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Castle Juniors 0 Northend United 2 NIBFA Plate Saturday 25th February 2017

This game was a very hard fought affair in the first half, though it would be Northend who would create the best of the chances. Early on Shea O'Broin had a snap shot saved by the keeper. Then another great move that started with Ben O'Neill and then Billy Bell sending a cross into the box that Kaylem Corcoran put just wide. Later in the half Jay McKeown fired just wide and Corcoran would go chase again but couldn't find his way past the keeper. Half time 0-0

This half Northend began very sharp with Jay McKeown in particular starting to take control from midfield. At around ten minutes in an opening arrived for Ben O'Neill but instead of going himself he sent the ball out left to Bell who crossed first time to the on running Kaylem Corcoran who headed home at the back post to send Northend one ahead. Shortly after Northend would go two ahead after a solo run from Shea O'Broin past three players and his shot found it's way in below the body of the Castle keeper. The game would end with a corner when Calum McAvoy sent a rocket header past the Castle keeper only to rebound back off the underside of the crossbar. Full Time 0-2

Man of the Match: Jay McKeown - solid first half, excellent second half.

Panel: G McClean, Z Erwin, C Wilson, C McAvoy, J Adams, K Wakefield, B O'Neill, J McKeown, S O'Broin, B Bell, K Corcoran

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Northend United 0 Warrenpoint 3 Saturday 18th February 2017

With Northend missing three regulars this was always going to be a tough ask against arguably the best team in the League. Although Warrenpoint scored twice in this half Kaylem Corcoran was very unlucky to not pull one back for Northend when he broke the offside trap and put his effort just wide after a one on one with the keeper. Half time 0-2

This half Northend would concede once again although they battled very well against a very good Warrenpoint team. Full time 0-3

Man of the Match: Billy Bell. Another great performance.

Panel: G McClean, C Wilson, J Adams, Z Erwin, S Bristow, K Wakefield, S O'Broin, B Bell, C Francey, K Corcoran

Northend Youth 2 Ballycastle United 3 Saturday 11th February 2017

This was a tough match against one of the fancied teams in this League. However, the Blues came out fighting from the word go but it wasn't long before Ballycastle took the lead. The Northend boys had a few chances in the first half coming from Kyle Wakefield but the Ballycastle keeper was on form first half. Half time 0-1

The second half again started at a very fast pace. When the Blues got a break up their left hand side, a move involving Jack Carson and Ben Adams resulted in a great ball to Jason Adams who found the back of the net to equalise for Northend.

Ballycastle came storming back to make it 2-1. However, with some great passing moves, the Blues equalised, when Jack Carson and Ben Adams were involved with Adams finding the net with a great strike 2-2.

In the last two mins of time, a mistake in the Northend defence saw Ballycastle score the winning goal. This was a great match from both teams. Full time 2-3

Man of the Match: Team Performance

Panel: R Campbell, B Adams, J Adams, K Wakefield, J Carson, C Francey, C Holmes, C Kennedy, E Mitchell, J Frew

Northend United 3 Ballyclare Colts 2 Saturday 11th February 2017

This turned out to be a cracking match. With Conor Wilson and Kaylem Corcoran both making their debuts for Northend and both putting in solid performances. The game started with Corcoran causing the Ballyclare defence all sorts of problems. Twice being caught offside when he clearly was 'on' and a great shot that just whizzed past a post. Indeed it would be Corcoran who would put Northend ahead as Billy Bell beat his man down the left and delivered a cracking ball into the box with Corcoran arriving into the box to meet it first time and send Northend ahead. Then an excellent ball from Jay McKeown sent Ben O'Neill off down the left wing. He turned inside and found Corcoran, who set up the on running Shea O'Broin who finished off a great footballing move to put Northend two ahead. The half would come to a close with Ballyclare pulling one back and giving them something to cling onto for the second half. Half time 2-1

Ballyclare came out of the traps in the second half and caused Northend a lot of problems. There were also chances for O'Neill, McKeown and Corcoran, but all of them failed to find the net. Ballyclare's increased pressure would finally find them getting the equaliser midway through the half. But again, Northend would raise their game and go in search of the winner. Again, this would come from a very good footballing move. George McClean in goal looked to be hitting a by ball long but instead played it short to Stevie Bristow, who carried it past players up the left side. He then found McKeown who did brilliantly and sent his cross across the edge of the box for Corcoran to finish in off the crossbar to the joys of a very noisy Northend support. Full time 3-2

Man of the Match: Kaylem Corcoran. What an excellent debut from start to finish and two great goals to add.

