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Shankill Juniors 4 Northend United 1 Saturday 29th March 2014

Northend lost this match to title challengers Shankill Juniors. Northend went one nil down after four minutes, when under no pressure, a long ball from Shankill was not defended properly, and a Shankill forward was given plenty of time and space to score. Northend went 2 nil down on 16 minutes after crazily conceding a penalty from a Shankill throw-in into the box, again when under no real pressure. Shankill scored from the resulting penalty. Northend pulled one back on 25 minutes when good work from Tom Patchett and Conor McGarry resulted in Robert Iovu scoring. Half-time 2 - 1.

Northend conceded yet again one minute into the second half after having had at least 4 chances to clear the ball from defence. Shankill scored their final goal from a direct free-kick on the edge of the box with 8 minutes to go. Final score 4-1

Northend lost yet another game despite matching their opponents for most of the game and in most areas of the pitch. They are in a bit of a ruck at the minute and have got into the terrible habit of gifting team's goals and showing little creativity when trying to score goals. Things can only get better.

Men of the Match: Robert Iovu

Panel: C Brennan, S Frew, S Lecky, R McCluney, J Brady, M Willighan, R Iovu, T McAuley, C McGarry, T Patchett, R Campbell (c), N Craig, C Gordon, P Kyle

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Northend United 0 Lisburn Distillery 2 Saturday 15th March 2014

Northend can count themselves very unlucky to finish this match on the losing side. They controlled this match for long periods of time but a mixture of preventing Lisburn Distillery from scoring plus failing to score themselves, cost Northend dearly in this match. Northend started this match strongly, but like last week, failed to score when on top. A mixture of defensive errors gave Lisburn Distillery a corner , and Lisburn then scored, direct from the same corner. Lisburn went 2 - 0 ahead, 5 minutes before the break, when a long ball from Lisburns defence found a Lisburn Distillery forward, who was clearly offside, but the referee missed this, which let the same forward slide the ball past Northends Connor Brennan. The referee admitted to his mistake at half-time, but the damage was done. Half-time score 2 - 0.

Northend spent 75% of the second half in the opposing half and when they missed yet another penalty (for the second match in succession), unfortunately the writing was on the wall for them in this match. They had some good chances in the second half, but failed to score. Full time score 2 - 0

Northend have now played both first and second in the league in the last two matches, but have failed to come away with any points. Despite playing well and matching both of these sides for the bulk of the games, they have let in soft goals and not scored, which has cost them in the end. There is a lesson to be learned here and it's something they must work on in their remaining games this year.

Men of the Match: Robert Iovu, Conor McGarry, John Brady.

Panel: C Brennan, S Frew, T McAuley, R McCluney, J Brady, R Iovu, M Willighan, T Patchett (c), C Gordon, C McGarry, R Campbell, P Kyle, S Lecky

At the end of last weeks report, I stated that if we played half as well this week as last weeks match, win, lose or draw I would be happy. Unfortunately Northend played this match without their keeper, Connor Brennan who was ill, so Connor McGarry had to deputise, after being Northend's best player last weekend. In the end, we lost this match by five goals to nil against the league leaders, but for 45 of the 60 minutes, we were much the better side, comments made by a Hillsborough coach at the end of the match, not myself. Put simply, Northend were excellent in the first half but created the cardinal sin, we could not put the ball into the net. Hillsborough took the lead on 10 minutes, after one half-lapse of concentration, and even though Northend were awarded a penalty 5 minutes later, they still could not find the net. And so it remained that way until half-time, Northend created many chances, and either a Hillsborough defender got a last ditch tackle in or their goalkeeper saved it. Half-time score 1 - 0

Northend started the second half the same, but could not capitalise on their possession. Hillsborough scented blood and took full advantage. Through a mixture of average defending and great work up front by Hillsborough, they scored two goals and went 3 - 0 ahead, 20 minutes into the second half. Hillsborough scored two further goals in the last five minutes to make it 5 - 0. Full-time score 5 - 0

Even though they were beat 5 - 0, Northend must take the positives out of this match. They were truly excellent against the league leaders all over the pitch, but just couldn't get that goal, to match Hillsborough when on top. I have certainly no complaints here and in the end, we were beaten by a class act here. Despite not playing well ,or put better, prevented from playing well by a good Northend side, Hillsborough still kept going and ground out a victory. This is why they will win the league this year and Northend certainly could learn a lot from this Hillsborough side with their determination and never say die attitude.

Man of the Match: Tom Patchett

Panel: C McGarry (c), S Frew, S Lecky, R McCluney, J Brady, M Willighan, N Craig, C Gordon, R Iovu, T Patchett, R Campbell, P Kyle, T McAuley