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Comber Rec U12s 6 Northend United U12s 2 Monday 16th May 2011

The young Blues travelled up to Mallusk to play defending champions Comber Rec in the last game of the season. On a wet windy evening Northend started off the quicker and took the lead after a minute when a great ball played into the box from Robbie Dennison out on the right was lashed into the net by Andrew Milligan. However his was as good as it got for United as they didn't seem up for the battle much to the disappointment of the coaches and supporters and Comber swept into a 3 1 half time lead.

The second half started in the same fashion with Northend taking the game to Comber and all the pressure paid off when the Blues pulled a goal back. Conor McHugh hitting a great strike from the corner of the box but as before this was as good as it got and eventually Comber ran out worthy 6 2 winners to lift the league for the second year running.

This has been a long hard season for the boys and maybe this was a game too many as most of the team seemed tired but to finish runners up in the league and win 2 cups is an excellent achievement....WELL DONE BOYS.....

Many thanks to the parents and supporters who travelled every week to cheer on the team. Also many thanks to the coaching staff and parents who helped the team to achieve this success...

Man of the Match: Oliver Boyle, Conor Graham

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

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Northend United U12s 4 Carnmoney Colts U12s 0 Cup Final Monday 9th May 2011

The U12s travelled to Mallusk on Monday evening to play in the Knock-Out Cup final. Having already won the Shield the boys were going for Double Delight against Carnmoney Colts.

With a strong wind, the Blues winning the toss opted to play with the wind at their backs. The match kicked off and after a few minutes Northend took the lead. Fine play between Philip Maybin, Zack Herbison and Conor Graham on the edge of the box led to the ball being played out to Andrew Milligan on the left. He looked up and played a good pass into David Kilgore, who slammed the ball home from ten yards. After six minutes the Blues doubled their lead when Ryan McKenna received the ball in midfield and threaded an excellent through ball for Kilgore to run on to and he hammered it past the big keeper, to give the Blues a 2-0 cushion.

United now well on top went further ahead after ten minutes when the referee

awarded a free kick twenty-five yards out. Up stepped Philip Maybin and with the wind at his back there was always only going to be one outcome and the big man duly obliged with a rocket, stinging the goalkeepers hands on the way into the net.

Northend were playing some of their best football of the season and probably trying too hard to score with effort after effort just going wide and Carnmoney's defenders putting in some last ditch tackles.

United did add a fourth just before half time when Philip Maybin played the ball into the box and Herbison was first to react, sticking his foot out and seeing the ball spin up and over the keeper, leaving the half-time 4-0 to Northend.

The second half started with the wind now at the Colts backs but Northend's back line of Gareth Downey, Conor McHugh, Oliver Boyle and Ryan McKenna on top of their game giving nothing away and James Morgan in goals being ever alert. The midfield of Robbie Dennison, Conor Graham, Philip Maybin and Andrew Milligan playing hard against the wind and the front two strikers David Kilgore and Zack Herbison chasing down and not giving the Carnmoney defence a minute.

No goals were added in the second half to give the Blues a four nil win...

This was a great team performance from the Northend's starting eleven and the subs of Ben Sempey, Sam Stewart, Jamie Crawford, Jack Galbraith and Eamonn Elliott all getting on and giving a super account of themselves. Carnmoney, to their credit never let their heads drop but on the night Northend were just too strong. Well done to the Carnmoney number 6 who picked up the referees man of the match award.

Congratulations to the Blues who lifted their second trophy of the season.

Man of the Match: Team Performance

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

Larne Youth U12s 2 Northend United U12s 3 Saturday 7th May 2011

Northend United U12's had to travel to the Valley pitches to play Larne Youth in their penultimate game of the season.

The game got underway with both teams battling for possession and it was Larne who made the breakthrough after ten minutes their forward beating James Morgan from the edge of the box but this spurred the Blues on and they equalized five minutes later. The ball was played into the Larne box which seemed to deceive a couple of players but in ghosted Ben Sempey at the back post to hammer the ball home.

Northend were now pushing Larne back and took the lead a few minutes later. The Blues won a corner and Philip Maybin once again crossed in an excellent ball and there was David Kilgore to power his header home.

Larne didn't drop their heads and equalized just before half time. This time the forward broke through the defence to give Morgan no chance to leave the half time score all even at 2-2.

The second half started with Northend being more positive but just couldn't make the final ball count and when they did only excellent tackles from the defenders or the quick thinking of the keeper thwarted the Blues strike force.

Andrew Milligan and Eamonn Elliott replaced Sempey and Dennison. United did take the lead again when Zack Herbison broke into the box but he was brought down by the big defender and the referee had no option but to point to the spot. Up got Herbison to dust himself down keep his nerve to shoot past the keeper. Just after this, Northend scored again when Andrew Milligan crossed for Kilgore to hammer the ball home, only for the referee to blow for offside.

