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Northend United U12s 4 Comber Rec U12s 3 Saturday 23rd April 2011

The U12s travelled up to the Valley pitches to play Comber Rec in the Knock-Out Cup knowing a place in the final was awaiting the winners.

The game starting with both sets of defences on top keeping the other team at bay but after ten minutes the Blues took the lead when Gareth Downey played the ball through to Zack Herbison; he squared it for strike partner David Kilgore to blast it into the net.

Comber came back at Northend and equalized after twenty minutes, a ball played over the top was ran onto by their midfielder who slipped it past the out rushing James Morgan in goal.

This only spurred on the Blues and they soon regained the lead. Robbie Dennison chased down the keeper and when his clearance only reached Kilgore he made no mistake putting the ball back over him. It got better for Northend when this time Kilgore returned the favour playing in Herbison who shot low past the big keeper.

Just on the stroke of half time Comber scored from a corner to make it 3-2 to United to setup an exciting second half.

The second half started with both teams battling for possession but neither could get their foot on the ball. After ten minutes Comber won a dubious free kick. From this the ball was played over the Blues defence for a Comber midfield player to control

and shoot past Morgan to level the game. Sam Stewart replaced the tiring Andrew Milligan.

The game turned into a real tense affair with both teams giving nothing away. Northend's back four of Gareth Downey, Conor McHugh, Ryan McKenna and marshaled by Oliver Boyle now well on top of their game. The midfield line of Robbie Dennison, Philip Maybin, Conor Graham and now Sam Stewart battling hard and the front two of Zack Herbison and David Kilgore chasing for every ball and this is what lead to Northend's winner when Herbison chased a lost ball and squared it to Kilgore who played it back to Graham who shot into the corner of the net.

The referee played nearly ten minutes injury time but the Blues were comfortable and held on for an excellent win to secure their place in the Knock-Out Cup final.

Well done to all the squad and especially the boys who didn't get on but cheered for the boys on the pitch, and many thanks to the parents and supporters who turned up to help and support the team.

Man of the Match: Team Performance

Panel: J Morgan, G Downey, R McKenna, C McHugh, O Boyle, R Dennison, P Maybin, C Graham, D Kilgore, Z Herbison(c), A Milligan, S Stewart, E Elliott, J Galbraith, B Sempey

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Northend United U12s 4 Barn United U12s 4 Monday 18th April 2011

Northend had to travel to Mallusk on a Monday evening to play a league match, this time against Barn United.

The game got underway and the blues, just like the last Monday game they played, seemed very slow out of the blocks and lost a goal after a couple of minutes, a ball played over the top was not dealt with and the Barn forward ran on and scored. Northend just couldn't get started and after six minutes Barn doubled their lead, same as before, ball over the top and a player ran through to give James Morgan in goals no chance.

The Blues started to get a grip on the game and eventually got a breakthrough after twenty five minutes when a free kick was delivered by Gareth Downey into the box, Zack Herbison was able to play it to Philip Maybin who scored past the keeper.

The Blues scored a couple of minutes later to equalise when Herbison won the ball twenty five yards out, beat six players with excellent close control before taking it around the keeper and calmly rolling it into the net with a definite contention for goal of the season.

Barn once again took the lead straight away, Northend's back line stopping and letting the Barn forward in to beat Morgan. On the stroke of half time Northend equalized, the ball falling to David Kilgore and he gave the Barn keeper no chance from ten yards, leaving the half time score 3-3.

The second half started with Eamonn Elliott replacing Robbie Dennison and still Northend's back line seemed to start very lethargic and after ten minutes Barn went in front again. This time the ball wasn't cleared and the Barn midfielder beat Morgan from the edge of the box.

Once again the Blues equalized when Elliott played the ball to Herbison and the wee man ran through to take it round the keeper and slot it home.

Sam Stewart replaced Andrew Milligan. Northend put a lot of pressure on Barn's goals but just couldn't get the winner and had to settle for a point with a final score of 4-4

Men of the Match: Zack Herbison, Oliver Boyle

Panel: J Morgan, G Downey, R McKenna, R Dennison, C McHugh, P Maybin, C Graham, O Boyle, D Kilgore, Z Herbison(c), A Milligan, E Elliott, S Stewart, J Crawford, J Galbraith, B Sempey

Northend United U12s 5 Ballyclare Colts U12s 1 Saturday 16th April 2011

Northend U12's got to play in Ballymena for only the second time since October with Ballyclare Colts their opposition, on a nice Saturday morning there was a decent sized crowd to watch the young blues play a league match.

