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TW Braga 1 Northend United 3 Saturday 28th October 2017

A resurgent Northend U13s came up against top football academy side TW Braga in a league encounter this week. Manager Paul Adams' team was down to the bare bones with sickness and holidays taking its toll on the team. But with a strong panel of players and another great team performance, the Blues came away with all the points.

Both teams started on the front foot but it was Braga who scored first as the makeshift Northend team came to grips with each other. However, it wasn't long before Northend got going with a few good chances before a great ball from Ben O'Neill through to Ben Adams who found the back of the net to draw Northend level

Northend took the lead after some great play out from defence to Billy Bell in midfield and he threaded the ball through to Ben Adams, who made no mistake with a well-executed goal. TW Braga came storming back but found George McClean at the top of his game in the Blues nets. Half time 1-2

Into the second half and Northend started the same, playing some great football from defence to midfield. Such was the intensity of the Blues play that it wasn't long before a great ball through from Eoin Mitchell to Ben Adams who found Luke McGaughey and the diminutive striker found the back of the Braga net, giving Northend a two-goal cushion in the game. George McClean was again involved with some great saves and sound defensive work from the Northend rear-guard kept the Blues in the game as Braga looked to get back in the game. Northend dug in to see out the game with a great team performance. Full time 1-3

Man of the Match: George McClean - well deserved

Panel: G McClean, PJ McDonald, R Campbell, C Wilson, S Bristow, B O'Neill, B Bell, B Adams, E Mitchell, M Robinson, L McGaughey

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Northend United 2 Doyle YC 1 Saturday 21st october 2017

Northend started the game very strongly with Ben O'Neill sending Archie McGreevey through to score his first goal for the club with a very cool finish into the bottom left hand corner. Again Northend would create a one-on-one with the keeper when quick thinking by Stevie Bristow taking a quick free kick put Luke McGaughey through only for him to put it past the post. Then with minutes to go of the first half Billy Bell hit the crossbar. Half time 1-0

Northend again went ahead and it was O'Neil again who's free kick wasn't held by the keeper and McGaughey nipped in to score. Then Doyle pulled one back. Northend were not finished with O'Neill again sending McGaughey through on goal only for the keeper to save and then a great individual move by Mark Robinson inside the box resulted in yet another good save from the Doyle keeper. A special mention has to go to George McClean for a brilliant reaction save late on in the second half. Full time 2-1

Man of the Match: Ben O'Neill; Set up both goals and a very good midfield performance throughout.

Panel: G McClean, Z Erwin, C Wilson, S Bristow, B Adams, B O'Neill, B Bell, M Robinson, S Redmond, L McGaughey, C Francey, A McGreevey, A Fitzpatrick

Windmill Stars 2 Northend United 0 Saturday 14th October 2017

Although Northend started the game slowly, Windmill did also. Jay McKeown forced a save out of the Windmill keeper mid-way through the first half, but the game would be scoreless at half-time. Half time 0-0

The second half was similar to the first and the game would remain scoreless till halfway through the second half, then Northend suffered an injury which unsettled the team and Windmill would score twice. Full time 2-0

Man of the Match: Stevie Bristow - solid defensively throughout.

Panel; G McClean, B Adams, Z Erwin, S Bristow, J Magill, A Fitzpatrick, B O'Neill, B Bell, S O'Broin, C Francey, J McKeown, A McGreevey

Banbridge Rangers 2 Northend United 3 Shield Saturday 7th October 2017

Northend started this game very strong and really should have been well ahead after ten minutes with Billy Bell and Jay McKeown going close and Archie McGreevey having a couple of chances. Then McKeown broke the deadlock with a cracking shot from twenty yards to put Northend ahead. As the half wore on Banbridge got more of a foothold on the game and Northend would concede two very unfortunate ones before the break due to an O.G. and a big high loopy goal that left George McClean no chance. Half time 2-1

Northend started and finished the half like the team who would go on and win the game, now with Shea O'Broin and McKeown giving the Banbridge defence all sorts of problems. Ten minutes into the half again, McKeown produced a moment of brilliance as he curled a low shot around a defender and into the bottom right hand corner of the net via the upright. This spurred Northend on as Bell's shot was parried by the keeper and twice Calum Francey's rebounds were cleared off the line. Then the winner came when Ben O'Neill dispossessed a Banbridge player and played a great ball out the left to Bell who beat his man and fired the ball into McKeown inside the box and he spun full circle to fire the winner into the bottom corner. Special mention to the back four of Jamie Magill, Paul McCloskey, Ben Adams and Stevie Bristow, who were excellent throughout. Full time 2-3

Man of the Match: Jay McKeown - three very different goals and three very special goals.

