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Northend United 2 Cliftonville 2 Saturday 23rd February 2019

The U13s returned to action against Cliftonville in the Lisburn League on Saturday in what proved to be a close encounter with the North Belfast side. The Ballymena boys took the lead within 5 minutes when Euan Pirie ran on to a through ball down the right-hand side and smashed an unstoppable strike over the keeper and into the net. Cliftonville probed for an equaliser and did just that when they scored with a header from a corner. Northend restored their lead when Carter Reid fizzed a shot from the edge of the box which was too hot for the Cliftonville keeper to handle, and Euan Pirie was on hand to finish from 6 yards for his second of the game. Half time 2-1

Cliftonville applied the pressure straight from the kick off in order to find another equaliser and Northend found themselves weathering a storm for a period, with Thomas Hasson in nets making a few vital stops. The Ballymena boys had chances of their own to put the game to bed, but could not convert. Cliftonville finally broke the Northend resistance and equalised for the second time when a cross into the box was finished from close range. A draw a fair result in the end of what proved to be a cagey affair. Full time 2-2

Man of the Match: Euan Pirie

Panel: T Hasson, C O'Hara, L Devlin, C Wilson, K Adger, C McAuley, S McDermott, P Mitchell, H Connon, C Reid, E Pirie, T Gillan, D Patterson, F Connon

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Oxford Sunnyside 1 Northend United 3 Saturday 16th February 2019

Northend travelled to Lisburn to take on Oxford Sunnyside in the Lisburn League Division 1 Cup on Saturday in what was the Daily Mirror game of the day. On a dry and bright morning the Ballymena boys started well, quickly settling into the rhythm of the game and dictating most of the play. Northend had some good chances to open the scoring go begging, with the Lurgan side defending resolutely as they made their way into the game. Oxford clipped the crossbar from a long range free kick and opened the scoring shortly after when Northend conceded from a corner. Not to let the heads drop, Northend continued to play their football until the end of the half. Half time 1-0

With the wind now in their sails Northend started to assert their authority once again and had some great chances to equalise soon into the second half. The Ballymena blues did just that when Kurtis Adger went on a marauding run down the right-hand side and was upended within the opposition's box. Euan Pirie collected the ball and confidently despatched the resulting penalty into the bottom left corner. Northend continued to push and got their rewards midway through the half when a delivery from a corner caused confusion within the Oxford box and Sean McDermott was on hand to smash the ball into the roof of the net. Northend were playing with confidence now and the back-four alongside Thomas Hasson in goals were able to deal comfortably with any Oxford forays into the Northend half. Northend were awarded a second penalty when Finn Connon drove down the line and cut inside his marker, forcing the defender into committing a foul. Sean McDermott scored the resulting penalty to put the game out of sight. Further chances went begging for the Ballymena side, with Daniel Patterson and Euan Pirie both going close in the final minutes. A great performance and good win that sees Northend into the next round. Full time 1-3

Man of the Match: Kurtis Adger

Panel: T Hasson, C O'Hara, L Devlin, C Wilson, K Adger, C McAuley, S McDermott, H Connon, T Gillan, C Reid, E Pirie, D Patterson, F Connon

Northend United 0 Windmill Stars 2 Saturday 26th January 2019

Northend's recent return to form was not good enough this weekend to overcome what has to be the most improved side in their League. Windmill proved a real test with their well organised defence and quick counter-attacking style of play and although Northend dominated possession in the early stages they couldn't produce much in the way of chances apart from a surging run from his own half by Euan Pirie finished by a powerful shot which went just wide. Paidin Mitchell in midfield continually won possession for Northend but time and again his attempts to play in wide men Conal McAuley and Kaylem Corcoran were thwarted by the excellent Windmill full-backs. On the one occasion when he did put McAuley though to score it was disallowed for a very tight offside. It was from a trademark quick counter attack that Windmill got the opener midway through the first half when they sliced though the Northend defence to score from the edge of the box leaving the Northend keeper no chance. Half-Time 0-1

In the second half Mitchell continued to dominate proceedings in the middle of the park but time and again Pirie cut an isolated figure up front. Against the run of play Windmill scored a second goal as a cross from the left took a wicked deflection off Lewis Devlin and crept in at the near post. With 20 minutes to go substitute Dan Patterson was introduced to give an extra front man and some additional pace. This gave Northend more attacking options and when Pirie sent Mitchell free in the box to score what looked a good goal it was ruled out for offside.

