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Ballyclare Comrades 0 Northend United 9 Saturday 29th December 2012

On a wet, windswept pitch, the young Northend players gathered full of enthusiasm and eager to play. This was another very strong team performance with every single player putting in a great effort in very difficult conditions to notch up another win and place Northend Youth U12 back at the top of the league.

From the start Northend dominated the play and in the first minute Robbie McGaughey scored from inside the box from a throw in from Scott Sempey. After that it was all Northend creating chances and pressurising the Ballyclare defence and goal keeper. On 10 minutes Connor Meneely made it two nil, Connor collected the ball in the middle of the box and fired in a great drive past the keeper. The Northend defence looked very confident and Robert McCluney, Oliver Hampshire, Stuart Lecky and Matthew Willighan all controlled the ball and passed their way out of trouble. Louis McAfee guarded the box well and cleared the ball to safety or gathered comfortably. On 17 minutes, Northend went 3 nil up, Ruairi Campbell latched onto a three man passing and Ruairi smashed home inside the box past the keepers near side. Conor McGarry and Sean McKay were unstoppable on the wings and continued to fire in the ball and create chances. On 20 minutes, Robbie made it 4 nil, again good build up play saw Robbie control the ball inside a packed box and drive home an unstoppable shot. On 25 minutes Sean McKay ensured the points when he tapped in from a good cross from Ruairi Campbell. Northend continued to make chances, Connor Meneely, Robbie McGaughey, Ruairi Campbell, Scott Sempey and Sean McKay all having shots cleared or firing over. Half time score 0-5

The second half started off slowly with the Comrades trying to stifle the Northend midfield by packing it and playing a lone striker, but Northend continued to pile on the pressure, A Sean McKay corner was whipped in with pace, fell on the goal line and bounced into the net, the defence left flat footed. On 42 minutes, Comrades turned the ball into their own net to make it 0-7. Northend were flying, the substitutes were brought on and kept the momentum going. Sean McKay, Ruairi Campbell and Conor McGarry were tormenting the Comrades defence, and when Sean let fly with a cross come shot on 46 minutes that whizzed past the keeper, it cemented the fact that Northend were not going to be denied the win and keep another clean sheet. The final goal came on 57 minutes; a poor goal kick was collected by Robbie McGaughey who accelerated past the defence bearing down on goal and slotted the shot past the oncoming keeper.

Northend's defence were terrific and Robert McCluney had a fantastic game marshalling the defence and playing some excellent passes, turning defence into attack. The midfield battled hard and opened the Comrades defence time and again; the front men ran continually and pestered the defence all morning. The entire team played great football that any manager would be proud of, all playing for the win and out passing the Comrades. A well deserved victory with every player contributing to a first class performance.

Men of the Match: Sean McKay, Robbie McGaughey and Robert McCluney

Panel: L McAfee, O Hampshire, R McCluney, C Meneely, R McGaughey, M Willighan, T McAuley, C McGarry, S McKay(c), S Lecky, R Campbell, S Sempey, P Kyle

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Northend United 6 Cavehill Colts 0 Saturday 8th December 2012

This was the first competitive game that the team had played in over 4 weeks, the usual keeper Louis McAfee was out due to illness so Conor McGarry stepped in between the posts. It was expected to be a bit slow, but Northend started off like greyhounds out of the traps, pressurising Cavehill from the whistle. Scott Sempey scored his first of three goals after just five minutes, a Sean McKay corner was whipped in with pace, fell to the feet of Scott who was in the box and he stabbed home the first in a very crowded penalty box. Again constant pressure with Connor Meneely and Scott Sempey spreading passes from midfield and Ruairi Campbell, Sean McKay, Stuart Lecky and Robbie McGaughey racing onto them. Northend got their second on twelve minutes, a poor goal kick was collected by Ruairi Campbell who released a beautifully weighted pass to Robbie McGaughey in the box who curled the ball with the outside of his boot round the oncoming keeper. Northend continued with the relentless pressure, and were caught off side on 4 occasions after catching the defence but just could not find the right pass at the time. On twenty nine minutes it was three nil, again the midfield collected the ball and placed a perfect pass to both Sean and Ruairi who were running in on goal, either could have scored but Ruairi placed the ball neatly past the keeper into the bottom of the net. First Half 3 - 0

