Jamie Montgomery who shot narrowly past the post. Pat Ferris who scored three last week also had a number of chances and almost equalised hitting the post late on. The Northend team piled the pressure on and just failed to find the equaliser.

The game finished a reversal of the last meeting but Northend showed great determination in the second half and were unlucky not to find an equaliser.Final score 1-2

Men of the Match: Ciaran Campbell, Calum Kilgore

Panel: E McSparron, C Higgins, R McQuillan, C Kilgore, H Wylie, C Campbell, J Morrow, P Esler, J Montgomery, C Barr, P Ferris

On form Pat Ferris was outstanding in this NWCYDL cup match. From the off Northend played the best football of the year and went one nil up early on through a Callum Higgins strike. Some neat play in midfield with Jordan Wilson and Harry Wylie finding Pat Ferris on the right who crossed it in finding Callum Higgins. Northend grew in confidence and played the next ten minutes encamped in the Institute box. The ball fell kindly to Harry Wylie who riffled an unstoppable shot into the back of the net. At 2 nil up it looked a matter of how many, however Institute fought back and Northend seem to fall asleep. Institute finished the half strong with Northend failing to clear their lines and looked very nervous. Euan McSparron pulled off two quick fantastic saves but the Northend team just would not clear the defence. Institute took advantage and pulled one back. Half time score 2-1.

Northend restarted the second half and looked more confident. They controlled the game in the middle and began to find Pat Ferris on the right. His turn of pace was incredible leaving the Institute defence behind and putting Northend 3-1 up. Shortly after this Ferris again flew down the outside and cut in slotting the ball home to make it 4-1. The Northend defence were much more solid this half with Calum Kilgore impressive as usual and even venturing forward. At times Northend over played the ball around the Institute defence and could have easily been 2 or 3 more goals ahead. But it was the outstanding Pat Ferris who finished things off with his hat trick, with another well taken goal. On this form he is pretty much unstoppable..Final score 5-1

This is the second week Northend have won and it was great team performance and that finishing touch that has been missing throughout the season has been found. Hopefully this will continue for the rest of the season.

Man of the Match: Pat Ferris

Panel: E McSparron, C Higgins, R McQuillan, C Kilgore, H Wylie, C Campbell (c) , J Wilson, P Esler, P Ferris, C Barr

Northend began the match strongly against a team who beat them previously 6-1 early in the season. However it was a different Northend this time. Right from the start Northend controlled the game with some nice passing in midfield and Calum Kilgore proving to be impassable. It was all Northend and it was no shock when they took the lead through Ryan McMillan. Northend worked the ball down the right forcing a corner, from the corner the ball dropped to Ryan McQuillan on the edge of the box who riffled a left foot shot low in to the net. Northend kept up the pressure and deservedly went two up just before the break. The ever industrious Ciaran Campbell found himself in front of the net and quite fortunately poked the ball under the keeper. Pierce Esler at right back had a great half preventing Ballymoney's attack and linking up well with Calum Kilgore in defence. The midfield were impressive with Calum Higgins on the left, Jordan Wilson and Harry Wylie in the centre playing some nice one twos and Ciaran Campbell on the right. Half time score 2-0

The second half started with Ballymoney showing more urgency in attacking. As the Northend midfield had the better of the first half Ballymoney resolved to hitting long balls from the keeper. This caused the Northend defence to panic allowing the ball to bounce creating opportunities for Ballymoney. However Calum Kilgore was immense in defence putting in some stiff but fair tackles. As the half went on Pat Ferris had numerous attempts to increase the lead but was unlucky not to score.

Ballymoney did pull one back from a Northend mistake, the ball should have been cleared when it dropped in the box but it fell to a Ballymoney player who tucked it away. This made it a very tense finish but Northend dug deep and fought hard Ciaran Campbell dropped deeper and broke up any attacks with Harry Wylie putting his head on the long balls that kept coming. It was a tough game but Northend deservedly hung on for the win against a good team.

Overall it was a fantastic performance by Northend and their commitment and desire was so much better than in previous weeks. Ever player played a major part and unlike previous games the boys had cut out the silly errors. Full time Northend 2 Ballymoney 1.

Men of the Match: Ciaran Campbell Calum Kilgore

Panel: E McSparron, C Higgins, R McQuillan, C Kilgore (c), H Wylie, C Campbell, J Wilson, P Esler, P Ferris, A Smith

Northend United 1 Magherafelt Sky Blues 5 Saturday 15th March 2014

As like last week Northend began the match playing into the wind but unlike the previous week played some nice football. For the first 20 minutes Northend had much of the play and battled hard but they lacked that final ball to unlock the Magherafelt defence.

Northend had limited Magherafelt to a few chances on the break but they pushed the self destruct button conceding 3 goals in 5 minutes. The goals came from Northend losing possession on their own half and getting caught out on the break. All three goals could have been prevented. Half time score 3-0

Straight from the kick off Northend played the ball back and carelessly gave it way in defence and Magherafelt made it 4 nil. Northend rallied and began to play some nice football and deservedly pulled one back with 15 minutes to go through a Jordan Wilson strike.

But the boys failed to add to this and again sloppy play and lack of concentration allowed Magherafelt to score. Ciaran Campbell has found his form again with some neat runs down the right but he had to come off early. Final score 5-1

For the second week running Northend were beaten but the score flattered their opposition, if they can cut out the silly mistakes then their next win is not too far away.

Man of the Match: Ciaran Campbell

Panel: E McSparron, C Higgins, R McQuillan, C Kilgore, H Wylie (c), C Campbell , J Morrow, J Wilson, R Tsang, P Ferris

Northend United 2 Coleraine Academy 6 Saturday 8th March 2014

Northend U11s played Coleraine Academy U11s on very blustery day. The first half started with Northend playing into the wind and found it tough going with virtually the whole half being played in their penalty area. Northend could not get the ball cleared playing into the wind. The break through came midway through the half when Coleraine piled on the pressure from corners. Northend failed to get a head onto the cross and found themselves one down. This gave Coleraine confidence and very shortly after this were 3 down, again only themselves to blame.

Coleraine did not let Northend have any time on the ball with some physical challenges preventing Northend passing their way out from the back. However Pat Ferris worked hard and his pace gave the Coleraine defence problems. And it was from this that Northend pulled one back just before the break. Half time score 3-1.

Northend started the second half hoping that the wind advantage would be in their favour, but they failed to make the best of it. Again it was from sloppy defending and poor passing, continuously giving the ball away that Coleraine made it four one. Their fifth came shortly after this, again Northend not defending and giving the ball away very cheaply. From the very few attacks Northend got their second through Pierse Esler, Fiontan McQuillan made a good run down the right crossing to Pat Ferris whose shot was saved and fell kindly to Pierse Esler who nudged it in. But their joy was short lived as Coleraine went down the other end and made it 6.

This was a below par performance from Northend who contributed to a number of Coleraine's goals, even though they didn't play anywhere near their potential it was still very disappointing. Full time score 6-2

Man of the Match: Pat Ferris

Panel: E McSparron, C Higgins, R McQuillan, F McQuillan, C Kilgore, H Wylie, C Campbell (c), J Wilson, J Montgomery, P Ferris, P Esler