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Northend United 1 Greenisland 0 aet Saturday 23rd January 2015

A place in the last 16 of the NIBFA Plate was up for grabs and the Northend boys made a bright start with some great wing play from Jack McIlhatton. Lewis Hector burst onto an up-field pass from Kai Barr on six minutes and almost poked the ball past the out rushing keeper; but it was a half of very few chances with both sides keenly contesting every ball. Half-time 0-0

The Northend boys were quick out of the blocks again in the second half and almost took the lead on three minutes when Kevin Cosgrove fired a shot narrowly over the bar. The Ballymena boys were starting to dominate play and a good piece of play between Tyrone Mitchell and Kai Barr created another chance for Kevin Cosgrove that went narrowly wide. Like the first period, both sides closed each other down and the Northend defence of David Magill, Jack Adams, Owen Campbell and Keeper Curtis Wilson, were in outstanding form. Callum McMurray tested the Greenisland keeper with five minutes remaining and the game edged towards extra time. Full time 0-0

Extra time: Northend were in no mood to let this cup tie run away from them and dominated the first period of extra time. Callum McMurray almost edged his side in front on three minutes following a good through ball from Kevin Cosgrove; although Curtis Wilson made a brilliant save from a thunderous Greenisland shot in the final moments of the first period. Northend continued to dominate the play and boys got the reward for all their hard work in the opening minute of the second period. David McKay intercepted an up-filed ball and played a lofted pass behind the Greenisland defence for the run of Kevin Cosgrove. The midfielder beat a defender and cut a ball across goal towards Callum McMurray who was on hand to smash the ball high into the roof of the goal - and what a roar from the home support. Northend were good value for their lead and Tyrone Mitchell went close with well struck shot that was deflected wide of goal. Greenisland kept fighting to the final whistle, but it was Northend's day and the boys well deserve their place in the last 16. Final score 1-0 AET

Man of the Match - It would be cruel to award anything other than a whole team performance. The goalkeeper and the back three were in great form and deserved a clean sheet. The midfield and forwards worked their socks off. A deserved victory. Very well done boys!

Panel: C Wilson, D Magill, J Adams, O Campbell, K Cosgrove, J McIlhatton, T Mitchell, K Barr, L Hector, D McKay and C McMurray

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Armagh City 4 Northend United 0 Saturday 9th January 2016

This was a tough away draw for the Ballymena boys in the opening round of the NIBFA Cup. The opening part of the game was very tight with neither side being allowed any time on the ball. Northend created the first real opening of the game on fourteen minutes when Jack McIlhatton beat his marker along the left flank and fizzed a dangerous cross towards Lewis Hector at the back post. The Northend defence of David Magill, Jack Adams and Owen Campbell looked very solid and combined well with their midfield to play some of the best football they've produced all season. The Ballymena side were dominating the play at this point and it wasn't long before another chance came their way. Kai Barr and Tyrone Mitchell combined to create an opening for Lewis Hector and the Armagh Keeper done well to force Lewis's effort wide of goal. It was Armagh who took the lead on twenty one minutes. Northend had only themselves to blame as they'd three attempts to clear a corner kick and paid a heavy price with a sloppy goal. It was Armagh who now had their tails in the air and they added a second on the stroke of half time. Half-time 2-0

The second half followed a very similar pattern to the first period. Both teams cancelled each other out for the majority of the opening ten minutes and the only noteworthy chance was created by David McKay, with Lewis Hector seeing another good effort being saved by the keeper. Armagh scored their third on fifteen minutes with an excellent 25 yard strike that gave Curtis Wilson no chance in goal. The score line was certainly harsh on the Northend boys at this point as the play had been fairly evenly balanced and to their credit the Ballymena side dug deep to create a number of further chances. The first came when Jack Adams, Kevin Cosgrove and Jack McIlhatton worked a clever corner kick that led to a goal-mouth scramble. Moments later Callum McMurray was sent through on goal following a clever piece of play from Owen Campbell, only to see his effort drift wide of the post. Callum McMuray then went agonisingly close again following some strong play by Tyrone Mitchell. You certainly had the feeling that this wasn't going to be Northend's day and this was compounded further when Jack Adams smashed a free-kick off the cross bar and the resulting goal-mouth scramble was eventually cleared. Sam McDowell gave another impressive display at right back and certainly shows a good deal of potential as a defender. In the final seconds of the game Armagh scored their fourth to put a pretty unbalanced slant on the score line. Full-time 4-0

4-0 reads like a bit of a tanking, but to be fair to the boys they played very well for long periods of the game and they produced some of their best football of the season. There are plenty of positives to take from the game. They've certainly continued to develop as a group and have shown a lot of progress since the start of the season.

