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Northend United 2 Dungiven Celtic 3 Saturday 25th October 2014

This was an absolutely cracking game of football with goals, shots, saves and loads of action from kick-off until the final whistle. In the earlier league meeting between these sides the Dungiven keeper produced a last minute save to deny the Ballymena boys a draw and today the Dungiven keeper produced a string of second half saves which denied the Wee Blues a victory. The opening five minutes saw three quick fire goals as both sides went on the attack. It was Dungiven who nudged themselves in front during the first minute following some good build up play. From the re-start, Northend immediately forced a corner from a Lewis Hector shot. As the ball broke loose in the Dungiven box Jack Adams was on hand to fire the ball into the top corner. Moments later Dungiven edged in front again when they forced the ball past the on-rushing Curtis Wilson. Jack Adams saw a long range effort sail inches wide before picking up an injury to his foot and being replaced in midfield by Rio Tsang. Lewis Hector almost pulled Northend level when an up-field ball from David McKay found the young striker closing in on goal and being denied by an excellent recovery tackle by a Dungiven defender. Curtis Wilson was in commanding form and marshalled his defence of Magill, Cosgrove and McMillan well throughout the game. Half-time 1-2.

With little time for the large crowd to catch their breath, both sides once again got down to business and Dungiven made the best of an early spell of pressure to score their third after four minutes. This proved to be the jolt that Northend needed and for the next twenty minutes the wee blues besieged the Dungiven goal. Lewis Hector made a bursting run through the Dungiven defence and his thundering shot was brilliantly saved by the keeper. Moments later Owen Campbell produced an excellent run along the left wing and cut in to find Peter Bristow with an acre of space in the box. The Northend midfielder controlled the ball before coolly rounding the keeper and sliding the ball into the goal. The Wee Blues were producing what has probably been their best spell of football this season and the Dungiven keeper produced a string of fine saves to protect his side's slender lead. The pick of the chances fell to Owen Campbell whose run and shot were kept out by a brilliant reflex save, a Rio Tsang shot which went agonisingly over the bar and a shot from Lewis Hector in the final moments. Time eventually ran out for the Northend boys and this just wasn't going to be their day. But what a game of football! Full-time 2-3.

Despite the final result this was a great team performance today and probably the best the boys have played in the last number of weeks. So take great pride from today's performance boys - all the hard work in training is really paying off. Although I don't think the Coaches or Parents can take many more games with this much excitement!

Man of the Match: Owen Campbell - Owen's work rate was once again outstanding and an example for all of his team mates.

Panel: C Wilson, D Magill, K Cosgrove, C McMillan, P Bristow, J Adams, O Campbell, L Hector, D McKay and Rio Tsang

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Northend United 3 Berties Little Ants 6 Saturday 18th October 2014

This was a much closer game than the score-line suggests and without doubt the Northend boys finished the match as the stronger of the two sides on show. Untied were closing their opponents down much better than in their previous game and the first ten minutes of this fixture were very evenly balanced. Corey Mellon was standing in for the absent Curtis Wilson and deserves great credit for helping out his club-mates at short notice. Berties edged themselves ahead when a high swirling ball into the box caught-out Northend and it then became two within a matter of minutes. Peter Bristow, Finton McAuley, Owen Campbell and Lewis Hector were really troubling Berties with outstanding work to regain possession. Berties made the best use of the strong wind to get a third goal just before the break and at half-time the Northend boys must have wondered what they would have to do to get the lucky break they so badly deserved. Half-time 0-3

With the wind at their backs United set about pulling themselves back into the game. Lewis Hector fired home from the edge of the box with only two minutes played; and with Kevin Cosgrove now operating in midfield the United boys were starting to take greater control of the play. David Magill and Corey McMillan were having strong games in defence and both showed great courage with their commitment to win the ball. Berties made the most of a further half chance and then scored another when they were awarded a dubious free kick on the edge of the Northend box. The boys really dug deep and David McKay smashed home a half volley following good build up play by Jack Adams and Owen Campbell. Moments later Callum McMurray was upended in the Berties box and the decision to wave play on was hard to understand when considered against the earlier free-kick awarded to Berties. An in-swinging Cosgrove corner was partially cleared and Magill's cross found McKay who wasted no time in smashing home his second of the game. Berties scored again just before the whistle however the Northend boys can take great heart from their overall performance against a very strong side. Full-time 3-6.

Man of the Match: David McKay - has really settled in well to the squad and he scored two really well taken goals today.

