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Northend United 1 Apex Sky Blues 2 Saturday 18th May 2013

Northend entertained Ballyclare side Apex at a very wet and windy Smithfield on Saturday and lost out by the odd goal in three.

Northend took the lead mid-way through the first half when an inswinging corner from Hayburn found its way into the Apex net. Stevenson and Hayburn were in control at the back, while O'Boyle, Millar and Adams kept things ticking over in midfield. But it was in the final third that Northend found it hard to boss. Two or three good chances went a begging and this was to prove costly in the second half. Half time score 1-0.

Northend faced the wind and rain in the second half and as the half wore on they started to tire. Apex equalised on fifty minutes when sloppy defending and a poor clearance allowed their striker to fire past Josh Mark from the edge of the box. Keeper mark came to Northend's rescue five minutes later when he stopped a goal bound shot down low to his left. Graeme Macartney had a great effort on goal, only to see his shot drifting wide of the post.

Constant Apex pressure paid off ten minutes from time when from a free-kick, just outside the penalty area, the ball was scrambled over the line to give Apex the lead and the three points.

Man of the Match: Jamie Stevenson

Panel: J Mark, H McClurkin, A Shaw, D Dobbin, J Stevenson (c), J Hayburn, B Millar, S Hutchinson, M Kirk, G Macartney, T Evans, A Campbell, A O'Boyle, K Babuszewski, J Adams

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Antrim Rovers Colts 4 Northend United 1 Saturday 11th May 2013

The last team to beat Antrim Rovers in the League was Northend when they put three past them without reply at the Ballymena Showgrounds, but the Antrim lads gained their revenge on a wet and windy Mallusk when a combination of strong play and some defensive blunders handed the victory to the Rovers.

Against a strong breeze, Northend settled well and should have taken the lead but a last-ditch tackle on Graeme Macartney saw the ball cleared. In what was their first attack, rovers scored when a terrible drive from outside the box flew wind assisted into the top corner giving Josh Mark no chance. Five minutes later it was 2-0 when from an inswinging corner, the ball somehow ended up in the Northend net, with nobody taking control of the situation.

Northend got themselves back into the game just before half time, when a great corner kick from James Hayburn fell to Kuba Babuszewski who drilled the ball home from six yards. Half time Score 2-1

Into the second half with the wind behind them and instead of pushing forward, the Blues went to sleep. Antrim Rovers should have scored five minutes after half time when their big strong centre forward found himself in acres of space but Josh Mark flung himself to the right to divert the shot for a corner. Rovers extended their lead on the hour when again slack marking allowed their striker all the room in the world and he calmly placed the ball wide of the advancing keeper and into the empty net.

Five minutes later the game was over as a contest when again a defensive blunder lead to the Rovers scoring when from just inside the box a speculative drive deceived Josh Mark and ended up in the corner of the net, leaving the final score 4-1 to the Rovers. This was probably one of Northend's poorest performances of the season but they must learn that football is a team game in which everyone has to play a part. This was a bad day at the office.

Panel: J Mark, A Shaw, D Dobbin, J Stevenson (c), J Hayburn, A O'Boyle, J Adams, S Hutchinson, K Babuszewski, B Millar, G Macartney, A Campbell, M Kirk, T Evans

Loughside 0 Northend United 5 Saturday 27th April 2013

The young Blues travelled to Belfast on Saturday to play top three side Loughside, in one of their last League matches. The Blues have been turning in some excellent form of recent and they carried this good form into this League Match.

Northend dominated play right from the kick-off and raced to a two goal lead by half time with Jordan Adams and Graeme Macartney on the scoresheet for Northend. Half time score 2-0

Northend continued the second half where they left off the first and went on to score three more goals with Jordan Adams completing his hat-trick and Brandon Millar scoring the other goal in this emphatic win.

Man of the Match: Jordan Adams

Panel: J Mark, H McClurkin, A Shaw, J Stevenson (c), J Hayburn, A O'Boyle, J Adams, S Hutchinson, K Babuszewski, B Millar, G Macartney, A Campbell, S Hutchinson, M Kirk, T Evans

Northend United 4 Carnmoney Colts 1 Saturday 20th April 2013

After a good result on Monday night against League Leaders St. Andrews, the wee Blues were hoping to keep the pressure on the top teams when Carnmoney Colts visited Smithfield on Saturday.

