NORTHEND UNITED YOUTH FC
Ballymena, N. Ireland
Est 2003

Northend United 2 Lower Maze 0   Saturday 23rd April 2022

Northend started on the front foot, playing their first 10-a-side game. They were in action straight from the start with Ronan Maguire playing Orla Lemon in, and she went past one defender before crossing to the back post, but the Lower Maze keeper made a good save. Northend’s trio of girls had plenty of the ball but just couldn’t find the back of the net. Lower Maze started to work some good moves down the Blues right side, so in a tactical change, Cara McKay was moved to right midfield. Joseph O’Hara was controlling the Blues defence, talking his fellow defenders to keep their shape and the Blues defence was able to take whatever the Lower Maze could throw at them.
A number of moves by Northend were straight from the training ground. Cody McGarry and Joshua Dillon were always first to the loose ball.
Northend eventually took the lead when a good move from Cara McKay was eventually planted in the corner of the Lower Maze net by Caitlin Kelly.
Northend were in dominant form at this stage of the game and went on to push for more. Kane McNeill had a chance which was just over the bar and some good chances also fell for Cody McGarry. Orla Lemon was leading Northend’s forward line and working well with her fellow strikers. Half time 1-0

Second half we gave away a free on the edge of the box but Lughan Hardy in the Blues nets, had it covered. He then released Liam Kearney, down the wing and as he skipped past three defenders, he pulled the ball back to Cody McGarry, who was bungled over. Liam Kearney stepped up to take the free kick but seen it smash off the Lower Maze upright and get cleared to safety.
This started a spell of 5 or 6 corners for Northend, where Caitlin Kelly had scored only to be ruled out for offside. Orla Lemon eventually scored for Northend to give them a 2 goal cushion. Northend kept up the pressure for the remainder of the game but found the Lower Maze keeper in top form. Full time 2-0

Player of the Match: Orla Lemon

Panel: Lughan Hardy, Joseph O’Hara, Ronan Maguire, Liam Kearney, Cody McGarry, Joshua Dillon, Kane McNeill, Orla Lemon, Cara McKay, Caitlin Kelly
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Northend United 2 Lisburn Youth 2  Saturday 9th April 2022

Northend started off on the front foot with Caitlin Kelly testing the Lisburn keeper in the opening exchanges. Joshua Dillon was doing well in midfield, wining every ball, and setup up the attack. Lughan Hardy, in the Blues net, was called in to action, clearing a long ball. The Blues had an early scare with a shot from close range but Hardy made a great save. He quickly set Caitlin Kelly on her way from which she won a corner. Oliver McBurney was on hand to fire home to give Northend a 1-0 lead. Northend kept it like that for next 5 minutes but with lots of pressure on the Northend central defence of Joseph O’Hara and Ronan Maguire, eventually a ball into the Northend box was sliced past Hardy in the Blues net.
Northend continued to have chances with Kane McNeill and Caitlin Kelly leading the Blues strikeforce. After a spell of corners Caitlin Kelly found Oliver McBurney on the edge of the box he hit a looping shot keeper had no chance 2-1 halftime. Half time 2-1

Into the second half and with 3 up front and it wasn’t long before Northend went close with Cara McKay hitting one from distance and Orla Lemon putting in a lovely cross that hit the back post with no one there to see it in. Liam Kearney got injured and Ruairi Hamill got back on. Some strong play and chances for Ronan Maguire hitting some nice long range balls. Lisburn really went for it last couple of minutes and they played a long ball over the top, that was easy 5 meters off, but the referee didn’t give it and they equalised.
The match ended with the Northend players disappointed that the match ended with only a point, but this was a greatly improved Northend performance against a Lisburn team who had comprehensively beat them earlier in the season. Special mention for Caitlin, Orla and Joshua who could have got player of the match but it went to Ronan Maguire who was absolutely brilliant well done. Full time 2-2

Player of the Match: Ronan Maguire

Panel: L Hardy, R Hamill, R Maguire, J O’Hara, O McBurney, L Kearney, J Dillon, C Kelly, K McNeill, C McGarry, C McKay, O Lemon
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Northend United 4 Lisburn Rangers 1   Saturday 26th March 2022

Northend started on the front foot with a good spell of movement down the right wing. Orla Lemon was on top form and seeing a lot of the ball and putting in some dangerous crosses into the box, but no one was there to convert. The Blues had strong spells in the game with Ruairi Hamill finding space in midfield and picking some nice passes. Down the left wing, Caitlin Kelly and Liam Kearney worked well with Caitlin putting in some good balls.  Orla Lemon had a chance to score but the Lisburn keeper made a good save before Ruairi Hamill also tested the keeper. Oliver McBurney thought he had given the Blues the lead from close range but VAR would be required to see if it crossed the line. That’s how the first half ended. Half time 0-0

