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Northend Youth 2 Roe Valley 5 Saturday 7th May 2016

With almost the first kick of the ball Roe Valley took Adam McCaughan by surprise, on his debut in goal, to open the scoring and put them ahead. They followed with another goal shortly after leaving Northend stunned and struggling to get a grip on the game. Roe Valley took advantage of the unsettled Northend team and while some of the boys battled hard to turn it around they could not find their form and Roe Valley punished them with another 2 before half time. Half time 4-0

This was a game of two halves and Northend came out fighting the second half. They dominated this half with some great passing and good opportunities in front of goal. Roe Valley scored first in the second half but this was quickly followed by a Caolan Lennon goal. Sam Crawford also secured a goal for Northend. At the other end Gabriel Farias was back in nets and he made some terrific saves. Ciaran Martin, Jack Connor, and Andre Pescaru were very strong in the half but unfortunately the boys had left themselves too much to do and the final score was 5-2.

Man of the Match: Andre Pescaru

Panel: Gabriel Farias, Sam Crawford, Jack Connor, Niall Devine, Andre Pescaru, Ben Harkin, Ciaran Martin, Kacper Dziadkowiec, Caolan Lennon, Alex Bell, Adam McCaughan

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Northend Youth 1 Roe Valley 5 Saturday 23rd April 2016

After last weeks defeat Northend U12's had another chance at silverware with the semi finals of the Plate. It was Northend who started looking the better of the both sides, with good passing and linking up, but Roe Valley looked dangerous on the counter attack with some long passes. In the first ten minutes they opened the scoreline with a long run and a high strike past goalkeeper Gabriel Farias, who could do nothing to keep it out. Northend continued to have most of the possession but they struggled to get shots on target and were punished with two more goals from Roe Valley. Half time 0-3

After a few changes to positions at half time it seemed to be making a difference with more pace up front and Northend started to find the target. Niall Devine, Ciaran Martin and Cal O'Brien worked well to put the Roe Valley team under pressure and the tempo of the game increased. It looked like a Northend goal was coming as they continued to push forward with several chances not finding the back of the net. It was on one of these runs that Ciaran Martin was fouled in the box by two Roe Valley players to be awarded a penalty which he took well to secure the Northend opener. Roe Valley replied with a quick succession goal. With ten minutes to go Ciaran Martin was dangerously fouled again but his reaction saw both players being sent off. With the breakdown of the attacking trio Northend had limited chances after this and Roe Valley played the better final minutes. Almost on the whistle Roe Valley scored their fifth. Full time 1-5 Roe Valley

Well done boys, the score does not reflect the overall performance in this game.

Man of the Match: Niall Devine

Panel: G Farias, S Crawford, J Connor, N Devine, A Pescaru, B Harkin, C Martin, C O'Brien, K Dziadkowiec, C Lennon

Northend Youth 1 Ballycastle United 3 Saturday 16th April 2016

Northend were missing a few players this week for this top seed semi final of the league cup and it took about 5 minutes to settle down. Within the first 5 minutes Gabriel Farias goal keeping skills were tested and he managed to keep Ballycastle from going ahead. Once Northend found their stride the two teams were very well matched with end to end chances but neither team found the back of the net. Half Time 0-0

The first half started off at a fast pace and again their was nothing to separate the sides, Both had chances but it was Ballycastle that got the first goal. This was quickly followed by the goal of the season from Sam Crawford who volleyed the ball past the Ballycastle defence from outside the box. In the last 5 minutes of this game it looked like it was going to be decided by golden goal when Ballycastle in quick succession took advantage of two rare Northend errors to secure their place in the final. Full Time 1-3

Well done boys, the score does not reflect the overall performance in this game. Keep the work ethic up and we could still secure some silverware in the plate.

Man of the Match: Jack Connor , Andre Pescaru

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

Northend United 2 Ballycastle Colts 0 Saturday 9th April 2016

This week U12 youths were playing a cup game. The first 10 minutes of the game was even with both teams having some good runs. It was Northend who came the closest to opening the scoreline with a typically strong Caolan Lennon free kick from midfield which hit the bar to deny the goal. Ballycastle followed quickly with a shot on target which Dara Killough confidently saved. Northend started then to pile on the pressure and pushed forward with great linking and communication between all the boys. The next shot on target came from Ciaran Martin but the Ballycastle keeper managed to get a touch to the ball to keep it out. The last 10 minutes of the first half continued with Northend keeping most of the possession and having most of the chances to go ahead, the closest being a super strike from Gabriel Farias which just went wide. Ballycastle though were ready to take their chances and came close to scoring with the last kick of the first half but Darra Killough was on form and safely prevented the Ballycastle team scoring against the run of play. Half time 0-0