Northend did not let up in the second half playing fantastic football, battling hard in midfield and defence to clear the ball from danger. In the opening ten minutes Northend had no less than 4 shots cleared off the line. Robert McCluney, Oliver Hampshire, Matthew Willighan and Thomas McAuley were having a great game, they coolly played their way out of danger and continually kept the ball on the ground passing their way to another Northend attack. Conor McGarry was having a good game between the sticks and confidently cleared the danger. At 45 minutes, Stuart Lecky was substituted for Conall Gordon. Scott Sempey scored his second of the day, again great passing play allowed Scott to collect the ball, overcome two challenges and fire in a low drive across the keeper into the net. Philip Kyle was brought on for Thomas McAuley. Both subs continued where the two they had replaced had left off, Conall running at the defence and Philip clearing the ball when danger arose. On fifty two minutes, Sean McKay made it five nil, a corner was cleared to Sean who from the right edge of the box, let fly with a high dipping shot, that ripped into the top corner of the net. Scott wrapped up the scoring and finished his hat trick, by hammering home a shot after a ping pong clearance by Cavehill fell to him in the box and he made no mistake with the finish. Full time 6-0

This was a great team effort, every one of the boys challenging for Man of the Match, Robert McCluney cleared and battled all afternoon, Connor Meneely never missed a header all day and sprayed passes opening the defence. Oliver, Matthew, Thomas and Philip, worked very hard and remained cool very rarely giving the ball away or 'hoofing' a clearance unless a last resort. Scott, Sean, Robbie, Stuart, Ruairi and Conall all ran their socks off, and only for some goal line clearances and offside decisions the score line would have been a whole lot more. This was a great team effort and a great result, keeping Northend in contention for top spot in the league.

Get well Louis hope to see you at the next game.

Man of the Match: Scott Sempey and Robert McCluney

Panel: O Hampshire, R McCluney, C Meneely, R McGaughey, M Willighan, T McAuley, C Gordon, C McGarry, S McKay(c), S Lecky, R Campbell, S Sempey, P Kyle

Carniny 0 Northend United 5 Saturday 17th November 2012

This match, although a friendly was a real Derby match. The Northend Manager again rang the changes and sent out a rally cry for the young team to get back to the passing game that had brought them so much success, the players responded magnificently. The first ten minutes of the game was a very tight affair with both teams cancelling each other out and creating very few chances, however after this Northend took the game by the scruff of the neck and began to overrun the Carniny midfield and defence. The breakthrough came on the thirteenth minute. A quick break from midfield by Robbie McGaughey to the edge of the box, he cut the ball back to Sean McKay who was running in from midfield, Sean delivered a high looping cross into the box and Conor McGarry rose above the keeper to head Northend in front. After that it was all Northend, the midfield worked hard and dominated possession, cutting out any Carniny play and spreading the ball to the front men. The defence was very solid and snuffed out the few Carniny attacks and the keeper commanded the box and sent some great long distance kicks to remove any danger. Although dominating the play Northend could not finish against the back to the wall defending, crowded Carniny goal area and some good saves from the keeper. The first half finished with another Northend corner, driven in by Sean McKay to be cleared back to him, he again sent in a great cross onto the head of Connor Meneely who directed the shot well but straight to the keeper. First Half score 0-1

