Northend United Youth FC

Carrick Rangers U13s 2 Northend United U13s 2

Saturday 27th March 2010

Northend United played Carrick Rangers in A BEAYIL Shield match the Valley pitches on Saturday.

As Carrick Rangers are current league leaders and virtually certain of a place in the final of the Shield, Northend knew only an excellent team display would see them getting anything out of this game.

An under strength Northend team took the match to Carrick right from the kick-off. With Jamie Speirs, Ryan Gault and Matthew Mulholland pulling the strings in midfield, Northend played some of their best football of the season.

Against the run of play, Carrick Rangers were awarded s free kick twenty yards out. From the resultant kick, the ball struck the crossbar and rebounded down into play and their striker was quickest to react to open the scoring when he prodded the ball home past Niall Shannon in the Northend net.

The rest of the first half remained a tense affair in which the Northend defence of Donnelly, Laverty, Swann and Tierney remained on top of their game, but the score remained 1-0 to Carrick at the half-time.

Northend came out a very determined team in the second half, looking for the equaliser. With Dylan Hamill and Brendan O'Mullan making some inspirational runs down the wings, Northend looked like they would get the all important goal.

However tragedy struck when Carrick Rangers again broke out of defence and scored with a low drive into the Northend net to make the score 2-0.

Such is the character of this Northend team, the heads didn't drop but instead they came out fighting again. In the best move of the match, Caolan Tierney fed the ball out of defence to Jamie Speirs in the Northend midfield. He found himself with time to turn an lob the Carrick keeper from the edge of the penalty area to make the score 2-1.

In an unsavoury incident off the ball, the Carrick striker was given his marching orders for a clash with Dylan Hamill.

Northend continued to play their best football of the season but with time running out, they were awarded a corner. From Mulholland's cross the Carrick defender handled in the box to award Northend a penalty kick.

Ryan Gault stepped forward and kept his nerve to beat the keeper with a low shot, to make the score 2-2 with only minutes remaining.

Northend continued to attack for the rest of the game, with Jaime Brown and Matthew Mulholland going close but the final whistle eventually blew for a 2-2 final scoreline.

This Northend team are continuing to improve immensely as the season progresses and are looking forward to their forthcoming participation in the Scottish Easter Tournament at Ayr.

Man of the Match: Superb Team Performance

Panel: Niall Shannon, Jordan Donnelly, Caolan Tierney, Michael Laverty, Niall Swann, Jamie Speirs(c), Ryan Gault, Dylan Hamill, Matthew Mulholland, Jaime Brown, Brendan O'Mullan

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Northend United U13s 10 Barn United U13s 2

Saturday 20th March 2010

Northend United hosted Barn United in a BEAYIL League match at the Ballymena Showgrounds. With last week's defeat still fresh in their minds they believed they had a point to prove.

Northend started the livelier but Barn United came back into the game and Stefan McLees and Niall Swann made some important blocking tackles to keep the Barn strikers at bay.

Barn United took the lead when they broke out of defence and their left wing cross was met with a low shot past Niall Shannon in the Northend net.

This goal sparked Northend to play some of their best football of the season and from a Dylan Hamill pass on ten minutes, Brendan O'Mullan was on hand to beat the keeper with a low shot, scoring his first goal of the season.

It was all Northend now and Jaime Brown beat the keeper with a twenty five yard shot to give Northend a 2-1 lead after twelve minutes.

With Jamie Speirs and Ryan Gault playing well in midfield, a through ball sent Jaime Brown clear of the defence and he calmly slotted the ball past the Barn keeper.

Jaime Brown completed his hat-trick when a Mulholland through ball left him clear of the Barn defence and in a carbon copy of his previous goal; he slotted the ball past the Barn keeper.

In a torrid first half for Barn United, Jamie Speirs was next on the scoresheet when he beat the keeper after receiving a pass from O'Mullan, to make the score 5-1.

Matthew Mulholland added another two identical goals before half time when he raced clear of the Barn defence to beat their keeper on both occasions, leaving the half time score 7-1 to Northend United.

With the pace of the first half being frantic, it was impossible to maintain this in the second half. Barn United came much more into the game and were unlucky on a couple of occasions not to score but found Niall Swann, in the Northend defence, having an inspirational performance. Jordan Donnelly replaced Laverty after ten minutes of the second half.

Ryan Gault increased Northend's lead when he beat the keeper from a twenty five yard shot. The same player scored his second and Northend's ninth when he connected with a Jaime Brown cross and beat the keeper with a low shot.

