Northend United 1 Dungannon United Youths 1   Saturday 13th December 2025

After last week’s impressive performance in a stalemate against Crusaders, Northend were looking to build on this with a game against Dungannon. It was the visitors who started brighter and were a constant threat down their right side but the Northend left sided pairing of Lewis Hill and Eoin Walker were up to the challenge. Both worked in tandem to tackle, block and intercept in advances down their side. Oisin Logan also offered defensive cover, often sweeping up any danger, once they got in behind. Northend were first to strike, when the ball was won back in midfield by Caleb Crilly, he released Walker. The left winger picked up the ball on half way line and after some fine direct running, he found him at the edge of the box before nestling his strike into the bottom corner. Dungannon soon hit back and after beating the offside trap, the game was all square again. Late in the half Northend had a couple of chances to go in ahead. First, Shay Termonia’s effort was superbly saved after being slipped through by Conlith McErlane. On the opposite side, another surge by Walker presented the ball to McErlane in box, who teed up Crilly. His effort was blocked on the line, but the ricocheted clearance was excellently controlled by Archie Gordon on the edge of the box before his shot went narrowly over the bar. Half time 1-1

Noah McAleese and Oscar Fagan were both introduced at half time and quickly had to adjust to the pace of the game. When Dungannon attacked down the right, McAleese appeared to have been shown a clean pair of heels but recovered superbly with a fine last ditch sliding tackle to concede a corner. On the opposite side, Preston Balmer stood tall and delivered a couple of crushing tackles and on one occasion turned defence into attack with a lovely threaded ball up the line for Termonia & Fagan to chase. Fagan worked tirelessly up top but in this half was largely isolated, feeding off scraps but the big centre forward still put himself about admirably. Late in the game, Balmer, Logan and McAleese were under the cosh with a wave of attack coming their way. Late in the game, a direct freekick at the edge of the Northend box offered a shot at a goal but Sam Stewart showcased an excellent display of agility by diving to his opposite side with a brilliant fingertip save around the post. Goalkeeping coach, Chrissy McAleese, was purring with delight. Dungannon weren’t finished and when Balmer tracked the run of the striker, his pressure coupled with Stewart having all his angles covered, the ball was squeezed out for another corner. This was it, do or die, the ball was whipped in at pace but Logan did what all good centre halves should do in this moment, rose highest and glanced the ball away from danger. The whistle drew and Northend ensured they have shared a split of the spoils. Full time 1-1

On reflection, Northend weren’t firing on cylinders this weekend. It was the first time this season that they played on grass with the pitch at Mallusk appearing to be heavy so possibly a factor. However, it was a gritty performance from the 2015s. On previous occasions they may have imploded from the constant attack they endured today, especially in the second half but all 11 boys played their part to ensure they remain unbeaten since the rejig of the leagues after Halloween. On a positive note, its shows real character not to lose a game, when in truth, you weren’t at the races but this side has a lot more to give and their next encounter with Dungannon will be a different story.

Player of the Match: Sam Stewart - our last line of defence whose catlike reactions saved us not once but twice, late on, when his side needed him most.

Panel: Sam Stewart, Preston Balmer, Oisin Logan, Lewis Hill, Shay Termonia, Caleb Crilly, Conlith McErlane, Eoin Walker, Archie Gordon, Noah McAleese, Oscar Fagan

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Northend United 0 Crusaders Juniors 4   Saturday 27th September 2025

After last weekends victory, this Northend Youth squad were full of confidence but knew they would face fiercer opposition against a strong Crusaders outfit, who also recorded an opening weekend victory. Northend started brighter of the two sides with frontman Oscar Fagan alongside wide-men, Shay Termonia and Eoin Walker causing havoc to the Crusader defence. The trio linked together with Fagan and Walker getting shots away early on. At the other end, Sam Stewart showed a lot of agility to superbly turn a low shot around the post. Crusaders were starting to come into the game a bit more but the defensive trio of Preston Balmer, Oisin Logan and Lewis Hill were marshalling the backline admirably. Each showed the skill of shepherding the ball out of play when it appeared the young Crues attack had got in behind. In the centre of the park, Archie Gordon played an anchoring pivot breaking up the play, allowing Caleb Crilly to drive forward to assist in the attacking play. Late in the half, after a punt forward from the gloves of Stewart, the bouncing ball was not dealt with by the Crusaders defence. Fagan was alerted and punched, but unfortunately his effort went just over the bar. Half time 0-0

