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Ballymena United 2 Northend United 3 Saturday 5th April 2014

Northend did the double over local rivals Ballymena United when they came from two goals down at half time to score three goals and could have had more in a blistering second half performance.

Ballymena deservedly took the lead after fifteen minutes when from a free-kick, needlessly conceded, the ball flew high into the Northend net, giving keeper Josh mark no chance. Ten minutes later it was 2-0, after the ball was flicked into the net from another free-kick.. Northend came back into the game approaching half time when midfield general Kuba Babuszewski came close with a long range drive and then Anthony Shaw just failed to connect with an Aaron Campbell corner and the chance was gone. Half time score 0-2

A different Northend came out for the second half and with Babuszewski and Macartney winning the midfield battle, another great Babuszewski shot from distance, forced a good save from the Ballymena keeper, at the expense of a corner. Aaron Campbell's inswinging corner again caused havoc in the Ballymena defence but the Northend strikers couldn't capitalise.

Ten minutes into the half James Hayburn broke the deadlock for Northend, when from all for twenty-five yards he drove a free-kick straight through the Ballymena keeper's hands and into the net. This score lifted the Wee Hoops and five minutes later it was 2-2 when Sam Hutchinson's shot was blocked on the Ballymena goal-line and when the ball broke to Aaron Campbell, he planted the rebound into the bottom corner of the net.

Northend were now camped in the Ballymena half and it was no surprise when fifteen minutes before the end of the game, Kuba Babuszewski was on hand to finish off another Campbell corner, which again wasn't properly cleared by the Ballymena defence.

Sam Hutchinson almost made it four when a drive from just outside the box found the wrong side of the Ballymena upright. The big Northend support could only look on in disbelief as Babuszewski's long range free-kick thundered off the Ballymena crossbar and rebounded back out to near the half-way line. Ballymena had very few chances in the second half with Declan Dobbin and Anthony Shaw in confident form, and anytime they did create a chance they found Northend keeper, Josh Mark, having an inspired performance.

This was a good team effort in the end but the supporters were left to wonder where the team went to in the first half. Full time score 3-2

Man of the Match: Team Performance

Panel: J Marks, T Evans, J Hayburn, D Dobbin, A Shaw, K Babuszewski, G Macartney, B Millar, J Wharry, A Campbell, M Kirk, E Mc Laughlin, S Hutchinson, A O'Boyle

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Northend United 0 Willowbank 4 Saturday 15th March 2014

The Blues were badly hit with late call-offs for this match and a number of players were asked to play out of position in a re-organised team. Willowbank took the lead after five minutes when hesitancy in the Northend defence allowed the Willowbank striker to prod the ball past Josh Mark in the Northend nets.

Northend weathered this early pressure and with Alex O'Boyle and Anthony Shaw beginning to get the upper hand in midfield, they started to cause the Willowbank defence all sorts of problems. Aaron Campbell almost pulled the Blues level but the keeper made a good save. Next it was Josh Mark who almost scored from a kick-out.

Sam Hutchinson was involved in some great link-up play with Eoin McLaughlin before releasing Campbell for a shot on goal.

Northend were unfortunate when on the stroke of half time , they conceded a penalty which Willowbank duly scored. Half time score 2-0

Into the second half and playing against a strong breeze, it was always going to be a tough match. Declan Dobbin and Daniel Bell were having a good game, soaking up whatever Willowbank threw at them but them could do nothing to prevent Willowbank from scoring their third goal on twenty minutes of the half, effectively killing off the game.

Northend brought on Matthew Kirk to bolster their attack but it was Willowbank who had the final say in the match, when they scored a fourth goal minutes from the end of the match. Final score 4-0

Man of the Match: Josh Mark

Panel: J Marks, T Evans, J Hayburn, D Dobbin, D Bell, A Shaw, A O'Boyle, S Hutchinson, J Wharry, A Campbell, O McLaughlin, M Kirk