The second half started with Northend once again dominating the play and unsettling the Ballycastle team with many chances in front of the goal for Cal O'Brien and Caolan Lennon, laid on by Sam Crawford, Ciaran Martin and Ben Harkin, but their efforts just missed the target. In a counter attack from Ballycastle Darra Killough was forced off his line but defender Andre Pescaru was there to support his goalkeeper and cleared the ball off the line. Northend picked up the pace further and pushed forward and their enthusiasm was thwarted with a series of offside decisions (a couple dubious) but it was only a matter of time before their efforts were rewarded with Sam Crawford hitting the back of the net for a well deserved goal. With only 10 minutes left the boys were determined not to throw away possession and the skilful passing and speed left the Ballycastle team frustrated resulting in raised tensions. With 5 minutes to go the game was stopped after Gabriel Farias was taken down with a dangerous tackle, and an off the ball retaliation incident, while Farias was still down - as both teams were at fault the referee issued warnings and continued play. Northend almost immediately had another 2 goals from Sam Crawford and Caolan Lennon but both just missed. Ben Harkin and Jack Connor ensured the counter attacks from Ballycastle got no further than midfield and it was Jack Connor who set up the final goal of the game with a pass to Sam Crawford whose effort was saved by the goalkeeper but not collected and Ciaran Martin was on hand to strike the ball into the bottom corner. Full time 2-0

This was a great performance by all of the Northend lads who put in 100% effort throughout the game. A lesson from this week is that they need to concentrate only on the game and not react to incidents in any way other than through football. This team work together as a unit and the team spirit cannot be faulted.

Man of the Match: Team performance

Panel: D Killough, G Farias, S Crawford, J Connor, C Lennon, A Pescaru, B Harkin, C Martin, C O'Brien

Northend Youth 1 Draperstown Celtic 1 Saturday 2nd April 2016

Northend were put under pressure straight from the kick off but some great defending from Gabriel Farias and Jack Connor kept the score level. The Northend midfield didn't start very well and gave the ball away too often but made amends after 10 minutes when some great work by Niall Devine and Ciaran Martin sent Sam Crawford through only to see his effort going wide .Caolan Lennon came close a couple of minutes later after Ben Harkin laid on a great through ball .Half time 0-0

The second half started with Northend pressing hard and Sam Crawford came close again .Some great defending again from Northend's Andre Pescaru prevented Draperstown from scoring .

A bad kick out from the Draperstown keeper was punished by Caolan Lennon and he smashed home the opener from 20 yards. Northend kept up the pressure and a shot from Niall Devine came crashing off the bar.

With nearly the last kick off the ball Draperstown equalised after a wicked deflection caught out Darragh Killough in goals to share the points. Full time1-1

This was a very good team performance from the Northend boys.

Men of the Match: Gabriel Farias, Jack Connor, Andre Pescaru

Panel: D Killough, G Farias, J Connor, A Pescaru, S Crawford, N Devine, C Lennon, C Martin, B Harkin

Northend Youth 2 Moyola Park 1 Saturday 20th February 2016

This was a game in which Northend had to play well as Moyola were comfortable winners in the second game of the season against Northend. The conditions were not the best but Northend seemed to adapt well with Cal O'Brien going close straight from the kick off. Northend started to play the ball around and wasn't to long before the inform Niall Devine found Ciaran Martin who took the ball out wide and with his pace managed to find Niall Devine to open the scoring. It wasn't too long before they were up 2 as Ben Harkin found Martin out on the right again in exactly the same type of move but this time it was Caolan Lennon who got on the score sheet. In a rare attack Moyola were awarded a penalty after a mistimed tackle Gabriel Farias save the penalty but unfortunately for Northend the rebound was converted. Half Time 2- 1

The second half started well for Northend with Devine, O'Brien and Martin coming close within the opening 10 minutes. Moyola were feeling the pressure and as a result the game got more physical. On a number of occasions great runs from Northend were thwarted by some overenthusiastic tackles resulting in some good chances from Caolan Lennon free kicks which just went wide. With 15 minutes to go it looked like Cal O'Brien was going to increase the lead but seemed to be brought down inside the box but on this occasion no penalty was awarded. The Northend boys did not let Moyola gain any control of the game but in the dying minutes they had a run forward and with some great defending from Crawford, Pescaru and Connor they were kept from drawing even. Full time 2-1

This was a great performance by all of the Northend lads.

Man of the Match: Team Performance

Panel: G Farias, S Crawford, B Harkin, J Connor, C Lennon, N Devine, C O Brien, C Martin, A Pescaru, K Dziadkowiec

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