Tollymore United 2 Northend United 2                 Saturday 17th December 2016

The U13s signed off 2016 with four game unbeaten run and a determined display against a Tollymore side who'd beaten Northend in a league cup semi -final a month earlier. The Ballymena boys started the game strongly and almost went ahead on five minutes when Jack McIlhatton cut in from the left wing and forced a good save from the keeper. Ten minutes later David Magill's pass set Jack McIlhatton through on goal and the Tollymore keeper again looked in top form to keep the score level. Northend were dominating the game during this spell and a clever piece of play between Kai Barr and Kevin Cosgrove created a chance for Tyrone Mitchell who shot narrowly wide. The Ballymena side looked certain to take the lead, but were caught with a sucker punch on twenty minutes when a long forward pass wasn't dealt with and Tollymore snatched the lead. Northend once again took control of the game and almost scored a deserved equaliser on the stroke of half-time when Jack McIlhatton again forced a good save from the keeper. Half-time 1-0

Northend started the second half like a team possessed and almost scored two quick fire goals in the opening minute. The first effort on goal saw Tollymore's keeper making a good save from a fierce Lewis Hector shot. Moments later it was Lewis Hector who again threatened with a left foot shot from just inside the area. Tollymore immediately burst up-field and again hit Northend with a goal against the run of play. The Ballymena boys responded brilliantly and showed great character to dig deep and work hard to take something from the game. With seven minutes gone, a long throw from Niall Devine fell beautifully for Kevin Cosgrove on the edge of the area to smash a thunderous right foot shot high into the goal. The Ballymena boys roared forward in search of a deserved equaliser; several chances came and went before Dylan McLaughlin set Lewis Hector through on goal and the young striker coolly finished off a great move. Jack Adams stepped into goals to cover for the injured Curtis Wilson and did a great job for the final ten minutes. As the game drew to an end the Blues just couldn't find the winning goal, however this comeback showed a tremendous team spirit and a real fighting quality that will take this young squad a long way. Full-time 2-2

Men of the match - Lewis Hector and David McKay - Lewis worked hard throughout and always carried a threat when in attack. David once again went through a mountain of work and has really developed as a defender this season.

And finally… a very Happy Christmas to all the boys and their parents from Robert, Uel, Johnny and Boydie. During 2016 the squad have all come a very long way in a very short space of time. The move to 11-a-side this season has meant the boys have all had to put a tremendous amount of effort into their training and they have started to get the results they deserve for all that hard work.

Panel: C Wilson, N Devine, O Campbell, D McKay, D Magill, J Adams, K Cosgrove, T Mitchell, L Hector, K Barr, J McIlhatton, D McLaughlin, J Connor-Wilson and Sam Crawford
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Northend United 3 Lisburn Ladies 3    Saturday 3rd December 2016

It was second versus third in this important league fixture with neither side showing any sign of giving any ground in an incredibly tight title race.  Northend started the game slowly and it took a solid defensive display in the opening ten minutes to help weather a series of Lisburn attacks. David Magill and Adam Courtney played well throughout the game although both made a number of telling challenges during the opening period that helped settle the Ballymena side. Sam McDowell also looked sharp in goal and made a great save low to his right hand side with eight minutes gone. Northend gradually played their way into the game and took the lead on seventeen minutes when Kai Barr split the Lisburn defence with a pass to Tyrone Mitchell. Tyrone powerfully burst through on goal and smashed the ball past the keeper. The Ballymena boys were now starting to find a lot more space and almost doubled their lead on twenty-three minutes when Jack Connor-Wilson shot narrowly wide from just inside the box. Lisburn rallied as the half came to a close and forced a series of corners which produced a good save from Sam McDowell and a goal line clearance from Owen Campbell. Half-time 0-1

Northend started to dictate the pace of the game from the re-start and dominated the opening period. Sam Crawford headed a Lewis Hector corner narrowly wide in the opening three minutes and moments later it was Sam Crawford again who slid in at the back post to narrowly miss converting an effort from Kevin Cosgrove.   Northend's second goal came on nine minutes when Owen Campbell made good progress along the left wing before slipping the ball infield to Kai Barr. Kai brilliantly beat his marker on the edge of the area and cleverly took his time before curling a fantastic effort into the far top corner of the goal. Within two minutes Northend added a third when Owen Campbell and Kai Barr again combined along the left wing. Kai lifted the ball over two Lisburn players towards Tyrone Mitchell who fired his second of the game high into the net from twenty yards. Lisburn were almost out of the game but showed just why they are second in the table and such a difficult team to beat, when they dug deep to pull two quick goals back with ten minutes remaining. The game was very much now on a knife edge and although Northend retained good possession, a fantastic twenty-five yard rocket in the final minute saw Lisburn grab a dramatic late equaliser and take a point from the game. Full-time 3-3

This result felt like a defeat in the end, but it was nonetheless a really important point in the race for the league.

Men of the match - Kai Barr and Tyrone Mitchell - Kai scored one and created two more with some really clever play. Tyrone scored two and really took the game by the scruff of the neck during the first half and drove Northend forward throughout.