Larne did try and break a few times but Oliver Boyle in defence was ever alert to clear the danger and this is how the match finished with the Blues enjoying a 3-2 win against a decent Larne team who liked to get the ball down and play nice passing football...

Well done boys..........

Men of the Match: Oliver Boyle, David Kilgore

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

Northend United U12s 4 Glendowan U12s 4 Monday 2nd May 2011

The U12s travelled up to Mallusk to play Glendowan in the league on a blustery Monday evening and the match got underway nearly fifteen minutes late due to the other team not being ready. Northend started off well playing with the strong wind at their backs and after ten minutes took the lead when Zack Herbison received the ball he played in David Kilgore to slip the ball past the keeper.

The Blues doubled their lead five minutes later when a great run down the right by Robbie Dennison and when he crossed the ball in, big David Kilgore headed it into the net from six yards. Northend were well on top but couldn't find the net again and just before half time Glendowan broke through and scored to leave the half time score 2-1 to the Northend Blues.

The second half resumed with Northend still on top and indeed added to their tally. This time the ball falling to Herbison on the edge of the box and his shot lobbed over the keeper and rolled into the net. Back came Glendowan and a mistake in defence let in the Glendowan striker to shoot past James Morgan.

Eamonn Elliott replaced Dennison. Glendowan now using the wind to their advantage did equalize when a Blues defender made a late tackle a yard outside the box the referee somehow pointed to the spot. How he seen this was a penalty from the halfway line is unbelievable. Up stepped the Glendowan player to slot it past young James Morgan.

Ben Sempey replaced Stewart. Worst was to come for Northend when Glendowan took the lead three minutes from time when confusion between the Blues defence and keeper let in the Glendowan winger to cross the ball and as the ball wasn't properly cleared in came a player to smash the ball into the net.

As before with this Northend team they don't know when they're beaten and with a minute to go equalized. Ben Sempey beat his man on the left and when he crossed the ball, it fell to Herbison just inside the box and he smashed the ball past the keeper to earn a share of the spoils at 4-4

Well done boys against a very physical and intimidating Glendowan team....

Man of the Match: Zack Herbison

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

Northend United U12s 4 Comber Rec U12s 2 Shield Final Monday 25th April 2011

On Monday night the U12s travelled up to Mallusk to play defending champions Comber Rec in the final of the Shield competition. Having played and beaten Rec on Saturday in the Knock Out cup the Blues knew that Comber would be wanting revenge and knew they had to be on top of their game.

The game started with both teams going at each other but like Saturday no one could get the upper hand. The Blues thought they should have had a penalty on ten minutes when Robbie Dennison was blatantly upended in the box but the referee played on much to the surprise of the large Northend crowd. Worst was to come for the boys as Comber went straight down the pitch and scored when their forward got in behind the defence and slotted the ball past James Morgan.

As before with this Northend team their heads never go down and within ten minutes they had equalized when a great ball into the box by Gareth Downey was headed into the net by the smallest lad on the pitch Zack Herbison.

Better was to come for the Blues five minutes later when Robbie Dennison hit a shot from twenty five yards out but was unlucky to see it crash off the bar. When the ball came back out there was that man Herbison again to hook the ball back past the keeper and put the Blues 2-1 up. Two minutes later Comber were awarded a penalty for as the referee said a mistimed tackle. Up stepped the Comber midfielder and slotted the ball home only for the referee to cancel it as he hadn't blown his whistle and so the penalty had to be taken again. This time Morgan produced an excellent block with his legs and the danger was cleared. The score stayed 2 1 to half time.

The second half got underway and things got better for Northend when they scored after two minutes and what a goal it was, when the ball was cleared out of the Comber box it fell to left back Ryan McKenna who hit a twenty five yard thunderbolt into the top corner of the net.

As we all know this is a good Comber team and they came back at the Blues and pulled a goal back. As before the Blues went back on the attack and scored their fourth when the ball was played to David Kilgore on the edge of the box he rolled it back to Philip Maybin who produced an excellent shot and the ball nestled into the bottom corner of the net sending the Northend crowd wild with delight.

Sam Stewart replaced Andrew Milligan. A few minutes later Eamonn Elliott replaced Robbie Dennison. The Blues were well on top now and if not for the Comber keeper producing a couple of outstanding saves the score would have been higher. The final score remained 4-2 and a brilliant win for Northend.

Well done Zack Herbison for winning referee's man of the match. All boys on the night produced excellent performances with everyone playing for each other and producing man of the match performances and all subs doing a great job by cheering on the boys.

All the squad has helped to make this Shield success possible. A big thank you goes to all the parents and supporters who turned up to cheer on the lads for this great win.

...........................................................................................THANK YOU!................................................................................................

Man of the Match: Team Performance

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