The hosts started well and had Carnmoney pinned in their own half for long periods and it was no surprise when Graeme Macartney opened the scoring after ten minutes, when he ran onto a good ball from Alex O'Boyle to drive under the Carnmoney keeper's body. The same player was on the scoresheet again when he fired home from close range after an Aaron Campbell was not cleared properly. Aaron Campbell himself made it 3-0 five minutes before half time when he curled home a beautiful strike from just outside the box. Half Time score 3-0

Playing with the wind on their backs in the second period, Northend took their foot off the pedal and pasid the price, fifteen minutes into the second half, when slack marking allowed Carnmoney to beat the impressive Josh Mark in the Northend goal. Indeed six minutes later it could have been 3-2 but for a fabulous save down low at his left post by Mark, prevented the score.

Substitute Matthew Kirk proved to be an inspired substitution, when he made the game safe for Northend, ten minutes before the end iof the game, when he slotted home from twelve yards to end the scoring in a very convincing win for the Ballymena Blues.

Man of the Match: Team Performance

Panel: J Marks, A Shaw, J Hayburn, D Dobbin, J Stevenson (c), A O'Boyle, J Adams, B Millar, K Babuszewski, G Macartney, A Campbell, S Hutchinson, T Evans, H McClurkin, M Kirk

St Andrews 1 Northend United 2 Monday 15th April 2013

Northend had to travel to play league Leaders on Monday night after their poor display the previous Saturday. Playing against a strong wind in the first half , they defended well with Josh Mark dealing comfortably with whatever long range shots came his way. Half time score 0-0

St. Andrews took the lead ten minutes into the second half when a quick one-two got them in behind the Northend defence and their striker fired past the advancing Josh Mark in the Northend goal. Northend equaliser five minutes later when from a James Hayburn corner. Kuba Babuszewski drove the ball into a crowded goalmouth and when the ball broke to Anthony Shaw, he made no mistake and calmly stroked it into the net from just inside the six yard box. The Blues were now full of confidence and deservedly took the lead on the hour after another Hayburn corner. Graeme Macartney at the near post returned the ball to Hayburn, who from an acute angle, drove the ball into the top corner of the net from all off twenty five yards. This was a great win from the Wee Blues against the League Leaders, St. Andrews.

Man of the Match: James Hayburn

Panel: J Mark, A Shaw, D Dobbin, J Stevenson (c), J Hayburn, A O'Boyle, J Adams, S Hutchinson, K Babuszewski, B Millar, G Macartney, A Campbell, M Kirk, H McClurkin, T Evans

Northend United 1 North Belfast United 5 Saturday 13th April 2013

Northend welcomed North Belfast United to Dunfane Park on Saturday looking for a winning result as the season draws to a close. Having beaten them once this season and drawn three times, the Blues management were confident of clocking up the points in their home fixture but how wrong they were.

Northend Belfast took the game to the Blues from the kick-off and stormed to a two goal lead in the first half following a series of errors from the normally reliable defence and goalkeeper. Half time score 2-0

Northend started the second half in more buoyant mood and were awarded a penalty after ten minutes which Aaron Campbell converted to leave the score 2-1.

Instead of going on and taking the game to North Belfast, the Blues sat back after this goal and allowed North Belfast to take control of the game. On a day when too many players were having an off day, North Belfast ran in three goals in the last twenty minutes.

Panel: J Marks, A Shaw, J Hayburn, D Dobbin, J Stevenson (c), A O'Boyle, J Adams, B Millar, K Babuszewski, G Macartney, A Campbell, S Hutchinson, T Evans, H McClurkin, M Kirk

Northend United 1 Loughside 1 Saturday 6th April 2013

Northend left Dunfane on Saturday wondering how they had to scrap for an equaliser in a match they dominated from start to finish. Loughside lying second in the U13 league were given a footballing lesson by the young Blues, but shyness in front of goal was once again Northend's downfall, only managing a late equaliser to get a share of the points.

