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Northend Youth 1 Springfield Star 5 Saturday 23rd October 2021

Northend went into this match against a competitive Springfield Star with a depleted squad due to sickness. Northend kept it simple, played well when in possession and hardly gave Springfield a chance. The only goal of the first half came from a long throw and Joshua mistimed the bounce over his head and into the back of the net. The Blues had a few chances and could have made it 1-1 from a move involving Caitlin Kelly and Liam Kearney. Half time 0-1

Oliver McBurney had a hard time in the second half with very little options in midfield and Springfield took advantage of this with two quickfire goals before the Blues managed to regroup to get back into the game. Northend conceded a free kick outside the box and Springfield scored with the resultant kick. The Blues kept their heads up and had a good go of it with Oisin Gordon proving a good outlet down the right wing and Caitlin Kelly was good down the left wing. Both and chances to score but the Springfield keeper was in outstanding form. Northend conceded their final goal after conceding another free kick outside the Blues penalty box.

It was a hard morning in the middle of the park with Liam Kearney battling hard and eventually winning a free kick. The free was lofted into the box, where McBurney had a chance to score but it was eventually cleared off the line. On the Blues next attack, Oisin Gordon glided down the wing before passing the ball into the Springfield box, where McBurney made no mistake this time to plant the ball in the net. Full time 1-5

Players of the Match: Joshua Dillon and Oisin Gordon

Panel: J Dillon, R Maguire, J O’Hara, O McBurney, L Kearney, C Kelly, O Gordon, K McNeill, E Meija, O Gormley

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Northend United 1 Chimney Corner 5 Saturday 9th October 2021

The U12s encountered their first taste of Friday Night Football in this match with Chimney Corner, played at Seymour Hill in Dunmurry. The Blues struggled to come to terms with the stronger Chimney Corner side and found themselves down a goal in the first five minutes of the match.

Chimney Corner went on to score another four goals in the match, with Northend’s Caitlin Kelly replying for the Blues. Full time 1-5

Panel: L Hardy, R Hamill, R Maguire, J O’Hara, O McBurney, T McAuley, N Burrows, L Kearney, C Kelly, O Gordon, K McNeill

Northend Youth 7 Ballymena United 2 Saturday 2nd October 2021

The young Blues got off to a rocky start, allowing Ballymena United to score from a poor clearance. Nerves were to the fore for the next five minutes until Northend got a corner and Nathan Burrows scored with a brilliant header. Caitlin Kelly was having a good game down the left wing, linking up with Joseph O’Hara. Following some good exchange play between the two, a ball to Liam Kearney allowed him to shoot at the Ballymena keeper, who could only parry the ball and Catlin was there to put it away. Next attack followed a similar pattern, as the Blues won a corner and Liam stayed round the edge of the box and following a training ground move, was there to volley the ball in the back of the net. Half time 3-1

A reorganisation at half time, moved Oliver McBurney to striker and Oisin Gordon to the right wing. This paid of straight away as Burrows and Kearney weren’t afraid to shoot and McBurney was there to tap home the rebound. Play became bogged down in midfield but after a few exchanges, Northend were back at it. Some brilliant football from McBurney, glided him past two Ballymena defenders to plant the ball into the back of the net. An outstanding strike from Liam Kearney made it 6-1. Ballymena came back into the game and a late tackle from Ruairi Hamill allowed a free kick for Ballymena on the edge of Northend’s box, from which the scored 6-2.

Nathen Burrows was playing well for the Blues, wining everything in the middle of the park, and desperately wanted a second goal. In the dying minutes, one of his shots fell nicely for Oliver McBurney to leave the score 7-2 Full time 7-2

Player of the Match: Joseph O’Hara

Panel: L Hardy, R Hamill, R Maguire, J O’Hara, O McBurney, T McAuley, N Burrows, L Kearney, C Kelly

Northend United 2 Carryduff Colts 4 Saturday 24th September 2021

The 2010 Blues met Carryduff Colts this week in the Lisburn league and got off to a bad start two players out due to isolation. First 10 minutes was pretty even it was end to end play but Carryduff scored. Then Carryduff added a second and third before halftime. Half time 0-3

Northend changed things up at half time with Ruairi Hamill moving into centre back. Liam Kearney had a lot more time on the ball out on the left wing in the early part of the 2nd half and managed to pull a goal back for Northend. Nathan Burrows and Caitlin Kelly had further chances for the Blues. Burrows hit a fantastic shot form the edge of the box, which the Carryduff keeper parried, only for Caitlin Kelly to follow up and score. Just as it looked like Northend would get something out of this game, a ball into the Northend box wasn’t dealt with and ended up in the back of the Blues net. Full time 2-4

Player of the Match: Ruairi Hamill

Panel: L Hardy, R Hamill, R Maguire, J O’Hara, O McBurney, T McAuley, N Burrows, L Kearney, C Kelly

Northend United 5 Lower Maze 3 Saturday 18th September 2021

A tight first half first 10 minutes were pretty even before Caitlin Kelly broke down the left wing, forcing a brilliant save but Kane McNeill was there to tap the ball home at the back post. Oisin Gordon done well to stay on side following a nice pass from Caitlin Kelly and he made it 2-0, slipping the ball past the advancing keeper. Nathan Burrows added a third for Northend with a brilliant strike from distance. Lower Maze got themselves back in the game after a short backpass. Half time 3-1

Northend changed it up at halftime bringing Oliver McBurney onto the left and moving Caitlin Kelly into the middle. This change reaped benefits almost immediately as Kelly quickly setup Nathan Borrows who was cut down as he shot. From the resultant free kick, Kane McNeill was on hand to score. Following some tough tackling play in midfield, the Blues lost their focus and Lower Maze managed to grab a second goal. Northend then gave away a penalty which Lughan Hardy got a hand to it but was unable to prevent it going in. Northend weren’t finished yet and forced a corner kick from which Ruairi Hamill scored from a poor clearance. Full time 5-3

Player of the Match: Caitlin Kelly

Panel: L Hardy, J Dillon, R Hamill, R Maguire, K McNeill, N Burrows, O McBurney, C Kelly, O Gordon, G Berescu

Lisburn Youth Pumas 3 Northend United 2 Saturday 4th September 2021

The 2010s had their first competitive game in the Lisburn League on Saturday. The played a very well organised Lisburn Youth Pumas side. The Blues got off to a nervous start and they conceded an early goal before settling down and playing well. However, Lisburn added a second goal midway through the half

Nathan Burrows was looking dangerous, and he pulled a goal back just before half time with a 30 yard strike in off the crossbar. Half time 2-1

A few changes at half time and Catlin Kelly moved to the left wing and Lisburn couldn’t handle her cutting in on her right foot and shooting but the Lisburn keeper was having a great game. Liam Kearney scored with an unbelievable strike from 25 yards to level the scores. The rest of the half was pretty even, until the last few minutes. Kane McNeill got injured and had to come off and with this, the Blues lost their shape. With this disruption, Lisburn were able to capitalise on this and scored the winner in the last minute. Full time 3-2

Man of the Match: Lughan Hardy

Panel: L Hardy, R Hamill, R Maguire, J O’Hara, O McBurney, T McAuley, N Burrows, L Kearney, C Kelly, O Gordon, K McNeill