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Northend United 4 Ballymoney United 3 Saturday 1st March 2014

Northend U12s continued on an upward curve with a great 4-3 victory over Ballymoney in very entertaining match at Ballysally.

Right from the whistle the Ballymena boys were on the front foot and should have scored from the kick off when a great cross from Josh Coates wasn't converted by the Northend strikers.

But this set the tone for the first half and indeed the remainder of the match as Northend played some great football and were dominant in most areas. The inevitable goal came after ten minutes all be it slightly fortuitously, as another cross from the industrious Coates looped over the Ballymoney keeper and ended up in the net. This spurred the Northend boys even more and gave them the goal they deserved and it wasn't long before they doubled their lead when Coates again pounced at the back post after a great corner from Connor Mc Donald.

The hard working striking duo of Matthew Stewart and Charlie Metrustry combined to set up a further chance but unfortunately it could not be converted and Northend were quickly to regret this missed opportunity as Ballymoney broke down field and scored to get them back in the game.

A second goal quickly followed from Ballymoney and the Northend boys would have been entitled to feel a little hard done by at this stage as they had totally dominated the first half. In fact if it had not of been for a fantastic double save from their goalkeeper Sean Higgins they would have gone in at half time in arrears. This double save again gave the boys heart and Connor McDonald gave them the lead again direct from a corner to put them 3-2 ahead at half time. Half time score 3-2

The second half was a more even affair with both teams playing great football which the large crowd in attendance were thoroughly enjoying.

Northend created the better chances but unfortunately they could not convert them and with just three minutes left on the clock Ballymoney got themselves on level terms again much to the disappoint of the Northend boys.

Previously in the season this would have been a signal for the boys to ' throw in the towel' but such is the character of this team now that they rolled their sleeves up and created more chances before Jay Kirkpatrick showed his qualities as captain and pounced to poke home the winner with the game on the blow. Full time score 4-3

This was another great victory for the boys and takes their unbeaten run to eight.

Man of the Match: Sean Higgins

Panel: S Higgins, J Kirkpatrick (c), C Mc Donald, C Meeke, C Forsythe, O Connolly, J Coates, C Metrustry, M Stewart, C Killough

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Northend United 10 Ballymena United 6 Saturday 15th February 2014

Northend United U12s continued their recent good run of form with a win over local derby rivals Ballymena United Youth Academy U11s on Saturday morning at Kells' impressive new 3G MUGA. The game was rescheduled to Kells after the Ballysally pitches were declared unplayable. On a bitterly cold and wet morning both teams served up an enthralling match, with the physically stronger Northend team just proving too much for their younger opponents.

Northend got off to a dream start with a goal after only five minutes from top scorer Matthew Stewart, quickly followed by two more from Josh Coates and Conor McDonald. Ballymena United to their credit didn't let their heads go down and began to create chances of their own with some nice football. The Sky Blues' persistence paid off when they scored a great goal to bring the deficit back to two. Whereas in the past the Northend United U12s would've panicked after conceding, their new found confidence in recent months saw them quickly reasserting themselves and they began to really take a foothold in the game. They extended their lead to 5-1 with further goals from Matthew Stewart for his second and Jay Kirkpatrick who was having a great game at right back and later in midfield. Charlie Metrustry along with Oisin Connolly were creating numerous chances and but for some poor finishing, Northend would've had this game out of sight. A crazy ten minute spell just before the half time whistle saw three goals in quick succession from the Sky Blues leave the Northend boys shell-shocked. Indeed the half time break came just at the wrong time for Ballymena United and the right time for Northend. Half time 5-4

The half time break allowed the Northend boys to gather some composure. The trademark possession football and 'closing down' they have recently been exhibiting in games had given way to sloppy passing and defending. The Northend boys rectified this and began the second half in more determined fashion. They were soon rewarded with goals from Josh Coates, Conor McDonald, Oisin Connolly and Charlie Metrustry putting some daylight between the sides. Ballymena United's never say die attitude saw them reply with two more of their own but an unfortunate OG from a Connor Meeke corner made it 10-6 to Northend Utd on the day. Full time 10-6

Both teams deserve great credit for such an entertaining game in difficult conditions. Special thanks to Ballymena's Alan Millar for organising the Kells pitch at such short notice and providing the referee, who also gave a good performance in a game which was played in the right spirit by both sides.

Man of the Match: Jay Kirkpatrick

Squad: E McSparran; C Killough; J Kirkpatrick; C McDonald; C Meeke; J Coates; C Metrustry; O Connolly; C Forsythe; M Stewart

Northend United 4 Moyola Park 2 Saturday 8th February 2014

Northend United U12s have not had a competitive league game in nine weeks but any suggestion of 'ring-rustiness' was quickly dispelled as the boys put in their best performance of the season against Moyola Park U12s. The mid-Ulster side have been flying high in the NWCDYL U12 league this season but they certainly found themselves up against a team in determined mood on Saturday afternoon at Ballysally.

Right from the kick-off Northend United pressed and harried their opponents. It was very evident that after a lack of fixtures over the prolonged Christmas break, the Northend boys were hungry for action. The breakthrough came after only ten minutes when a speculative long range shot from the impressive Connor Meeke found the back of the Moyola net to make it 1-0 to the Northend Blues. The Northend boys had the majority of play during the first half and Moyola were further shell-shocked when a right-footed, curled effort from Oisin Connolly made it 2-0 midway through the half. Charlie Metrustry was holding the ball well in the middle of the field, playing simple but clever through balls to Matthew Stewart who was terrorising the Moyola defence. Josh Coates and Callum Forsythe were overlapping well with Oisin Connolly in midfield and Moyola simply had no answer to this confident, attacking style of play. The mid-Ulster team did pull a goal back, completely against the run of play, to make it 2-1 at the short whistle. Half time 2-1

The second half began in a similar vane. The Blues' defence of Jay Kirkpatrick, Conall Killough, Conor McDonald and Connor Meeke held resolutely throughout and the ever reliable Sean Higgins in goals was rarely troubled. Conor McDonald with a trademark, long range effort made it 3-1; Matthew Stewart saw a goal disallowed for a marginal offside; and both Jay Kirkpatrick and Oisin Connolly saw fine efforts go narrowly wide. On another day this game would've been done and dusted at this stage.

To their credit Moyola Park did muster a fightback towards the end and pulled another goal back but Josh Coates was on hand to make it a deserved 4-2, after the Moyola keeper could only parry a fine Oisin Connolly effort. Full time 4-2

The Northend United U12s deserved this emphatic victory against a very good Moyola Park side, not only for their performance on the day but also for the application they have shown at training on cold winter nights since December. Although Callum Forsythe and Jay Kirkpatrick were outstanding for the Blues, there are few who would disagree that the entire team performance deserves special recognition.

Man of the Match: Team Performance

Squad: S Higgins; C Killough; J Kirkpatrick; C McDonald; C Meeke; J Coates; C Metrustry; O Connolly; C Forsythe; M Stewart