Newington U13s  3  Northend United U13s  5                                                                Saturday 17th December 2011

The U13s met Newington in the Knock Out cup at Mallusk on Saturday minus a couple of players due to sickness. Having already met and been beat by Newington in the league earlier on in the season the Blues knew they had to improve on that performance if they had any chance of getting into the next round.
Newington won the toss and decided to play with the wind at their backs on an extremely cold morning. After two minutes things got bad for the Blues when Newington scored the opener when their big forward broke through the defence and fired past Eamonn Elliott.
The bigger and stronger Newington team were well on top and if not for Elliott being quick off his line on a couple of occasions Northend could have been further behind.
The Blues did gradually get into the game and this paid off with the equalizer midway through the half. Philip Maybin powered in a free kick which the big keeper could only parry and Conor Graham was quickest to react when he was able to hook the ball back across the goals where Zack Herbison was able to control and shoot home.
The Blues had a couple of chances to take the lead but narrowly shot wide and paid the price five minutes before half time when Newington once again took the lead when their player scored after the Blues didn't clear the ball after a corner.
The score stayed like this to half time. Half-Time 2-1 to Newington

The Blues kicked off the second half but things got worse for them as Newington went 3-1 up. Once again the big forward holding off a couple of tackles to shoot past Elliott.
Northend as last season didn't let their heads drop and pulled a goal back soon after. once again big Maybin powering in a free kick but this time he gave the keeper no chance from 25 yards. Now Northend were upping thetempo and equalized soon after. Great play on the right by Oliver Boyle somehow beating two defenders with some splendid close control and laying the ball into the box to Harry McNally who controlled before planting a great low shot past the keeper from twelve yards.
Better was to come for the Blues as they took the lead with the two strikers linking up, Herbison beating a couple of men inside the box and crossing for McNally at the back post to blast the ball into the net.
Northend now had the bit between their teeth and soon after added a fifth with Maybin crossing in a great corner for Graham to power his header home.
Michael Hare replaced Oliver Boyle who had been injured earlier from a late tackle.
Newington were still dangerous on the break but with some great tackling and good decision making by Elliott the boys kept them at bay and held out for a great 5-3 comeback win and put them into the next round of the Cup they won last year.

Man of the Match: Team Performance

Panel: E Elliott, G Downey, R McKenna, C McHugh, J Galbraith, P Maybin, C Graham(c), S Olliver, H McNally, Z Herbison, O Boyle, M Hare, J Todd, A O'Neill
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Northend United U13s  4 Whitewell U13s 1                                                        Wednesday 7th December 2011

The boys had to travel up to the Shore road on a cold Wednesday evening to play their rearranged home match against Whitewell at Loughside, missing a couple of players due to sickness.
Whitewell got the game underway but from the start the young Blues got the ball down and played the good football they know they can but just couldn't put the ball into the net, sending a couple of chances wide and scraping the crossbar on another occasion. After twenty-five minutes Whitewell actually took the lead when their speedy forward broke down the left, cut inside and gave Eamonn Elliott in Northend's goals no chance.
This only spurred the boys on and three minutes later they equalized when a great ball was played out of midfield to Zack Herbison who got between two defenders and lobbed the advancing keeper from the edge of the box.
The score stayed the same to half time....

Northend kicked off the second half, having been told just to keep playing the way they were, and this soon paid dividends. Gareth Downey and Philip Maybin combining in midfield and Maybin playing the ball out to Stephen Olliver who let fly from the edge of the area, the ball stinging the keeper's hands as it flew into the net.
Northend now well on top added a third five minutes later, Reece Murdock putting Herbison through and he slipped the ball past the keeper for his second of the night.
Northend scored their fourth after fifteen minutes, Olliver crossing for Herbison to complete his hat-trick hitting a half volley from ten yards giving the keeper no chance.
Oliver Boyle, Jordan Todd and Tom Stockdale replaced Stephen Olliver, Gareth Downey and Reece Murdock. Northend played out the rest of the match in total control and if not for a couple of dodgy offside decisions could have added to their tally.
This was a great all round performance from the boys which keeps them at the right end of the table...Final Score Northend United 4 Whitewell 1