Northend continued to threaten for the remainder of the match but Windmill held on to secure the points. Full time 0-2

Subway Man of the Match: Paidin Mitchell

Panel: T Hasson, T Gillen, C Wilson, L Devlin, C O'Hara, K Corcoran, S McDermott, H Connon, P Mitchell, E Pirie, C McAuley, D Patterson

TTBS 1 Northend United 4 Saturday 19th January 2019

The young blues continued their improved form of the past few weeks with a convincing win over Lurgan-based TTBS. Head coach Peter Kennedy's hard work on the training ground with the side has brought about renewed vigour in his players and it was evident in every area of the park in this display.

Northend were on the attack from the start and had an early goal ruled out for offside before TTBS took the lead against the run of play. Within a minute Northend were back on level terms when Euan Pirie volleyed in a cross from 12 yards out. Just before half-time Northend conceded a penalty and keeper Thomas Hasson produced the save of this or any other season as he leapt to his left and tipped the well struck effort over the bar. From the resultant corner the young keeper made another great save tipping a header round the post. Half-time 1-1

Hasson's saves were the turning point in this match and his team mates dominated possession in the second half. Timmy Gillen produced a wonder strike from 25 yards which bulged into the top left-hand corner of the net before goals from Euan Pirie and Paidin Mitchell applied the gloss to a convincing win. Full time 4-1

Subway Man of the Match: Thomas Hasson

Panel: T Hasson, T Gillen, C Wilson, L Devlin, C O'Hara, K Corcoran, S McDermott, H Connon, P Mitchell, E Pirie, C McAuley, D Patterson

Warrenpoint Town 3 Northend United 2 Saturday 12th January 2019

Northend produced their best display of the season in this match against top of the table side Warrenpoint. The young blues were on the front foot right from the start and the central midfield trio of Conon, Mitchell and McDermott quickly had the edge over a physically bigger Warrenpoint midfield. Ably supported by wide men Reid and Corcoran the five-man midfield were dominating possession and continually probed the Warrenpoint defence who were finding lone striker Pirie a real handful. When Warrenpoint did threaten they found the Northend backline in top form and Northend keeper Hasson was rarely threatened. Midway through the first half, and against the run of play, Warrenpoint were awarded a free kick 25 yards from goal and a fantastic set piece sailed past the helpless Hasson. Undaunted Northend increased the intensity of play and within a couple of minutes forced Warrenpoint into conceding a penalty following some great work in the box from man of the match Mitchell. The spot kick was coolly dispatched by Pirie. Just before half- time Warrenpoint took the lead again when some fine wing play produced a cross which was clinically headed home. Half-Time 1-2

In the second half Northend again never gave Warrenpoint space to play the expansive, passing football they have been producing in this league all season. The midfield were tireless and Northend were duly rewarded with the equaliser when the resurgent Pirie pounced on a loose ball 12 yards out to drill home his second of the game. As the game reached a climax Warrenpoint began to resort to long balls aimed at their towering forwards but again and again Northend's defence stood firm. Just as it looked as though the young blues were going to earn a well-deserved draw Warrenpoint scored in the final minute with a speculative effort from the edge of the box which gave the Northend keeper no chance. Full time 2-3

Man of the Match: Paidin Mitchell

Panel: T Hasson, T Gillen, C Wilson, L Devlin, C O'Hara, C Corcoran, S McDermott, H Conon, C Reid, P Mitchell, E Pirie, C McAuley, D Patterson

Windmill Stars 4 Northend United 2 Saturday 5th January 2019

The U13s took on Windmill Stars on Saturday in their first Lisburn League match after the Christmas break. Northend started the brighter of the two teams and opened the scoring when Conall McAuley broke down the right and crossed along the deck for Euan Pirie to stab past the keeper and into the net. Northend took the foot off the pedal close to half time and allowed Windmill to break in numbers and score with their first attempt on goal. The Ballymena side saw a number of good opportunities go begging before the break, with efforts from Euan Pirie and Paidin Mitchell going close. Half time 1-1

Windmill came out all guns blazing in the second half and with Northend unable to cope with the pressure, they soon found themselves 3-1 down; conceding from two crosses into the box. Northend had a penalty shout to reduce the deficit denied when a Windmill player handled in the box and the dejected blues conceded another shortly after from a corner. Northend battled on to salvage something from the match and pulled one back when left winger Carter Reid fired a free kick into the top corner of the net from 25 yards. Full time 4-2

Panel: T Hasson, C O'Hara, L Devlin, J Marks, C Wilson, T Gillan, S McDermott, S McGinley, H Connon, P Mitchell, C Reid, C McAuley, D Patterson, E Pirie, F Connon, M Diamond.