Northend United 1 TW Braga 0 Saturday 1st April 2017
Northend started the game as they left off last week and Caolan McCarroll should have opened the scoring within the first 2 minutes. Northend kept pressing through Jamie Mongomery and Ciaran Martin linking up well . The Northend defence were in great form mopping up everything that Braga could throw at them with Owen McGregor, Dylan King Jamie Morrow putting on a great display . The chances came and went for both teams and McCarroll scored what looked like the opening goal but unfortunately was ruled offside. Half time 0-0
Northend started the second half well but unfortunately Simon Penny had to come off due to an ankle injury but his replacement Andre Pescaru from the under 13s made a great chance for McCarroll but Braga's keeper made a superb save . Both teams were going for it and it was Ciaran Martin who won the tackle to thread the ball through for McCarroll and this time made no mistake and opened the scoring. Northend seemed to let Braga back into the game but it was the outstanding Mongomery who kept them out with 3 or 4 very well timed tackles in the final minutes of the game. Full time 1-0
I would like to thank each and every one of the lads who played on Saturday they've come a long way . 2 games left We've done good can't ask anymore of them they're a credit to themselves.
Man of the Match: Jamie Montgomery
Panel: D Gregg, O McGregor, J Morrow, D King, J Montgomery, C McAuley, S Penny, C Martin, M Las, C McCarroll, A Pescaru
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TW Braga 1 Northend United 1 Saturday 25th March 2017
This was another good display from this vastly improving team . Northend should have opened the scoring after 10 minutes when a throughball from Connor McAuley was picked up by Ciaran Martin but his shot went wide. This seemed to lift Northend and they came close again through Mateusz Las.
TW Braga were playing some good football and we're rewarded with a goal after Northend failed to clear a corner.The lads still kept playing though and the came close again after some good work from Jamie Montgomery. Dylan King and Jamie Morrow were again very solid in defence along with right back Owen McGregor, who's improving with every game.Half time 1-0
Northend started the second half well with Simon Penny putting in a great show of speed and Caolan McCarroll should have brought the Ballymena boys level.
However, TW Braga were attacking at every opportunity and David Gregg, in the Blues goal, was in great form pulling of two top saves. Northend drew level after a period of sustained pressure, when Caolan McCarroll slotted the ball past the Braga keeper, following a throughball from Mateusz Las.
Northend were buoyed by this goal and went looking for a winner, with Ciaran Martin and Owen McGregor linking well on numerous occasions. Northend could have won the match when Mateusz Las' over head kick was well saved by the Braga keeper. Full time 1-1
Man of the Match: Dylan King
Panel: D Gregg, O McGregor, J Montgomery, J Morrow, D King, C McAuley, S Penny, C Martin, M Las, C McCarroll, C Gibson, B O'Brien
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Northend United 1 Windsor FC 6 Saturday 18th March 2017
Northend started this game brightly but gradually found the pace of the physically larger Windsor midfielders hard to deal with. Windsor kept pressing at every opportunity but some great defending from Dylan King and Owen McGregor kept Windsor out.
Northend's attacks were very few but great running from Mateusz Las nearly caught out the Windsor defence.
David Gregg was called into action with a terrific double save, however a deflected shot from Windsor caught out Gregg in goal . This seemed to lift Windsor and they added another 2 goals in 10 minutes. The Blues kept pressing and another through ball by Connor McAuley found Jamie Montgomery who was blatantly fouled and this resulted in a free kick about 25 yards out. It was Montgomery who took the kick and made no mistake with the 25 yard thunder bolt into the roof of the net . Half time 1-3
Northend made one change at the break and Windsor also made a change. The sub for Windsor was creating lots of problems for the Northend defence and Gregg in the Blues nets again made a number of top class saves. However, as Northend legs began to tire midway through the half, Windsor added another 3 goals in quick succession. Full time 1-6
Men of the Match: David Gregg, Dylan King
Panel: D Gregg, O McGregor, R McQuillan, J Morrow, D King, C McAuley, J Montgomery, C McCarroll, C Martin, S Penny, M Las, S Crawford
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Lisburn Distillery 1 Northend United 6 Saturday 11th March 2017
Northend started very sluggish in this match but Distillery couldn't take advantage with some great defending from Owen McGregor and Jamie Morrow. However it wasn't too long after Northend settled and started to play some entertaining football . A through ball by Connor McAuley found Caolan McCarroll on hand to open the scoring. Within seconds of the kick off it was McAuley again who threaded a ball through for Ciaran Martin and with his second touch fired in an unstoppable shot. Northend could have added more goals when Martin's cross evaded the incoming striker. Just before half time Mateusz Las made it 3-0 after a fine solo effort .Half time 0-3
Northend were still pressurising the Distillery defence with Las and Montgomery coming close . So more great defending from McGregor, Morow, McQuillan and Montgomery kept out Distillery but it wasn't too long before they pulled one back after slack play in midfield.
This seemed to spur on Northend and they were rewarded with goal number 4 when the outstanding Mateusz Las ran on to another through ball this time King the supplier.
It was Las again who scored his hat-trick after a long range shot found the top corner of the net.
Northend weren't finished yet and it was Sam Crawford who was in the right place at the right time to convert number 6. Full time 1-6
This was another boost for the lads with a great display of football and another well deserved victory.
Men of the Match: Owen McGregor, Mateusz Las
Panel: D Gregg, O McGregor, R McQuillan, J Morrow, D King, C McAuley, J Montgomery, C McCarroll, C Martin, M Las, C McMurray, S Crawford
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