Men of the Match: Ryan McKenna, Zack Herbison, Philip Maybin

Panel: E Elliott, R Murdock, R McKenna, C McHugh(c), J Galbraith, G Downey ,P Maybin, S Olliver, H McNally, Z Herbison, A Milligan, J Todd, T Stockdale, O Boyle, A O'Neill
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Ballyclare Comrades U13s  3  Northend United U13s  5                                         Saturday 3rd December 2011

The U13s travelled to the Valley pitches to play Ballyclare Comrades on a cold windy Saturday morning. The game kicked off, but with the boys having not played for a couple of weeks this showed as they couldn't get the ball down and they seemed to be lacking their usual confidence.
The Blues started to get the ball down and after twenty minutes opened the scoring, when Captain Conor Graham put Andrew Milligan through and he drilled the ball past the keeper from ten yards.
Five mins later Northend doubled their lead, this time Milligan was the supplier playing a great ball to Herbison who outpaced the defence before slotting the ball past the keeper.
The Blues were well on top but with too many players trying to do too much on their own and not playing as a team the score stayed the same until half time. Half Time 2-0

The second half got underway with the ball getting bogged down in midfield.
Oliver Boyle replaced Andrew Milligan who had ran his legs off on the soggy pitch and this immediately paid off. Stephen Olliver, now out on the left went on a great run and played the ball inside to Zack Herbison who crossed for Boyle to sneak in at the back post and tap home. Graham added Northend's fourth when he shot past the keeper from just inside the box.
Harry McNally and Jordan Todd replaced Gareth Downey and the injured Philip Maybin. Ballyclare pulled a goal back when their left winger crossed the ball into the box and an unfortunate defender turned it into his own net.
Northend went straight up the pitch and added a fifth, Herbison picking out McNally
who keep his cool to fire past the keeper. The same two players combined a couple minutes later only this time the ball came back off the post and was cleared.
The Comrades added a second from the penalty spot. Eamonn Elliott in the Northend goals unlucky as he saved the first kick with his legs but the Ballyclare player followed up to slot home.
Jamie Crawford and Tom Stockdale replaced the injured Reece Murdock and Ryan McKenna. Ballyclare did add a third near the end when once again their left winger beat his man and shot past Elliott who got a hand to it but was unlucky t see it bobble into the net....
This was a win but a lacklustre performance by the team who know they need to play better if they want to compete at the top of the league.

Panel: E Elliott, R Murdock, R McKenna, C McHugh, J Galbraith, G Downey, C Graham, P Maybin, S Olliver, Z Herbison, A Milligan, J Crawford, H McNally, J Todd, T Stockdale, O Boyle
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Northend United U13s  7  Willowbank U13s  0                                                               Saturday 19th November 2011

Northend U13's welcomed Willowbank FC to the Smithfield pitch for a league game on Saturday. Due to Willowbank arriving late the referee decided to cut the match from 35 minutes to 25 minutes a half.
The match kicked off but the Blues just couldn't seem to get into their passing game, probably due to the fact they had to wait around for half an hour. It took twenty minutes before Northend broke the deadlock. Philip Maybin struck a great free kick from just outside the box and the ball thundered back off the bar and there was Stephen Olliver to hook the ball home from six yards.
Willowbank did break through a couple of times but Northend keeper Eamonn Elliott was quick off his line to either collect the ball or clear the danger.
The Blues had started to settle down and were now pushing Willowbank back and doubled their lead just before half time, a great ball by Gareth Downey, who was playing his first game in centre midfield,  split the Willowbank defence for Andrew Milligan to beat the defender and slot the ball home from eight yards for his first competitive goal of the season. Half Time score 2-0

