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Northend United 2 Hillsborough Boys 6 Saturday 26th February 2022

Saturday paired the 2008’s v Hillsborough at Ballymacross Lisburn in the League. The boys started off brightly with some flowing football, but Hillsborough had other ideas and after 15mins took the lead, when a corner wasn’t dealt with leaving the Hillsborough player with an easy finish. From the resulting kick off after good work by Ross, he played a one two with Ryan McClintock to drive into the box and finish. Further pressure continued but the boys couldn’t convert. This gave Hillsborough hope, and they took the lead again when the centre midfield run through the heart of the defence to finish. Again, the boys never stopped, good work by Sam and Aodhán on the right allowed Aodhán to cross and his cross was deflected into the Hillsborough net by a defender. Half time 2-2

The second half again started brightly with some positive play, the best chance falling to Ryan McClintock but unfortunately his shot went past the post. As the game continued the team tired allowing Hillsborough to score 4 times. To their credit the boys had at least 3 good scoring chances but the story of the season so far with 1 sub due to sickness and injury resulted in another defeat that the score doesn’t reflect the game. Full time 2-6

Panel: A Smolinski, R Balmer, D Hector, J Patterson, S Butler, S Rogalski, A McGarry, R McClintock, J Gilchrist, R O’Boyle, L Laverty, B Pluta

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Northend United 1 Windmill Stars 2 Saturday 12th February 2022

Saturday paired the U14s with Newry based side, Windmill Stars, at Wallace Lisburn in the League. The boys started off brightly with some flowing football and this pressure paid off from a corner when Danny Hector rose highest to head in. Further pressure continued but the boys couldn’t convert. These missed chances would be regretted as Windmill scored in the last minute of the first half. Half time 1-1

The second half again started brightly with some positive play, the best chance falling to Ryan McClintock but unfortunately his shot went past the post. As the game continued, the team tired, allowing Windmill back into the game. A speculative shot from distance somehow was misjudged, allowing the Windmill Striker to score. Full time 1-2

Panel: A Smolinski, D Hector, R O’Boyle, S Butler, A McGarry, R McClintock, S Rogalski, J Patterson (c), C McCudden, B Pluta, R Bamber, J Gilchrist, P Mullan, M Leetch

Hillsborough Boys 4 Northend United 3 Saturday 5th February 2022

Saturday paired the U14s with Hillsborough Boys at Barbour Lisburn in the Lisburn League Cup. The first league meeting had been a close game and today would not disappoint either. Playing with a strong wind in the first half, the side created numerous changes, but could not convert. It was Hillsborough who took the first opportunity when their big striker outpaced the defence to smartly finish. This seemed to spur the boys on and great work on the left from Ryan McClintock allowed him to cross for Sam Rogalski to finish. Slack defending allowed Hillsborough another chance to score but a swift break away move allowed Tom Duffin to drive into the Hillsborough box only to see his shot saved by the Hillsborough keeper, but Rogalski was on hand again to finish. Half time 2-2

Against a strong wind now, the boys found it hard to get out of their half and the pressure resulted in a wind-assisted effort from the edge of the box rattling into the top corner of the net. More chances came but a mixture of saves, defending and misses kept the score at 2-3. From a resulting corner in the Hillsborough box, Tom Duffin was able to poke the ball into the net making it 3-3.

Heartbreak came near the end when the Hillsborough striker was able to smartly finish to make it 3-4 and secure a place in the next round. Full time 4-3

Panel: A Smolinski, R Balmer, D Hector, L Laverty, J Patterson, S Butler, S Rogalski, A McGarry, N Byczek, R McClintock, T Duffin, J Gilchrist, C McCudden, B Pluta

Oxford Sunnyside 6 Northend United 1 Saturday 29th january 2022

Saturday paired the U14s with Oxford Sunnyside at Ballymacross Lisburn. Missing three of the back 5 from the previous week the boys were forced to shuffle positions. After 3 minutes a mistake from the goalkeeper resulted in a free that Oxford scored from. Straight for the kick-off a ball from Sam Rogalski played Ryan McClintock through to equalise within 30 secs. This seemed to spur the excellent Oxford Sunnyside on and the half finished 4-1.

An injury to Captain Tom Duffin, introduced Joel Gilchrist for his first game for Northend and again to shuffle the team. The side were not match to Oxford who ran out comfortable winners in the end. Full time 6-1

Panel: R Balmer, D Hector, L Laverty, J Patterson, S Butler, S Rogalski, A McGarry, N Byczek, R McClintock, T Duffin, J Gilchrist, B Pluta, K McGillian

Northend United 1 Camlough Rovers 2 Saturday 22nd January 2022

Saturday paired the U14s with Camlough Rovers at Ballymacross Lisburn. Both teams started off slowly with the first real opportunity falling to the returning Nikodem Byczek who dragged his shot wide. The midfield was a strong battle for Jack Patterson and Sam Rogalski. A pass over the top wasn’t dealt with allowing the striker to poke the ball into an empty net. The heads seemed to drop from this and a corner shortly after was left by all the Northend players allowing the Camlough player to score.

To their credit the boys kept going and some smart play in the midfield by Jack allowed a defence-splitting ball into Shea’s path who unselfishly crossed to Nikodem to score. Half time 1-2

The introduction of Ryan McClintock brought a lift to the team and a real threat on the wings. The boys kept looking for that one opportunity and it arrived late in the game. Rogalski played Ryan through, and the advancing keeper somehow saved the shot with the resulting follow up being blazed over the bar.

Unfortunately, an equaliser wasn’t to come after all the hard work and it was Camlough who left with the 3 points. Full time 1-2

Panel: A Smolinski, R O’Boyle, D Hector, W Wronski, J Patterson, S Butler, S Rogalski, A McGarry, N Byczek, R McClintock, R Bamber, L Laverty, C McCudden

Northend United 2 Lisdrum Youth 3 Saturday 15th January 2022

First Saturday back of 2022 paired the 2008’s v Lisdrum in a cold morning at Ballymacross Lisburn. The previous game with the same opponents was a tight affair, so were expecting something similar. Some smart play in the midfield allowed a defence-splitting ball into the box to allow Captain Tom Duffin to power onto the pass and score.

The boys were now on top playing some great football and Tom Duffin came close again when his left footed effort thundered off the bar. Some last ditched defending and saves by the Lisdrum keeper denied the boys a second. As Lisdrum started to come into the game, a smart turn and finish from their big striker allowed them to equalise. Half time 1-1

Second half started as the first finished with both teams attacking from end to end, the pressure finally paid off with a corner from Sam was headed into the net by Ross Balmer. A third would have killed the game off but for a great one handed save by the Lisdrum keeper from a Shea Butler shot the boys were denied.

The boys were starting to drain now after all the effort they had put into the game and a shot from the edge of the box allowed Lisdrum to equalise. Unfortunately, a late award of a penalty was to spoil the hard work and it was Lisdrum who left with the 3 points. Full time 2-3

Panel: A Smolinski, R O’Boyle, D Hector, C McCudden, B Pluta, W Wronski, J Patterson, S Butler, S Rogalski, A McGarry, K McGillian, T Duffin, R Bamber