With Hamill and Brown needlessly getting booked, Ciaran McCambridge replaced Brown with twelve minutes of the match remaining.

Barn United scored their second goal of the game when a high shot beat the Northend keeper.

However Matthew Mulholland had the final say when he scored his hat-trick and Northend's tenth goal when he beat two defenders and calmly finished with a low drive past the Barn United keeper, to leave the final score 10-2.

Barn United were unlucky to come up against a Northend team on a day when they played their best football of the season.

Men of the Match: Niall Swann, Brendan O'Mullan

Panel: Niall Shannon, Michael Laverty, Caolan Tierney, Stefan McLees, Niall Swann, Jamie Speirs(c), Ryan Gault, Dylan Hamill, Matthew Mulholland, Jaime Brown, Brendan O'Mullan, Jordan Donnelly, Ciaran McCambridge

Northend United U13s 1 Carrick Rangers U13s 4

Saturday 13th March 2010

Northend started off this BEAYIL Cup 2nd round match in first gear and found themselves down 1-0 after five minutes when the Carrick striker lobbed the Northend keeper from twenty yards.

This was a wake-up call for United and Michael Laverty made a break down the Northend wing on eight minutes and from his resultant cross, Ryan Gault was on hand to equalise when he drive the ball low into the net to make the score 1-1.

In a game that was swinging from end to end, Carrick took the lead again when a through ball from their midfielder allowed their striker to beat Niall Shannon, the Northend goalkeeper. Although this goal was clearly offside, the referee allowed it, much to the dismay of the Northend Coaching team.

Northend now had their best spell of the game and Jaime Brown, who was having a good game, made a break down the Northend left wing and crossed to Dylan Hamill in the Carrick goalmouth but he just failed to beat their keeper.

With Ryan Gault and Matthew Mulholland beginning to dictate play in midfield, Northend continued to pressurise Carrick and Dylan Hamill was again unable to score when he found the ball at his feet inside the six yard box.

With most of the play inside the Carrick half for the remainder of this half, Northend was unable to turn their superiority into more goals, leaving the half time score 2-1 to Carrick.

Carrick came out a different team in the second half and took the game to Northend. The defence of Stefan McLees, Jamie Speirs, Niall Swann and Caolan Tierney were soaking up the Carrick pressure until ten minutes, when a Carrick cross was superbly volleyed into the Northend net by their striker.

With Northend now on the back foot, Carrick made the score 4-1 when a high shot from their striker was only parried into the Northend net by their keeper.

Jordan Donnelly and Ciaran McCambridge replaced O'Mullan and Hamill to give more running down the Northend right wing.

With time running out, Ciaran McCambridge found himself in possession of the ball with his back to the Carrick goal. His turn and resultant cross found Michael Laverty in front of goal but he was unable to convert this good chance into a goal.

Northend return to competitive action next week against Barn United.

Man of the Match: Matthew Mulholland

Panel: Niall Shannon, Stefan McLees, Caolan Tierney, Jamie Speirs (c), Niall Swann, Michael Laverty, Ryan Gault, Matthew Mulholland, Jaime Brown, Dylan Hamill, Brendan O'Mullan, Jordan Donnelly, Ciaran McCambridge

Northend United U13s 6 Ballyclare Colts U13s 0

Saturday 6th March 2010

Northend started off this BEAYIL League match against Ballyclare Colts in blistering form and Ryan Gault hit a thirty yard pile driver on three minutes which sailed into the top corner of the Ballyclare net, giving the goalkeeper no chance.

This early goal settled Northend and they began to play some attractive football. Jamie Brown made a break down the Northend left wing and crossed the ball into the Ballyclare goal mouth, where Michael Laverty was on hand to score Northend's second on ten minutes.

Ballyclare came back at Northend and began to dominate play in midfield, putting the Northend rear guard under pressure, however the Northend defence of Jordan Donnelly, Jamie Speirs, Niall Swann and Caolan Tierney were soaking up the Ballyclare pressure and Niall Shannon in the Northend goal dealt comfortably with any long range shots.

Northend weathered this Ballyclare offensive and Jaime Brown and Dylan Hamill, the Northend strikers, began to give the Ballyclare defence a torrid time. On twenty five minutes, Jamie Brown broke through the Ballyclare defence and beat their keeper with a low drive to make the score 3-0 to Northend. Northend defended their lead for the rest of the first half leaving the half-time score 3-0.