Willowbank started the second half, but the Blues now well warmed up, and after a wee chat at half time, upped the tempo to show the decent sized home support how good a passing team they are.
Conor McHugh brought the ball out of defence and chipped the ball over a couple of players to Philip Maybin out on the right wing, the big lad went on a mazy run into the box beating three players before smashing the ball into the roof of the net for Northend's third.
Harry McNally replaced Andrew Milligan The Blues fourth goal came courtesy of Zack Herbison. Olliver played the ball to Herbison out on the left and spotting the keeper off his line, he audaciously chipped him from twenty-five yards.
Michael Hare replaced Philip Maybin. McNally took on a couple of players on the right wing  and he crossed low for Herbison to sweep the ball home to double his tally for the day and add Northend's fifth. Jamie Crawford, Tom Stockdale and Anthony O'Neill replaced Jack Galbraith, Ryan McKenna and Eamonn Elliott. This gave all the players a good run out.
McNally was next to get on the score sheet, this time Stockdale, who had just come on, crossed in a great ball from the left and McNally's first time shot hit the post but as the ball bounced across the line he was quickest to react and prod the ball home.
Captain Conor Graham finished the scoring off with Northend's seventh, when his cross come shot from just inside the box deceived the keeper and ended up in the net.

This was a good all round display from the Blues and keeps them nicely placed in the league.

Men of the Match: Philip Maybin, Jack Galbraith

Panel: E Elliott, R Murdock, R McKenna, C McHugh, J Galbraith, G Downey, C Graham(c), P Maybin, S Olliver, Z Herbison, A Milligan, J Crawford, H McNally, T Stockdale, M Hare, A O'Neill
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Northend United U13s  3  Larne Youth U13s  1                                            Saturday 5th November 2011

The U13s welcomed unbeaten league leaders Larne Youth to Dunfane on Saturday in a game the blues couldn't afford to lose.
The first half began with the Larne Reds pressurizing the Blues defence and after a couple of minutes scored when hesitation between a defender and keeper let in the striker to slot the ball home from the edge of the box. Not the start Northend wanted but from the restart the Blues did begin to get their foot on the ball and a fine couple of tackles in midfield from Conor Graham and Philip Maybin helped set up the equalizer. The ball fell to Zack Herbison who split the Larne defence with a great throughball for Oliver Boyle to control and beat a defender before sweeping the ball into the corner of the net.
Northend now took control of the game and five minutes later went in front. Herbison won a corner and Maybin played an excellent ball into the danger area and Stephen Olliver rose highest to flick the ball into the top corner. Larne kept plugging away but the backline of Reece Murdock, Jack Galbraith, Conor McHugh and Ryan McKenna were now well on top and Eamonn Elliott in his first appearance in goals was now settling down and always alert. The score remained 2-1 to the Blues at half time.

The second half got underway and the Blues were playing good football now and with Andrew Milligan and Boyle on the wings and Herbison and Olliver up front the Reds defence were being worked overtime. It wasn't long before Northend increased their lead when a shot from Graham was well saved from the keeper and the danger was cleared but when the ball was played back into the box where Oliver Boyle had kept his position he calmly slotted the ball past the keeper.
Harry McNally replaced Andrew Milligan who as usual had put in a great shift on the left wing. Larne were still dangerous on the break and on the one occasion when they did break through the defence Elliott produced a stunning save, diving to the left and being quick enough to get up and pounce on the loose ball.
Gareth Downey replaced Oliver Boyle who'd played his best game of the season.
The boys didn't drop the pace and tempo and had a goal ruled out for offside and a strong penalty claim turned down and finished the game strong for a great 3-1 win to keep them in contention near the top of the table.

Man of the Match: Conor McHugh, Eamonn Elliott

Panel: E Elliott, R Murdock, R McKenna, C McHugh, J Galbraith, P Maybin, C Graham(c), O Boyle, S Olliver, Z Herbison, A Milligan, J Crawford, G Downey, M Hare, H McNally, A O'Neill
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NORTHEND UNITED YOUTH FC
Ballymena, N. Ireland
Est 2003