Panel: S McDowell, A Courtney, O Campbell, D McKay, D Magill, J Adams, K Cosgrove, J Connor-Wilson, T Mitchell, L Hector, K Barr and Sam Crawford
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Northend United 1 Lurgan Town 0    Saturday 19th November 2016

This was the second meeting in as many weeks between these two sides and Northend knew that nothing less than a win would help keep their hopes of a top three finish alive. The boys got off to a sluggish start and although they enjoyed the majority of the play Northend just couldn't find a way through a well organised Lurgan defence. Lewis Hector and Tyrone Mitchell both came close to opening the scoring, however the Lurgan keeper was in good form and kept the score-line level at the break. Half-time 0-0

A few positional changes saw the Ballymena boys start the second half at a much better pace and the openings started to appear in the Lurgan defence. Several chances came and went until a neat one two between Tyrone Mitchell and Kevin Cosgrove left Tyrone with a clear run on goal which he neatly finished off. Kevin Cosgrove almost made it two nil with ten minutes remaining and Sam Crawford saw an effort go narrowly wide. The back four had an impressive game and Sam McDowell comfortably dealt with anything that came his way in goal. Full-time 1-0

This was a game the boys never really looked like losing, but probably should have been put beyond doubt much earlier had Northend taken advantage of the number of chances that fell their way. Keep it going boys!

Man of the match -Kevin Cosgrove - another very hard working display in midfield. Kept things ticking over and linked up the play well.

Panel: S McDowell, N Devine, O Campbell, D McKay, J Adams, K Cosgrove, J Connor-Wilson, T Mitchell, L Hector, J McIlhatton, K Barr, Sam Crawford, C McMurray, A Pescaru and A Courtney
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Lurgan Town 1 Northend United 2       Saturday 12th November 2016

Northend started the game at a fast pace and retained good possession during the opening ten minutes of the game. Lurgan did however look to have a threat on the counter attack and the Ballymena boys had to work hard when they lost the ball. The first real opening of the game was created by Jack McIlhatton when he beat his marker and forced a good save from the keeper. Lewis Hector was posing a threat along the right wing and almost fired his side ahead after eighteen minutes but saw his shot drift wide of the post. Both Kevin Cosgrove and Jack Adams were dictating play in midfield and Kai Barr was causing problems for the Lurgan defence with some clever play. As the half drew to a close Jack Connor-Wilson hit a half -volley narrowly wide of the upright. Half-time 0-0

Lurgan had the benefit of the Barbour slope in the second half and continued to look dangerous on the break; although it was Northend who looked the more likely to score as they brought good width into their play. Curtis Wilson made a strong one-handed save from a Lurgan corner with six minutes gone and looked in good form throughout the game. Northend eventually took the lead on ten minutes; Lewis Hector's corner kick was only partially cleared when David Magill won the ball on the edge of the area, the ball broke to Jack McIlhatton and the midfielder wasted no time in dinking the ball past the on-rushing keeper. Northend almost doubled their lead moments later when Jack Connor-Wilson made a surging run into the box and shot narrowly wide of the far left hand post. The second Northend goal did come on twenty-three minutes when David McKay ran on to a loose ball in the box and smashed home a shot from eight yards. Lurgan pulled a goal back from the penalty spot in the final minutes but Northend ran out comfortable winners. Full-time 1-2

This was a hard fought game and Northend looked determined to take all three points from the first whistle. The level of effort was again very pleasing and although this wasn't the best football the boys have played this season, they still deserved the win and got the reward for their effort.

Men of the match -Three boys went about their game really quietly, but very effectively - David McKay and David Magill were very solid in the centre of Northend's defence and Kevin Cosgrove put in a real shift in the middle of the park. Fantastic effort boys.

Panel: C Wilson, A Courtney, O Campbell, D McKay, D Magill, K Cosgrove, J Adams, L Hector, J McIlhatton, K Barr, Sam Crawford, Jack Connor-Wilson, C McMurray and A Pescaru
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Northend United 0 Tollymore United 2    Saturday 5th November 2016

Northend gave a fantastic performance in this shield semi-final and were very unlucky not to progress further with a hard working display in which they were the better team for long spells of the game. Both sides battled hard for possession and there were very few opportunities at either end. The first clear chance came on twenty minutes when a strong run and shot by Tyrone Mitchell produced a good save from Tollymore's keeper. Moments later Northend went close from a corner kick and as the half drew to a close Jack McIlhatton beat his marker and cut in from the left wing to force the keeper into action. Half-time 0-0

The Ballymena boys almost went ahead in the opening minute of the half when a neat one/two between Jack McIlhatton and Tyrone Mitchell opened up the Tollymore defence and the keeper denied Jack from putting Northend ahead. Niall Devine, David Magill and Jack Adams won tackle after tackle in the defensive/midfield area and Sam Crawford worked incredibly hard for the team in an unfamiliar central midfield role. Tollymore made the most of a rare opportunity to edge themselves in front after nine minutes, although Northend deserved great credit for their response as every boy dug deep to try and pull themselves level. The equaliser almost arrived on twenty minutes when Jack McIlhatton curled a thirty yard shot past the keeper and was unlucky to see his effort rebound off the upright and bounce back towards the stranded keeper. Moments later the boys pushed forward and almost forced the ball over the line with an in-swinging corner - sometimes it really just isn't your day and Tollymore killed the game off with a goal in the dying minutes of the game. Full-time 0-2

An excellent performance from the boys today which showed the strength in depth of this squad. Every single player gave the game 100% effort and there were some very tired legs at the end. It was disappointing not to reach the final, but the overall performance meant that all the parents and coaches were very proud of the team. Fantastic effort boys!!

Man of the match -Tyrone Mitchell was easily the best player on the pitch and produced a performance which deserved a place in the final. I simply don't think Tyrone could have given anything more in this game. Brilliant effort!!

Panel: C Wilson, A Courtney, N Devine, O Campbell, D Magill, S Crawford, J Adams, T Mitchell, A Pescaru, J McIlhatton, C McMurray and S McDowell.

All the Coaches and players send their condolenses to U13 player Kevin Cosgrove and his family on the untimely death of Kevin's grandmother.

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NORTHEND UNITED YOUTH FC
Ballymena, N. Ireland
Est 2003