Northend started off the second half again in blistering form and scored the all important goal on two minutes when a high ball was pumped into the Ballyclare goalmouth and Ryan Gault knocked the ball down to Dylan Hamill, who hammered the ball into the Ballyclare net to make the score 4-0. This goal effectively killed the game off and with Matthew Mulholland and Ryan Gault beginning to dominate play in midfield, Northend looked dangerous with almost every attack.

Goal of the game was scored on twenty minutes when from a Matthew Mulholland cross, Ryan Gault volleyed the ball into the Ballyclare goal, giving their keeper no chance.

With the Ballyclare heads beginning to drop, Northend capitalised on this and Matthew Mulholland ran through their defence to score a low drive to make the score 6-0 to Northend.

Northend could have increased their lead only for an inspired goalkeeping display from the Ballyclare keeper. Rhys O'Mullan replaced Laverty with ten minutes of the match remaining.

Ballyclare never gave up and could have scored towards the end of the game except for a confident defensive display from Jamie Speirs the Northend captain.

Man of the Match: Ryan Gault

Panel: Niall Shannon, Jordan Donnelly, Caolan Tierney, Jamie Speirs (c), Niall Swann, Michael Laverty, Ryan Gault, Matthew Mulholland, Jaime Brown, Dylan Hamill, Brendan O'Mullan, Rhys O'Mullan

Barn United U13s 3 Northend United U13s 4

Saturday 13th February 2010

Northend started off this BEAYIL Shield match against Barn United in sluggish form and it was no surprise when Barn almost took the lead on five minutes when a cross into their penalty box was just cleared by Niall Swann.

The Northend defence of Jordan Donnelly, Stefan McLees, Niall Swann and Eoin Campbell was soaking up the Barn United pressure and Niall Shannon in the Northend goal dealt comfortably with any long range Barn United shots.

Barn could have opened the scoring on eight minutes but again Niall Swann was on hand to clear. Philip Leetch was having an excellent game, preventing the Barn United playmaker from having any influence on the game.

Matthew Mulholland made a penetrating run down the Northend left wing and his cross was met with a poor Jaime Brown shot which just squirmed wide.

On fourteen minutes Barn United were awarded a corner and from this, a weak Northend clearance fell to the Barn striker and he hit his shot superbly into the top corner of Northend's net to make the score 1-0 to Barn United.

The true spirit of this Northend team shone through and Matthew Mulholland who was having an inspirational game beat two defenders before coolly slotting past the keeper to make the score 1-1.

In a match that was flowing from end to end, Barn United came back at Northend and a long range strike on twenty three minutes found the back of the Northend goal to give Barn United a 2- 1 lead. Caolan Tierney then replaced Campbell.

Ryan Gault, who was making his Northend debut, was very unlucky when a great solo run left two defenders in his trail and with the goalkeeper beaten; his shot went narrowly past the goal.

Northend did equalise just before half time, when Jaime Brown was on hand to beat the keeper with a dipping shot, to leave the half time score 2-2.

Barn United started off the second half the same as the first half, taking the game to Northend. From one of their attacks, Stefan McLees intercepted the ball and unleashed a defence splitting pass to Jamie Speirs on the Northend right wing.

Jamie's persistent running allowed him to beat the Barn defender and cross the ball to Matthew Mulholland, who made no mistake in front of the Barn goal to give Northend a 3-2 lead.

In a golden spell for Northend, Jaime Brown and Jamie Speirs had chances to extend Northend's lead before Barn United had their midfielder sent off for a second bookable offence.

Northend had a chance to kill off the game when Matthew Mulholland was upended in the penalty box and from the resultant penalty kick; Dylan Hamill pulled his shot wide of the goal.

This miss gave Barn United hope and they hit Northend on the counter attack and scored when some poor tackling allowed their striker to beat the Northend keeper with a low drive. Northend then brought on Michael Laverty to replace Brown, with ten minutes of the match remaining, and what an inspired substitution this proved to be.

Matthew Mulholland, who was causing Barn United all sorts of problems, made a penetrating run down the Northend right wing and from his cross Michael Laverty, who had run from deep inside his own half, was on hand to shoot past the Barn United keeper to give Northend a 4-3 lead with two minutes of the game remaining. There was no further scoring to leave the final score 4-3 to Northend United.

Man of the Match: Matthew Mulholland

Panel: Niall Shannon, Jordan Donnelly, Eoin Campbell, Stefan McLees, Niall Swann, Ryan Gault, Jamie Speirs (c), Philip Leetch, Matthew Mulholland, Jaime Brown, Dylan Hamill, Michael Laverty, Ciaran McCambridge, Caolan Tierney, Brendan O'Mullan