Chances went abegging in the first half in which Macartney, Campbell and Lennon should have found the Loughside net. Kuba Babuszewski has a great effort on goal after twenty minutes but his thunderous shot went straight into the keeper's arms. Half time score 0-0

Into the second half, and Loughside took the lead midway through the half when the ball bounced awkwardly in front of the Northend defence and the well struck shot from the Loughside striker was parried by Josh Mark in the Northend nets but the rebound was smashed into the Northend net by the advancing Loughside player.

Northend regrouped and for the next ten minutes pegged Loughside into their own half. Again lack of firepower in the attacking department was responsible for a number of missed chances. Corner after corner rained in on top of the Loughside defence but to no avail. Just when it looked like the visitors were going back to Belfast with all the points, Matthew Kirk popped up with a well deserved equaliser when he fired home from close range, through a crowded six yard box, with one minute of normal time remaining. This was a well deserved point but it should have been all three.

Man of the Match: Kuba Babuszewski

Panel: J Mark, A Shaw, J Hayburn, D Dobbin, J Stevenson (c), A O'Boyle, J Adams, H Lennon, K Babuszewski, G Macartney, A Campbell, M Kirk, B Millar, S Hutchinson, T Evans

Northend United 0 Apex Sky Blues 2 Saturday 16th March 2013

League leaders St Andrew's travelled to play an inform Northend side but this game can only be described as an off day for the Blues, who had several first team players missing through illness and with player playing out of position they struggled to ever really get going in this game.

St Andrews, despite all their procession, never really carved out too many good opportunities. However they took the lead on 25 minutes, through a set play, when their young striker climbed highest to head home from close range. Northend had two great opportunities when Graham Macartney was through on goal but his chance was well saved by the St Andrews keeper. From the resulting corner, Jamie Stevenson rose highest in a crowed box but to his dismay he saw his effort clatter of the post, the rebound fell to Alex O'Boyle whose tame effort was well saved. United again had a great opportunity to level towards the end of the half when Jordan Adams beat the offside trap but again his effort went just wide of the post. Half time score 1-0

United never really got going in this game and mid way through the second half St Andrews doubled there lead but again Northend should have dealt with the cross.

Man of the Match: Jamie Stevenson

Panel: J Marks, A Shaw, D Dobbin, J Stevenson, S Hutchinson, J Adams, A O'Boyle, H Lennon, A Campbell, G Macartney, M Erwin, M Kirk

Despite the poor weather conditions, there was some brilliant football played in this game. United went into this game on the back of two wins and with confidence and it showed after five minutes as they had North Belfast on the back foot with some brilliant wing play but failed to carve any real chances until 15 minutes when Anthony Shaw found the feet of Jordan Adams on the left wing, Adams beat two North Belfast players before finding the feet of Campbell who played a delightful through ball to Graham Macartney who slotted past the on rushing keeper. United sat deep after scoring as they where fighting against a strong wind and they paid the price for it when a long range effort deceived the ever impressive Josh Marks. This goal seemed to spur United on as they started to knock the ball around with real confidence and Campbell and Macartney again linked up well with a neat one, two and again a brilliant weighted through ball from Campbell set Macartney on his way but this time a brilliant save denied him number two. From the resulting Corner which Aaron Campbell delivered a brilliant ball into the six yard area against a strong wind, Shaw meet it at the near post but was cleared of the line only for Declan Dobbin to score from close range. United defended brilliantly against a strong wind with the composure of Captain Jamie Stevenson and Declan Dobbin who where as solid as ever and never panic under pressure. Half time score 2-1

The second half saw The Blues forced into three changes through injury but still they played brilliant football and when they never had the ball, they closed North Belfast down well and never allowed them to settle into there neat style of football that they play. The Ballymena Boys where guilty of missed opportunities with Campbell failing to convert from a corner and James Hayburn who failed to find the neat with a brilliant free kick. United paid the price for their missed opportunities when North Belfast equalised against the run of play.

Northend and North Belfast have became draw specialists with one another with their three games this season all ending in a draw, this game seemed like a defeat as United where simply brilliant but must learn to take their chances and finish teams off, but one thing is sure the young players can be proud of the football they played.

Man of the Match: Team Performance

Panel: J Marks, A Shaw, H McClurkin, D Dobbin, J Stevenson (c), A O'Boyle, J Adams, H Lennon, K Babuszewski, G Macartney, A Campbell, M Erwin, B Millar, S Hutchinson, T Evans, J Hayburn