The second began as the first had finished for Northend, a clear cut penalty was denied by the referee, but Northend were not to be denied. On thirty five minutes, the Blues went 2-0 up. A corner was not cleared by Carniny, Northend had a number of shots blocked but when Carniny eventually did clear the ball only went as far as the edge of the box only to fall to Sean McKay who drove a fierce shot straight over the keepers head into the net. On forty two minutes it was 3-0, Robbie McGaughey latched onto a corner which Carniny did not clear and slipped a low shot past the keeper from close range. The best goal of the game came on forty six minutes, a long clearance by Louis McAfee was flicked on by Sean McKay to Ruairi Campbell who calmly ran into the box and fired low shot past the outstretched keeper. The final goal came on forty seven minutes. Some neat interplay between Northend saw a defence splitting pass by Connor Meneely to Sean who ran into the box and drilled an unstoppable shot past the keeper. At this point both subs were used, Conall Gordon for Matthew Willighan and Thomas McAuley for Sean McKay. The subs fitted into the flow of the game straight away and Thomas had a fantastic overhead kick similar to Ibrahimovic versus England, narrowly miss the goal. Northend continued to create chances and dominate the play right up to the final whistle; restricting Carniny to only two half shots the entire second half. Full time score 0-5

This was a terrific all round performance by Northend. This young team was again back to playing a style of football that had brought them so much success. The keeper was solid, his decision making was good and he was quick off his line when danger arose. The defence was comfortable and handled everything that Carniny offered; they played their way out danger and never looked threatened. The midfield were magnificent, they snuffed out the Carniny attack, broke up the play and delivered excellent defence splitting passes, the pace of the breaks from midfield were blistering and passing was unselfish and accurate. Up front the striker played a great holding role and caused problems to the defence all afternoon.

Men of the Match: Connor Meneely and Robert McCluney

Panel: L McAfee, O Hampshire, R McCluney, C Meneely, R McGaughey, M Willighan, T McAuley, C Gordon, C McGarry, S McKay(c), S Lecky, R Campbell, E Hynds

Antrim Rovers 1 Northend United 6 Saturday 3rd November 2012

After last week's performance, the manager decided to make a number of changes to the starting eleven for this week's game. The team kicked off and looked a little disjointed, this was unfortunately borne out when a defensive error lead to a penalty being awarded to Rovers after just five minutes. The shot was fired straight down the throat of Louis McAfee, Northend's keeper who was glad to smother the ball. Northend took the lead in the seventh minute, a corner by Sean McKay was toe poked home by Robbie McGaughey. After this the game went very flat until a great piece of skill from Stewart Lecky in the twenty-third minute, Stewart controlled a cross and with the outside of his left foot curled a shot over the keeper to make it 2-0. Again the game went a bit flat until twenty-seventh minute when Antrim Rovers played a through ball, Northend's defence could not clear and the striker slipped a low shot into the corner of the net. Half time 1-2

The second half started with a substitution, Conall Gordon replaced by Ruairi Campbell. Northend came out looking the stronger and increased their lead on 35 minutes when Connor Meneely set Robbie McGaughey on a great run, Robbie crossed for Sean McKay who latched onto a powerful shot over the keeper for Northend's third. On the 40th minute Northend scored again, another well weighted pass by Connor Meneely released Sean McKay who again fired in a powerful shot into the roof of the net. Scott Sempey was subbed for Josh Mitchell and Conor McGarry was brought on for Philip Kyle. On forty-five minutes it was 5-1, again good control by Josh Mitchell in midfield who then released a great pass to Robbie McGaughey on the right wing who outran the defence to drill a shot pass the keeper. Northend's and the game's final goal came on 36 minutes when a good cross was whipped in by Robbie McGaughey from the edge of the box to the back post and Stuart Lecky was there to bundle the ball over the line. Thomas McAuley was brought on in place of Matthew Willighan. The final ten minutes Northend applied plenty of pressure and good crosses but unfortunately with no end result.

This game was expected to be a formality, however it turned out to be a much closer run match with plenty of opportunity for both sides to make this a high scoring game. Northend looked a little disjointed and did not move the ball well. However with so much possession this eventually told in the end and Northend came out winners on the day, but this young team need to get back to the style of play that has eluded them over the past couple of weeks.

Men of the Match: Sean McKay and Robbie McGaughey

Panel: L McAfee, S Sempey, O Hampshire, R McCluney, J Mitchell, C Meneely, R McGaughey, M Willighan, T McAuley, P Kyle, C Gordon, C McGarry, S McKay(c), S Lecky, R Campbell