Panel: G McClean, C Wilson, Z Erwin, S Bristow, B O'Neill, S O'Broin, J McKeown, B Bell, K Corcoran

Northend Youth 2 Draperstown Celtic 1 Saturday 4th February 2017

Northend Youth U12s carried on with their winning ways today at Coleraine SSG against a very strong Draperstown Celtic side. Northend were quick out of the traps, very strong on the ball, with some great passing play. The Blues created a great chance when Jamie Frew passed the ball up to Callum Francey, who in turn passed across to Kyle Wakefield, and he found the back of the net with a great strike. 1-0 to the boys in blue. Half time 1-0

The second half started much the same as the first. Celtic attacked the Blues defence a number of times but Northend keeper Ryan Campbell pulled of some great saves. It wasn't long before the boys in blue put together another great passing move involving Jack Carson and Callum Francey, with Francey finding the back of the net, to extend Northend's lead. With ten minutes remaining, Draperstown pulled a goal back to set up a tense finish to the game. However, the Blues held out to record another good win to this vast improving team. Full time 2-1

Special mention to Cole Magill for stepping in at late notice and helping out this week.

Man of the Match: Team Performance

Panel: R Campbell, J Magill, K Wakefield, C Francey, J Carson, C Magill, C Wilson, K Corcoran, J Frew

Glenavy 1 Northend United 4 Saturday 4th February

The last time these two met was last Season and it turned out a high scoring affair for Northend. However, Glenavy has really turned it around and strengthened and look a very good second division side as they stayed in this game for long periods. Northend broke the deadline midway through the first half through hard work by Zach Erwin who then found Ben O'Neill up the left hand side. O'Neill played a great ball into Shea O'Broin who slid a wonder pass in between the two defenders to send Billy Bell on a one-on-one with the keeper. Bell got there first and slid the ball into the net. Then it was Bell's chance to become provider as both him and Jay McKeown exchanged passes to set up O'Broin with a great finish to make it 2-0 to Northend at halftime. Half time 0-2

The second half started with O'Neill just whipping one past the post and Bell going close after a great cross from O'Broin going across the box. Then Northend would score again when O'Broin found himself sandwiched between three men on the edge of the box and he would end up coming out with the ball through sheer determination and slide the ball past the keeper for this second. With Jason Adams and Ben Adams both having solid games in Midfield it gave O'Neill freedom to get forward and he would win a great 50/50 tackle in the edge of the box and fire a cracking shot into the net for Northend's fourth.

With the whistle about to blow Glenavy would score a consolation goal which looked clearly off-side. Full time 1-4

Man of the Match: Zach Erwin. Back to the way he was playing last Season. Very solid performance throughout.

Panel: G McClean, C McAvoy, Z Erwin, S Bristow, J Adams, B Adams, B O'Neill, S O'Broin, B Bell, J McKeown

Greenisland Jets 0 Northend Youth 1 Saturday 28th January 2017

Northend Youth travelled to Jordanstown on Saturday to play Greenisland Jets in the last of a series of friendly matches in preparation for the league recommencement next week. The Ballymena boys got off to a very strong start and within five minutes, James Lundy broke free in midfield giving a great pass out to Jason Adams on the left wing. Adams in return threaded the ball to Eoin Mitchell whose shot was blocked by the Greenisland defence. Northend continued to play good football and created another few goalscoring chances, but the young Greenisland's defence remained strong on the day. Half time 0-0

The second half started again with a very fast pace and the Ballymena boys got stuck in. It didn't take long before Callum Francey split the defence with a throughball to Ben Adams and he in-turn sent a great cross into the Greenisland goal-mouth where he found Kaylem Corcoran and he made no mistake as he planted the ball into the corner of the net with the Greenisland keeper well beaten. As play flowed from end to end, both sides had chances to add to their scoring but the match eventually finished with the Northend boys on top. Full time 0-1

This was a very close fought match against a very good Greenisland team

Man of the Match: Connor Wilson - played a great defensive role today and his confidence is growing with every game.