The match kicked off and Northend were in no mood to let Colts upset their fine current form and after two minutes took the lead when Oliver Boyle took a pass from Conor Graham and gave the keeper no chance from ten yards with a great strike.

United doubled the lead soon after, the ball eventually making its way to David Kilgore after some great football from United and the big lad made no mistake from just inside the box.

Northend now well on top, probably producing one of their best passing displays of the season, added a third just before half time. A free kick was won twenty five yards out and up stepped Philip Maybin to hit a thunderous shot past the Colts keeper, leaving the half time score 3-0 to the Blues.

The second half got underway with Ballyclare exerting some pressure on the Blues defence and this lead to a goal when a bit of a mix up let in the Colts player to shoot past young James Morgan in goals.

Sam Stewart replaced Andrew Milligan who had picked up an injury due to a late tackle in the first half. Northend soon scored again when Stewart out on the left went on a good run beating a couple of defenders and when he crossed the ball was

chested back by Kilgore for Zack Herbison to volley over the keeper for a fine goal.

Herbison doubled his tally for the day a couple of minutes later when a bad kick out from the keeper was quickly pounced on by the wee man who ran back in and coolly rounded the keeper before side footing the ball into the net for Northend's fifth.

Jamie Crawford, Ben Sempey, Eamonn Elliott and Jack Galbraith replaced Dennison, McHugh, Maybin and McKenna which gave all players a good run out.

Well done to the lads for another good team performance and good luck to Ballyclare Colts for the rest of the season

Men of the Match: Zack Herbison, Gareth Downey, Oliver Boyle

Panel: J Morgan, G Downey, R McKenna, R Dennison, C McHugh, P Maybin, C Graham, O Boyle, D Kilgore, Z Herbison(c), A Milligan, S Stewart, J Crawford, B Sempey, E Elliott, J Galbraith

Comber Rec U12s 2 Northend United U12s 2 Saturday 9th April 2011

The Blues had to travel to Greenisland to play Comber Rec in a Shield match already having won both their matches in the Shield the boys knew that a draw against the defending champions would be good enough to put them in the final.

The match started with both teams going at each other but the final ball through to the forwards just didn't happen, United did have a couple of half chances but nothing that would trouble the big Comber keeper and the same at the other end where James Morgan in goals was comfortable with some long range shots.

The score stayed scoreless until half time.

Second half commenced with Northend showing more authority but against the run of play Comber opened the scoring, when a long ball played over the top and the Comber player on the far side of the pitch, running from an offside position, which the Ref didn't spot much to the frustration of the Northend line, ran through and took the ball past Morgan and scored.

This actually got the boys going and they started putting pressure on Comber's backline. Eamonn Elliott replaced Oliver Boyle, who picked up an ankle injury from a tackle.

Northend equalized when Zack Herbison chased a lost ball and kept it in play on the bye line, he played it out to Graham, and his cross was flicked over the defender by Herbison and there was his strike partner David Kilgore to lash the ball past the keeper and into the net.

Northend had a couple of shots and if not for the keeper, especially one he dived to tip round the post from Herbison, the Blues would have been in front. The Blues now well on top did take the lead when the ball dropped to Elliott on the edge of the box he hit an unstoppable volley giving the Comber keeper no chance for an excellent goal.

But well done to Comber who came back to equalize when their striker, this

time running from an onside position, outpaced the Blues defence and gave Morgan no chance, leaving the final score 2-2

Well done to all the boys as this is a squad game, for an excellent second half performance and now we can look forward to the final of the Shield.

Men of the Match: Ryan McKenna, Gareth Downey

Panel: J Morgan, G Downey, R McKenna, R Dennison, C McHugh, P Maybin, C Graham, O Boyle, D Kilgore, Z Herbison(c), A Milligan, J Crawford, E Elliott, B Sempey, S Stewart, J Galbraith

Northend United U12s 5 Willowbank U12s 3 Monday 4th April 2011

Northend United Youth U12s had to travel once again to Mallusk to play in the league. Now that the league has been split into two the boys have to play the top teams when every match is going to be very difficult and Monday's game was certainly that against a decent Willowbank side who have got better as the season has gone on.