Man of the Match: Lewis Hector and Owen Campbell both looked lively today and worked incredibly hard for their team.

Panel: C Wilson, D Magill, J Adams, O Campbell, K Cosgrove, J McIlhatton, T Mitchell, K Barr, L Hector, D McKay, C McMurray and S McDowell

Lisburn Ladies U14s 1 Northend United 0 Saturday 19th December 2015

The boys put in a good performance against a Lisburn Ladies U14 squad. Northend almost took the lead within the first couple of minutes when Lewis Hector fired a half chance narrowly over the bar. The Lisburn side were passing the ball well and with 4 internationals in their side they were proving a very strong match for the Ballymena boys. The back three of Sam McDowell, Kevin Cosgrove and David Magill were very solid in the first half and Cutis Wilson was in good form when he was called into action. The boys had the advantage of a strong breeze in the opening period, but to be fair it was difficult for both teams to get the ball under control. Tyrone Mitchell and Kai Barr worked very hard in midfield and created a couple of half chances, but the Lisburn keeper was on hand to keep the score level. Half-time 0-0

The second half was again a very tight affair and with the boys playing into the wind they worked hard to keep the ball on the ground. In a half of very few chances it was Lisburn who edged themselves in front with ten minutes gone. Northend played some good football in parts of the half and almost broke the Lisburn defence down on a couple of occasions. Lewis Hector again went close as did Callum McMurray and Kevin Cosgrove. Jack Adams made a great tackle late in the game to snuff out a rare Lisburn attack, but time eventually ran out for the Ballymena side. Full-time 1-0

Happy Christmas to all the players and parent from Robert and Uel. Thanks for your support. Have a good break and we'll see you all in 2016.

Man of the Match: Lewis Hector - worked his socks off and come mighty close to scoring a couple for his side.

Panel: C Wilson, S McDowell, K Cosgrove, D Magill, T Mitchell, J Adams, K Barr, L Hector, C McMurray and David McKay

Northend United 6 Chimney Corner 3 Saturday 5th December 2015

The weather was horrible during this game but the Northend boys turned in a great team performance after a four week break to warm their supporters. The wee blues played against a strong wind in the opening period and started the game very brightly. It was Chimney Corner who edged themselves in-front after six minutes when a corner kick squirmed its way in at the front post; Jack McIlhatton was having none of it and straight from the kick-off dribbled past five players before slotting the ball past the keeper. The Northend defence of Owen Campbell, Jack Adams and David Magill were coping well with the added pressure brought by the wind. Curtis Wilson was welcomed back home by Northend and gave a good first half performance in goal. With twelve minutes gone Tyrone Mitchell linked well with Kai Barr before bursting through the Chimney Corner defence to put his side ahead although Chimney Corner brought themselves level minutes later. Kevin Cosgrove was running the game in midfield and got a deserved goal following some good pressure on the Chimney Corner midfield by Owen Campbell. Lewis Hector was looking sharp and helped himself to a goal before half time with a strong run and cool finish in-front of goal. Half-time 4-2

Northend started the second half strongly and went close to extending their lead with a well struck free-kick from Jack Adams. Some terrific wide play by Jack McIlhatton created two great openings for Kevin Cosgrove and Lewis Hector which were both cleared off the line. Chimney Corner came back into the game for spell. Sam McDowell made a good point blank save from one attack, but was unable to prevent Chimney scoring their third of the game with twelve minutes gone. A vote of thanks is due to the by-stander who alerted the referee to the fact that Chimney Corner had mistakenly put an extra player onto the field from the start of the second half; and from that point forward the Northend boys regained the upper hand. Further efforts from Lewis Hector and Callum McMurray were cleared off the line before Lewis Hector produced another strong run and excellent finish to put the game beyond doubt. David McKay introduced some further energy to the midfield and grabbed a deserved goal with a well struck shot from the edge of the area into the far top corner of the goal. Full-time 6-3

This was a really pleasing team performance today after a four week break. Every one of the boys made a good contribution and their work rate was the difference when they played against the wind in the first half.

Man of the Match: Kevin Cosgrove ran the game in midfield and Jack Adams had a very solid game in defence.

Panel: C Wilson, O Campbell, J Adams, D Magill, J McIlhatton, K Cosgrove, T Mitchell, K Barr, L Hector, S McDowell, C McMurray, David McKay