Panel: R Campbell, C Wilson, B Adams, J Lundy, C Holmes, C Kennedy, E Mitchell, C Francey, J Adams, K Corcoran, J Carson

Hillsborough A 4 Northend United 0 Saturday 28th January 2017

This was a great game of football with both teams attacking at every opportunity, though Northend gifted a soft goal just on the stroke of Half Time. Half time 1-0

The second half was a back to the wall performance from Northend as Hillsborough upped their game and they would soon score again. Then things continued to go wrong for Northend as they lost their keeper to injury. Fair play to Kyle Wakefield for stepping up and taking the jersey though Northend would concede another two.

Full time 4-0

Man of the Match: Stevie Bristow - good solid performance.

Panel: G McClean, Z Erwin, C McAvoy, J Magill, K Wakefield, S Bristow, B O'Neill, S O'Broin, J McKeown, B Bell

East Coast Strikers 0 Northend United 2 Saturday 21st January 2017

This game started explosively with both teams going at it. Northend's first chance fell to Jay McKeown but the East Coast Keeper dealt with it. Then halfway through the first half an East Coast free kick ended up in the back of the net but the referee blew up for offside leaving both sets of Coaches finding it a harsh decision on East Coast. Then literally from the by ball Callum McAvoy found Ben O'Neill who weaved past three players and released Billy Bell on the overlap, who beat the last defender and fired a beauty of a shot through the keepers legs from an acute angle. Northend found another gear again and played the remainder of the half in the East Coast half and with two minutes remaining a poor clearance from an East Coast defender would fall to McKeown who was running back towards his own goal, turned and hit it left footed into the roof of the net to make it 2-0 to Northend. Half time 0-2

This half was played with a very determined and stubborn Northend team who dug in and never let East Coast settle on the ball. The new defence pairing of McAvoy and Stevie Bristow were very solid and composed from the start of the match to the finish and looked as though they have played there together for a long time. This also was the reason the U12's kept a clean sheet as both McAvoy and Bristow never allowed East Coast a single shot on target barring a free kick from distance that was disallowed in the first half. A chance for Shea Redmond was saved with the keeper and another great effort from McKeown sailed over the bar after brilliant work from Bell down the left wing, would see the match finish with a very good performance from Northend. Full time 0-2

Man of the Match: Billy Bell. Never stopped up the left side both defensively and in attack, capped by a very worthy goal.

Panel: G McClean, C McAvoy, S Bristow, K Wakefield, Z Erwin, B O'Neill, J Magill, B Bell, S Redmond, J McKeown, S O'Broin

Northend United 0 Lisburn Distillery 2 Saturday 14th January 2017

Northend started the game brightly but would continue their form of late on conceding goals that could easily have been prevented and found themselves 2-0 down at Half Time. Half time 0-2

In the second half Northend stepped it up and there were chances for a number of players including Shea O'Broin and Jamie Magill, who had efforts cleared off the line. Northend would play the whole second half in Distillery's half but could not break them down due to the heroics of the Distillery keeper. Full time 0-2

Men of the Match: Jamie Magill and Shea O'Broin. Both worked hard all second half.

Panel: G McClean, Z Erwin, C McAvoy, J Magill, K Wakefield, S Bristow, B O'Neill, S O'Broin, J McKeown, B Bell

Banbridge Rangers 4 Northend United 0 Saturday 7th January 2017

Northend started this match for maybe the opening fifteen minutes, playing the best football they played all season though with Banbridge's first break they scored against the run of play. Chances would fall to Ben O'Neill and Shea O'Broin but Banbridge would score again due to errors and would lead 2-0 at Halftime. Half time 2-0

Northend never seemed to get going this half the same as the first, though Ben O'Neill and Stevie Bristow kept working hard in midfield and a move involving both nearly lead to Shea O'Broin pulling one back for Northend. Banbridge would score twice again leaving the Northend Coaching team bewildered as to how three of the four goals conceded could have easily been avoided. Full time 4-0

Man of the Match: Stevie Bristow started everything positively for Northend and never stopped running.

Panel: G McClean, Z Erwin, K Wakefield, J Magill, C McAvoy, S Bristow, B O'Neill, S O'Broin, B Bell, J McKeown, S Redmond