Conlith McErlane was introduced at half time and was a constant threat with his speed on the right flank. Twice he got in behind to get shots away, one stinging the palms of the Crusaders shot-stopper. Noah McAleese also made his presence known to the game, when initially he appeared to be given the slip, the undeterred left back, sprinted back and hit his opponent with a thunderous clean sliding tackle. The intensity of the game was rising, weather conditions were deteriorating, and before Northend knew it, two quick fire goals saw United two down. The game started to get a bit feisty with a few late challenges creeping into the game. Late on, Northend succumbed to the Crues tactics and conceded two more scrappy goals.

On the day, Crusaders did probably deserve the win but the scoreline was somewhat flattering. If the boys in blue and white had capitalised on their first half dominance then the complexion of the game may have played out differently. Football presents itself with days like this and this Northend squad will just have to draw a line under today’s result, reflect and use the bitter feeling at full time to spur them on against next weeks opposition. Full time 0-4

Even conceding four goals, all four of Northend defenders performed fairly well at times with Balmer not doing too much wrong but POTM goes to a player who worked tirelessly in a lone striker role and who’s performance, especially in the first half, showed how a no.9’s game should be played. He was also unlucky not to be on the scoreline on a couple of occasions.

United Panel: Sam Stewart, Preston Balmer, Oisin Logan, Lewis Hill, Shay Termonia, Caleb Crilly, Archie Gordon, Eoin Walker, Oscar Fagan, Noah McAleese, Conlith McErlane

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Northend United 3 Greenisland Jets 1 Sunday 21st September

Northend Youth got their season up and running with a well deserved 3-1 victory over a very talented and well drilled Greenisland Jets.

Northend began the game on the front foot with Eoin Walker and Shay McGarry Termonia stretching the Jets defence on numerous occasions, while upfront Conlieth McErlaine was a constant threat with his speed and trickery.

Dominant in centre midfield were Caleb Crilly and Archie Gordon showing a wonderful array of first touch skills and range of passing, Northend forced a number of corners early on.

The pressure soon told when a corner whipped in from Eoin Walker was deflected into their own net by a Jets defender.

Greenisland soon got up to the pace of the game and began putting together some impressive passages of play testing Northend, however, with the resolute tackling of Preston Balmer, Oisin Logan and Noah McAleese and a number of fantastic saves from Sam Stewart between the sticks there was no way through for the Jets. Half time 1-0

Once again Northend began the second period lively. HT substitutes Lewis Hill in defence and Oscar Fagan playing at no 9 soon made their influence pay.

What began with a clearance by Hill resulted in a corner for Northend. The resultant corner from Walker was met full on the volley by Fagan, giving the Greenisland keeper no chance. What a goal!

Greenisland knew they were under the cosh so went all out playing three up top. This was causing Northend some problems as the Jets knew at this stage they had nothing to lose.

Northend dug in to repel the pressure, defending superbly as a team, however, a deflected pot shot was deemed to have been handled by a Northend player in the box midway through the half.

Sam Stewart stood big and tall and the penalty was put wide of the post.

The pressure continued and Greenisland finally got the breakthrough with a clinical finish from their right winger with four minutes to go.

Some may have thought Northend may have imploded…but no chance. All the boys rolled their sleeves up, dug deep showing great character, teamwork and effort. With a couple of minutes on the clock another clearance from Hill found Crilly who in turn found Fagan.

Even with three men around him, and 20 yards from goal, Fagan was able to manufacture a powerful shot from distance, and despite the best efforts of the Jets keeper, the ball found the back of the net. 3-1. Game over!! A very promising debut in the South Belfast Youth League for Northend United. What most impressed was the selfless teamwork and effort from all eleven squad members today, with no lack of skill on show of course.

The boys must take much pride and confidence with an opening day win against such a high quality opponent. Well done lads! Full time 3-1

Player of the Match: Sam Stewart. Some wonderful saves when Northend were under pressure.

United Panel: Sam Stewart, Preston Balmer, Oisin Logan, Shay Termonia, Conlith McErlane, Caleb Crilly, Eoin Walker, Noah McAleese, Archie Gordon, Lewis Hill, Oscar Fagan

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