Panel: C Mellon, D Magill, K Cosgrove, C McMillan, P Bristow, J Adams, O Campbell, L Hector, F McAuley, C McMurray and D McKay

Northend United 2 Maiden City 6 Saturday 11th October 2014

Northend paid a heavy price for not closing their opponent down quickly enough in this fixture against a side who are arguably one of the NWCDYL's top teams. The wee blues started brightly and took the lead within the first two minutes. Owen Campbell pressurised the Maiden City right back and Lewis Hector controlled the breaking ball before firing home from twenty yards. For the next five minutes Northend produced some really good football and Lewis Hector's pace was causing the Maiden City's defence all manner of problems. The young striker went close with two well taken strikes and Jack Adams fired narrowly over the bar following some excellent build up play between Corey McMillan and Peter Bristow. Maiden City pulled themselves level on the ten minute mark with a well worked goal and there was nothing between the sides until the final stages of the half. With five minutes to go, United looked to have comfortably dealt with an in swinging corner before a losing possession in their own area and finding themselves a goal behind. There then followed a three minute spell where the Northend boys gave up possession too easily and were slow to close down their opponents. Maiden City showed that little extra edge in front of goal and notched up a comfortable lead. Half-time 4-1.

Kevin Cosgrove moved into midfield for the second half and brought some extra energy to Northend's play. David Magill and Curtis Wilson were both playing well and this seasons new signings Rio Tsang, Callum McMurray and David McKay all gained further experience at this level. Owen Campbell worked tirelessly throughout the game and got his reward towards the end of the half when he fired an unstoppable right foot drive into the far top corner of the goal after cutting in from the left wing. Full time 6-2.

Some good early play was quickly undone the boys not closing their opponents down quickly enough in front of goal. It's a hard lesson learned today, but there were clear signs of improvement in the opening twenty minutes and a win will come along soon if the right level of effort continues to be put in.

Man of the Match - Owen Campbell - has had a very strong start to the season and really deserved a goal today as pay-back for the amount of effort he puts into each game.

Panel: C Wilson, D Magill, K Cosgrove, C McMillan, P Bristow, J Adams, O Campbell, L Hector, R Tsang, C McMurray and D McKay

Northend United 0 Dungiven Celtic 1 Saturday 4th October 2014

Over the last couple of seasons these teams have served up a number of memorable games and this was yet another to add to the list. Dungiven made the most of an early mistake by Northend when a long up-field clearance was allowed to bounce unchallenged and this cost the Blues dearly despite the best efforts of Curtis Wilson to deal with the strikers shot on goal. To their credit Northend really dug deep to match their opponents in every area of the pitch, every loose ball was being keenly contested and both sides enjoyed good spells of possession although very few clear cut chances fell to either team. Jack Adams was having another impressive game in a central midfield role and was unlucky to see a long range volley go narrowly over the bar. Dungiven were clearly troubled by the pace of Owen Campbell and Lewis Hector, although neither boy could find that half yard of space to get a clear shot on goal. Half-time 0-1

The second half saw no drop in the pace of play. Half chances came and went at both ends and the Northend defence of Magill, Cosgrove and McMillan were flying into tackles as though their lives depended upon it. Peter Bristow looked to have unlocked the Dungiven defence twice in quick succession with clever through balls to Callum McMurray, the young striker was closed down quickly on the first occasion and shot wide; on the second occasion Callum forced a great save from the Dungiven keeper. Curtis Wilson made a good goal-line save and was quick to come off his line on another occasion. With time running out the Northend boys mounted a series of attacks. Rio Tsang was starting to enjoy some success along the left wing. A well worked corner between Magill and Tsang led to a cross into the Dungiven box, a half chance fell to Finton McAuley and the young defender looked to have smashed home a deserved equaliser before the Dungiven keeper produced an incredible one handed save to deny the Wee Blues. A final phase of play saw the Dungiven keeper making another good save from Owen Campbell and this just wasn't going to be Northend's day. Full-time 0-1

This was a great advert for the NWCDYL and neither side deserved to lose out in the end. A great all round effort by the boys today and despite the score-line there were so many positives to take from his game. Very, very well played.

Man of the Match: Jack Adams - a impressive game in midfield today, kept the ball moving and retained possession well for his team.