The match started with Willowbank pressing the Blues and indeed scored after a few minutes when a mix up in defence let in the striker to shoot past James Morgan in nets. Northend seemed very lethargic, probably Saturdays battle took a lot out of them. Things went from bad to worse when Willowbank went two nil up. The ball played over the top of United's defence for the striker to run onto,from what seemed an offside position,and slipped the ball past Morgan and into the net.

The Blues were shell shocked to say the least but as of before the heads still didn't drop and after fifteen minutes pulled a goal back. Zack Herbison picking up the ball in midfield and when he turned he split the defence for David Kilgore to burst on to and as the keeper came out Kilgore passed the ball into the net. United were now in the game and a couple of minutes later Philip Maybin had a shot from outside the box which seemed to go in and through the net but the ref gave a bye ball,somewhat to the dismay of the team and supporters. Better was to come for Northend when Gareth Downey chipped a freekick into the box, Herbison kept the ball in

play on the bye line and somehow chipped the keeper and defender from a very tight angle and drew the game level. The half time score remained 2-2

Oliver Boyle and Andrew Milligan replaced Ben Sempey and Sam Stewart. The second half started and the Blues still hadn't learned their lesson. Another mistake by the boys and when the ball fell to the Willowbank player on the edge of the box he lobbed the helpless Morgan in goals.

once again the Northend heads didn't drop and once again they drew level. The ball was played out to Boyle on the right and as he cut inside he left the defender in his wake beat another defender and took the ball round the keeper and slotted it home.

Now United started to get a grip on the game.United eventually took the lead. Maybin played the ball through to Herbison,as he sprinted towards goals the big defender came across and scythed him down, penalty, and a red card as he was the last man. The wee man lifted himself up and set the ball on the spot. The referee had to go and speak to the Willowbank line and sent one of their spectators off. The pressure was mounting but as the referee blew his whistle up stepped Herbison to cooly blast the ball home, 4 -3 to the Blues.

Another penalty was awarded to Northend as Kilgore went to control the ball and this time he was blatantly pushed over. Once again Herbison set the ball up and once again he made no mistake from twelve yards to leave the score 5-3 to the Ballymena Blues.

Conor McHugh who had went over on his ankle was replaced by Jamie Crawford.

Ryan McKenna was replaced by Jack Galbraith. The remainder of the match was played out with Northend soaking up whatever was thrown at them.

Credit to the boys when going goals down didn't drop their heads and fought hard for what definately was a very important win. The team now

know that there won't be any easy games for the rest of the season and have to be up for them all.

Well done boys......And once again thanks to those who travelled to support the team and provide lifts.

Men of the Match: Zack Herbison, Conor Graham

Panel: J Morgan, G Downey, R McKenna, C McHugh, R Dennison, P Maybin, C Graham, B Sempey, D Kilgore, Z Herbison(c), S Stewart, O Boyle, A Milligan, J Crawford, J Galbraith, E Elliott

Glendowan U12s 1 Northend United U12s 2 Saturday 2nd April 2011

The U12s travelled to Mallusk on Saturday to play Glendowan in the Shield competition knowing that this was going to be a very hard match.

The match kicked off with both teams going at each other and indeed it was Glendowan who took the lead after ten minutes. The ball was won in midfield and played through to the forward who squared to his mate to shoot past young James Morgan in goals.

Northend upped their game after this and did start to play some nice passing football which this lead to the equalizer five minutes later. Robbie Dennison playing the ball out of defence to Philip Maybin who in turn played a great ball through to Zack Herbison. The diminutive striker raced through the defence and as the keeper came out Herbison looked up and lobbed him from twenty yards. What a goal and what a cheer from the loyal Northend spectators, who travel to all matches.

This turned into a real ding dong battle with both sides competing hard, better was to come for the Blues. David Kilgore controlled the ball up front and played it out to Ben Sempey on the right, as he crossed Andrew Milligan stole in at the back post to slam the ball into the net. To say the Northend line cheered loud might be an

understatement. The score stayed the same to half time, with Northend leading 2-1

The second half got underway with Glendowan looking for the equalizer and putting in some feisty tackles. The Blues backline of Morgan in goals Ryan McKenna, Conor McHugh, Robbie Dennison and Gareth Downey giving absolutely nothing away to keep the score the same for an excellent win against a very strong and physical team.

Men of the Match: Zack Herbison, Conor McHugh

Panel: J Morgan, R McKenna, G Downey, R Dennison, C McHugh, P Maybin, C Graham, B Sempey, D Kilgore, Z Herbison(c), A Milligan, J Crawford, S Stewart, J Galbraith