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Northend Youth 7 Ballymoney YL 1 Saturday 13th February 2016

After a three month winter break Northend started the game strong with Cal O'Brien scoring in the first five minutes. It didn't take him long to score his second from a great through ball from man of the match Ben Harkin. Sam Crawford, Niall Devine and Ciaran Martin all came close to scoring but it was Sam Crawford who made it 3-0 after great work from the midfield. The ladies came close on a number of occasions but good defending from Andre Pescaru and on form goalkeeping from Gabriel Farias kept them at bay. Five minutes from half time Cal O'Brien got his hat trick to make it 4-0 for Northend. The ladies kept pressing and got a well deserved goal just at half time. Half time 4-1

The second half started with the young ladies going for goal but some great defending from Jack Connor lessened the threat. Northend found their form and displayed some of the excellent passing football that they finished last year with and this paid off with Cal O'Brien connecting with an excellent pass from Niall Devine and safely putting the ball at the back of the net to secure his 4th if the game. Ciaran Martin was next in the scoreline when he took the ball out wide and wriggled his way past 3 defenders to toe poke it into the back of the net. The lads were not finished and it was Niall Devine who got the next after some skilful linking with Andre Pescaru, Niall confidently put the ball in the back of the net. The young ladies did not give up and in the 2nd half forced goalkeeper Gabriel Farias to make a number of saves to keep the win safe for Northend. Full time 7-1

This was a great game of football with both teams battling hard until the end. Good start boys keep it up.

Man of the Match: Ben Harkin

Panel: Gabriel Farias, Ciaran Martin, Sam Crawford, Ben Harkin, Jack Connor, Niall Devine, Cal O Brien, Kasper Dziadkowiec, Andre Pescaru

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Northend Youth 5 Roe Valley 5 Saturday 28th November 2015

On a very wet and cold morning, Roe Valley started the fastest and came close on a few occasions but good defending from Coire Mellon and good goalkeeping from Darragh Killough kept the score level. However Roe Valley eventually made the breakthrough when the Northend defence switched off making the score 0-1. This didn't deter the Ballymena boys and they came close when Sam Crawford saw his shot go narrowly past the Valley upright. Roe Valley scored a second goal but some great work from Cal O'Brien and Ciaran Martin saw Niall Devine pull a goal back just before half time. Half time 1-2

Into the second half and Northend United started the better and the inform Niall Devine scored again. In some very poor conditions great defending from Caolan Lennon saw him prevent two certain goals with goalline clearances. However another error in defence allowed Roe Valley to take the lead again. In a end to end match, O'Brien, Martin and Devine combined well from Devine to score his hat-trick. Some great running from Ciaran Martin resulted in a free-kick just outside the Valley box and Caolan Lennon made no mistake from the free kick to give Northend a 4-3 lead.

Roe Valley pulled level in this end to end match before Cal O'Brien gave them the lead again. At 5-4 to Northend with only minutes remaining it looked like they would take all the points but a misplaced pass allowed Roe Valley to score the equaliser with almost the last kick of the game. Final score 5-5

Man of the Match: Niall Devine

Panel: D Killough, C Mellon, C Lennon, C Martin, N Devine, S Crawford, C O'Brien, B Harkin, K Dziadkowiec

Northend Youth 1 Coleraine Olympic 3 Saturday 21st November 2015

Northend were very slow to start the match apart from the in form Darragh Killough in goals but it wasn't too long before Coleraine opened the scoring with along through ball which caught out the Northend defence by surprise. This did not deter the Ballymena boys and straight from the kick off Sam Crawford came close after some good work from Niall Devine

Some great defending from Cal O'Brien and Coire Mellon kept Northend in the game but another long ball caught out the defence again to give Coleraine a two goal lead. Half time 0-2

The second half started with Northend pressing and when Ciaran Martin was upended in the box a penalty was rewarded Ciaran stepped up but unfortunately his shot went wide.

After the penalty Northend kept pressing and were rewarded with a goal after a goalmouth scramble in which Cal O'Brien finished .Northend kept the pressure up and were rewarded another penalty

Caolan Lennon stepped up but unfortunately the Olympic keeper made a superb save Northend kept pressing but to no avail and with the last kick off the game Coleraine scored their third goal. Final score 1-3

This was a great performance from a great bunch of lads a massive improvement from last season

Man of the Match: Darra Killough

Panel: D Killough, C Lennon, C Martin, N Devine, S Crawford, C O'Brien, B Harkin, K Dziadkowiec; C Mellon

Northend Youth 4 Oxford United 6 Saturday 7th November 2015

Northend went up two goals in the first 5 minutes, with a quick fire double from Sam Crawford, but Oxford pressed hard with some great passing from the back and it wasn't too long before they were level. Niall Devine and Ciaran Martin went close to putting Northend in front again but it was Oxford who scored just before half time. Half time 3-2

Oxford were the quickest to start the second half and went 4-2 up in two minutes but the on form Ben Harkin released Sam Crawford to give Sam his hat trick. Darragh Killough kept the score down with two terrific saves but minutes later Northend gave away a penalty which Oxford confidently put away. Another defensive error saw Oxford snatch their 6th but the Northend lads kept their shape and were rewarded when Jack Quigley scored after a goal mouth scramble Full time 6-4

Men of the Match: Niall Devine; Ben Harkin

Panel: D Killough, C Lennon, C Martin, N Devine, S Crawford, C O'Brien, B Harkin, J Quigley, K Dziadkowiec; C Mellon