Panel: G McClean, B Adams, S Bristow, P McCloskey, J Magill, Z Erwin, B O'Neill, B Bell, C Francey, J McKeown, S O'Broin, A McGreevey, A Fitzpatrick

Lurgan Town 5 Northend United 1 Saturday 30th september 2017

Although Lurgan took the lead in this game from a well worked goal, Northend were well an truly in the game first half with Jay McKeown firing just wide and Shea O'Broin shooting over the crossbar. Then from a corner that O'Broin initially took he found the ball cleared back to him and he beat two men up the line and played it across the box and Zach Erwin made no mistake with a first time shot to make it 1-1. Then with five minutes to go Northend lost Billy Bell to injury and it seemed to weaken them down the left hand side and they conceded three goals from switching off just before the break. Half time 4-1

The second half Northend battled well but couldn't find their way through the Lurgan defence and again would concede a goal that should have been so easily avoided. Full time 5-1

Man of the Match: Jamie Magill - sound defensively and going forward.

Panel: G McClean, Z Erwin, P McCloskey, S Bristow, J Magill, B O'Neill, B Bell, S O'Broin, J McKeown, A McGreevey, C Francey, A Fitzpatrick

Hillsborough Boys 4 Northend United 0 Saturday 16th September 2017

The first half of this game Northend started very sluggish and found themselves 3-0 down early on, due to goals that could easily have been avoided. Hillsborough's fourth was a very high loopy free kick that gave George McClean no chance. Half time 4-0

This was a much better half for Northend and they battled very well throughout the half for a team that was 4-0 down. Full time 4-0

Man of the Match: Paul McCloskey : A very solid debut and never put a foot wrong.

Panel: G McClean, J Magill, A Fitzpatrick, S Bristow, P McCloskey, C McAvoy, Z Erwin, B O'Neill, J McKeown, B Bell, A McGreevey, C Francey

Northend United 3 Glendowan 2 Saturday 9th September

This game was an absolute cracker on a very wet day in Lisburn. Northend looked sharp from the start as Billy Bell's shot was tipped over the bar and Calum McAvoy had the ball in the net, but it was judged offside though looked clearly on. At the other end, George McClean made some excellent saves and Ben Adams cleared off the line. Both Jay McKeown and Shea O'Broin went close before Northend finally broke the deadlock when great running from Bell to close down the Glendowan keeper resulted in the ball rebounding into the air and McAvoy made no mistake to fire Northend ahead from inside the box. Again, there was a period where McClean made a string of excellent saves but Glendowan would force the equaliser with five minutes to go of the first half. Just as it looked as if it would be all square at halftime the spectators were treated to a moment of individual brilliance from McKeown as Adams found him with a great pass a yard inside the opposition half. He went on a mazy run past four players and finished it off from the edge of the box with his weaker left foot to send Northend ahead at the break. Half time 2-1

The second half was equally as entertaining with Ben O'Neill shooting wide and McAvoy and Archie McGreevey up front going close on numerous occasions. Indeed, it would be O'Neill and McGreevey who would force a penalty for Northend and O'Neill made no mistake as he fired the penalty into the top left hand corner. Glendowan would score a great header from a corner late on but Northend would hold on for a much deserved three points. Full time 3-2

Special mention to Archie McGreevey on his debut who was very busy throughout and one for the future.

Man of the Match Shea O'Broin - a constant thorn in Glendowan's side all game with his trickery and skills.

Panel: G McClean, Z Erwin, S Bristow, B Adams, J Magill, B O'Neill, J McKeown, S O'Broin, B Bell, A McGreevey, C McAvoy, A Fitzpatrick, M Robinson, B Adams

Northend United 1 East Coast Strikers 6 Saturday 2nd September 2017

On the first day of the Season, Northend were missing a lot of first team players, but battled very well to keep the game 0-0 at Half-time.

In the second half every time East Coast went forward they seemed to score and the consolation was a special goal from Calum McAvoy. Full time 1-6

Man of the Match: Ben O'Neill; Never gave up all game.

Panel: G McClean, PJ McDonnell, C McAvoy, J Magill, Z Erwin, A Fitzpatrick, B O'Neill, J McKeown, C Francey, S Redmond, B Bell.