With some tactical changes at half time, Northend pushed Joshua Dillon into midfield where he immediately stamped his authority on the game. Northend opened the scoring, following a great shot from McBurney, which was parried by the keeper and Kane McNeill was on hand to stab the ball home. The Blues further extended their lead, following good link up play between Ronan Maguire and Cody McGarry, which released Oliver McBurney into the box and his shot into the bottom corner of the Lisburn net, game Northend a two goal cushion.
Hamill was having a great game and could have added to the scoring, but saw shots go narrowly over the bar. At the back for Northend, Ronan Maguire and Lughan Hardy were dealing with whatever Lisburn could throw at them.
Northend further extended their lead when Oisin Gordon found the back of the net, following some good play from McBurney again. Northend added a fourth goal when a handball from a Lisburn player in their penalty box, was converted by Liam Kearney.
Lisburn never gave up and in the final minutes, a ball over the top of the Northend defence, allowed their striker to run on and plant the ball past the advancing Lughan Hardy, in the Blues nets, and that’s how the match ended with a 4-2 competitive win. Full time 4-1

Player of the Match: Joshua Dillon

Panel: L Hardy, J O’Hara, J Dillon, L Kearney, R Hamill, C McGarry, O McBurney, C Kelly, O Lemon, R Maguire, O Gordon, K McNeill
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Northend United 4 Hillsborough Boys Jets 0   Saturday 12th March 2022
 
The Blues started this game on the front foot, with some great attacking play down the left wing, putting a lot of pressure on the Hillsborough defence.  On the counter-attack, Hillsborough got a ball into the Northend box and Joseph O’Hara had it under control but conceded a free-kick. Cara McKay in the Blues nets made a good save from the free kick and immediately launched a long ball to Kane McNeill who forced the Hillsborough keeper into another good save.
Northend kept up the pressure and some interlinking play from Liam Kearney and Ruairi Hamill saw the ball squared to Orla Lemon who made no mistake to give Northend a 1-0 lead. Northend further extended their lead, when from a Caitlin Kelly corner, Oliver McBurney was on hand to volley into the Hillsborough net. Half time 2-0

Kane McNeill went into nets for the second half and Cara upfront. She was played in by Kearney almost straight away, but the Hillsborough keeper saved. Northend had a good spell in the game, creating a few chances but unable to put them away. When Hillsborough hit on the counter-attack, Joshua Dillon cleared the ball for a corner. Kane McNeill saved the corner kick and when he released Cara McKay, she skipped past the Hillsborough defence and planted the ball past the Hillsborough keeper to give Northend a 3 goal cushion.
Ruairi Hamill and Oliver McBurney were controlling the game for Northend in the middle of the park, giving confidence to the rest of the team. Northend was awarded a corner towards the end of the game, which was converted by Caitlin Kelly to give the Blues a 4 goal win. Full time 4-0

Player of the Match: Team Performance

Panel: L Hardy, R Maguire, J O’Hara, L Kearney, O McBurney, R Hamill, C Kelly, C McKay, O Lemon, O Gordon, K McNeill
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Northend United 1 Anderstown Community 2   Saturday 5th march 2022

Both teams got off to a flying start in this match. Northend were on the attack from the start and had a chance early on. Oisin Gordon was in brilliant all day for Northend and saw an early goal ruled out for offside. It was a brilliant build up down the right wing with Oliver McBurney and Caitlin Kelly combining well before playing in Kane McNeill who squared the ball to Gordon, and he hit it with his left from 30 yards into the Anderstown top corner, but the referee adjudged it offside.
It was a very intense game from then on, as Anderstown got a free kick which struct the Northend upright with the Blues keeper beaten. The Blues defender was able to clear the ball to safety. Half time 0-0

Into the second half and it was it like the first, play from end to end. Northend almost took the lead when Oisin Gordon unleashed a free kick just inside the Anderstown half, which hit their upright and was cleared for a corner. Caitlin put in a lovely cross and it dropped nicely for Kane McNeill to smash the back of the Anderstown net, to give Northend the lead. It wasn’t long lived as Anderstown went up and scored almost immediately to leave the scores level.
The game got bogged down in midfield, with Northend having their fair share of play. As Northend went looking for a winner, Caitlin Kelly almost delivered, when her shot hit the Anderstown upright. In the final minute of the game, Anderstown got a corner. From the resultant kick, they scored a goal at the back post to break the Northend hearts, with barely time to retake the centre. Full time 1-2

Player of the Match Oisin Gordon

Panel: L Hardy, R Hamill, J Dillon, O McBurney, R Maguire, C McGarry, L Kearney, C Kelly, O Gordon, K McNeill
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