Maiden City Academy 7 Northend United 1 Saturday 27th October 2012
Northend put it in a great first half performance after going behind to an early goal and levelled the score when Jay Kirkpatrick headed home a free-kick from Oisin Connolly. The game moved from end to end with both teams looking for their second al and it was Maiden City who got it and they added a third just on the half-time whistle. Half time score 3-0
Maiden City seemed to step up a gear and pushed Northend back and added two more goals with well working passing and clinical finishing. Northend had their chances to score with Conor Meeke and Marcel making the keeper pull off some good saves. Matthew Stewart was pulled down after he went pass the last defender and only had the keeper to beat and he was awarded a free-kick just outside the box they also had made afew more shots at goals but they just could not match the movement and finishing of Maiden City who added two more goals to finish the game off.
Men of the Match: Sean Higgins, Oisin Connolly
Panel: S Higgins, J Givens, J Coates, O Connolly (c), C Metrustry, C Meeke, J Kirkpatrick, Marcel, M Stewart, L Spurgeon, J Scullion, C Forsythe
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Northend United 0 Maiden City Colts 1 Saturday 20th October 2012
This was a game that Northend should never have lost as they pounded the Maiden City goal in the second half but they just could not find away past their defence and when they did their keeper was on hand to save them. With more composure in front of goal, Northend will start winning games as the whole team put in a great performance. Both teams played out a great game of football with both teams attacking each others goal from the very start but it was Maiden City who got the all important goal in the first half when a deflected shot hit a Northend player and flew over their keeper and into the net. The score remained 1-0 at half-time.
Northend made some tactical changes with Oisin Connolly dropping into the heart of the defence and Jay Kirkpatrick moving into midfield. Jason Givens and Caydan McGall at fullbacks were having outstanding games which allowed Josh Coates and Charlie Metrustry to attack down the wings and provide balls into Jude Scullion and Marcel. Northend were moving the ball around well and when Leon Spurgeon came on, they pushed Maiden City even further back but they just could not get that all important goal. This was a great team performance with outstanding performances from Josh Coates, Oisin Connolly and Sean Higgins.
Man of the Match: Jason Givens
Panel: S Higgins, J Givens, C McGall, J Kirkpatrick, O Connolly, C Metrustry, J Coates, Marcel, J Scullion, L Spurgeon
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Northend United 1 Institute 6 Saturday 13th October 2012
On Saturday Northend U11s put in their worse performance yet when they lost to a more mobile Institute who opened the scoring in the first minute after catching Northend cold. Northend kept giving the ball away after they had worked hard to get the ball back and by half-time they were 4 nil down.
Northend started the second half better but were still guilty of giving the ball away when in Institute's third of the pitch, allowing them to counter-attack. However Northend stuck at it and finally pulled one back when Oisin Connolly finished of a flowing move with a cracker of a shot into the top corner of the Institute net. Northend were putting a lot of passes together but the final shot or pass was just not good enough to beat the Institute keeper and they went onto score twice more.
Man of the Match: Jay Kirkpatrick, Josh Coates
Panel: S Higgins, J Givens, J Coates, J Kirkpatrick, C Meeke, O Connolly, C Metrustry, C Forsythe, J Scullion, R Mark, R Campbell
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Bertie Peacock Youths 5 Northend United 0 Saturday 6th October 2012
This score line does not reflect the chances Northend had and if they had taken them the score line would of been a lot tighter, but give credit to Bertie Peacock who did take their chances. Northend started the game well and were knocking the ball around well with Charlie Metrustry seeing a lot of the ball with support from Jason Givens and on the left hand side Josh Coates and Connor Meeke were pushing Peacock back.
With the game going from end to end, Peacocks went infront when the ball was scrambled home in a packed goal mouth they then added a second with a counter attack.
Northend came back at Peacocks and with Oisin Connolly in great form with his non stop running and passing nearly led to Northend pulling one back when he played a great ball in at the back post only for it to pass three Northend players who should have really scored as they were unmarked.
Jay Kirkpatrick was outstanding in the heart of the defence with his timely tackles and his passing and he linked up well with his two full backs. Sean Higgins in goal pulled of a fantastic save when a shot came from outside the box came over the top of his defence which he seen at the last minute and pushed away to safety. The score remained 2-0 at half-time.
The second-half started like the first with both teams going at each other but Northend just could not find the killer pass or shot to get pass the Bertie Peacock's keeper with shots going wide and over the crossbar. Peacocks went on to score three more times, but the Northend players never gave up and played to the final whistle. This was a big improvement from all the players, with special mention for Matthew Stewart, Jason Givens and Oisin Connolly.
Man of the Match: Josh Coates
Panel: S Higgins, J Givens, J Kirkpatrick, J Coates, O Connolly, C Metrustry, C Meeke, M Stewart, J Scullion, C Forsythe, D Kyle, R Campbell
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Ballymoney United 5 Northend United 0 Saturday 15th September 2012
Northend started their league campaign of against the league favorites Ballymoney and they showed why with this five star performance. Northend were under pressure from the start and Sean Higgins in the Northend goal needed to be alert and he made some outstanding saves to keep Ballymoney at bay. Ballymoney finally got through the Northend defence when their number 10 who was the best player on the pitch followed up a shot to blast home from close range.
Northend's defence of Kirkpatrick, Coates and Stewart were working hard to keep the Ballymoney front players under control and they should of scored themselves after good link up play between Metrustry, Connolly and Scullion lead to Charlie Metrustry getting the ball back and he had the Ballymoney keeper at full stretch as his shot flew pass the post. Ballymoney went onto score a few more times and from this performance they will be hard to stop but Northend should not be to down hearted as they put in a good performance themselves but were just beaten by a better team on the day.
Man of the Match: Sean Higgins
Panel: S Higgins, J Kirkpatrick, J Coates, M Stewart, C Meeke, O Connolly, J Givens, C Metrustry, J Scullion, C Forsythe, Marcel, R Campbell, L Spurgeon
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