Panel: C Wilson, D Magill, K Cosgrove, C McMillan, P Bristow, J Adams, O Campbell, L Hector, R Tsang, C McMurray, F McAuley

Northend United 5 Ballyclare CFC 0 Saturday 27th September 2014

United produced a fantastic display of passing football to run out comfortable winners in this friendly fixture with Ballyclare. Jack Adams was dictating the early pace with a strong performance in central midfield, and it only looked a matter of time before the Northend boys would edge themselves in front. It wasn't until the fourteen minute mark that Peter Bristow and Rio Tsang combined well on the right wing to create an opening for Callum McMurray; and the young striker looked very composed when controlling the cross and placing his shot into the bottom left-hand corner. Lewis Hector and Owen Campbell were working extremely hard to close down their opponents and the best of the remaining chances in the half saw efforts from Rio Tsang and Lewis Hector fly narrowly over the bar. Half time 1-0

Defensively, Corey McMillan, David Magill and 'debut boy' Finton McAuley each looked in comfortable form and were rarely troubled by the Ballyclare attack. Northend's second came early in half and United's play leading up to this goal was nothing short of exceptional. Kevin Cosgrove started the move deep within his own half, before some excellent inter-play between Jack Adams and Peter Bristow created space for Owen Campbell to cut in from the left wing curl a beautiful right foot shot beyond the keeper. With ten minutes gone Peter Bristow neatly finished off a Corey McMillan cross, flicking the ball into the goal from six yards with the outside of his right foot; and at this point the game was clearly beyond Ballyclare. Kevin Cosgrove was once again in outstanding form and he picked up Northend's fourth of the game with a well taken shot from the edge of the area. A rare break through the United backline saw Ballyclare being awarded a penalty. Curtis Wilson stood tall and forced the Ballyclare striker to pull his effort wide of the post. As the game drew to a close Lewis Hector found Callum McMurray in space and once again the young striker calmly picked his spot. Full time 5-0

A very good all round display today with the quality of passing and movement being the big difference between these sides.

Men of the Match: Owen Campbell (fantastic work rate) and Jack Adams (dictated the game in midfield).

Panel: C Wilson, F McAuley, D Magill, K Cosgrove, C McMillan, P Bristow, J Adams, O Campbell, L Hector, R Tsang and C McMurray

Bertie Peacocks 3 Northend United 1 Saturday 20th September 2014

With an excellent performance in the Foyle Cup and an unbeaten run in pre-season friendlies the Ballymena boys rightly entered this fixture with a lot of confidence. The game was played at a fantastic pace and the quality of football on show was outstanding. Both sides fought hard to claim possession and there was nothing to choose between either team in the opening ten minutes. Owen Campbell looked to stretch the Bertie's defence on several occasions and his hard work paid off when a cross found Lewis Hector in-side the Peacocks box, however the young striker steered his shot narrowly wide of goal. On the sixteen minute mark the Northend boys defended a corner well but were slow to clear their lines and paid a heavy price for their first mistake of the game. Jack Adams and Peter Bristow were starting to dominate the midfield area and it was against the run of play that Bertie's extended their lead with a second goal with twenty minutes gone. United forced a string of corners as they went in search of a goal to pull themselves back into the game. As the pressure steadily built upon the Bertie's defence it was a cruel twist of fate when they broke up field and saw an intended cross float into Northend's goal seconds before the break. Half-time 3-0.

Northend started the second half with real determination and pulled a goal back within three minutes. Callum McMillan battled hard in attack and rolled a pass to Rio Tsang, who finished the move off well with low shot across goal and into the bottom corner of Bertie's goal. The blues defence of David Magill, Kevin Cosgrove and Corey McMillan were in outstanding form and were untroubled by the Bertie's attack throughout the second half. With the Ballymena boys now enjoying the balance of play and producing some really good football, it only looked a matter of time before Northend would score their second. A Peter Bristow pass split the Peacock's defence and Rio Tsang saw his effort to place the ball into the net run agonisingly wide. Owen Campbell, Jack Adams, Callum McMurray and Corey McMillan each tested the Bertie's keeper, but it just wasn't to be. Full-time 3-1.

The overall quality of play was great and on another day the score line could easily have been reversed. Curtis Wilson underlined his growing reputation as a very talented young keeper and each of the players have really developed from the same point last season. Keep this level of effort going boys!

Man of the Match - David Magill - a great defensive display and rarely lost a tackle throughout the match.

Panel: C Wilson, D Magill, K Cosgrove, C McMillan, P Bristow, J Adams, O Campbell, L Hector, R Tsang and C McMurray