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Northend United2 Windmill 6 Saturday 31st October 2015

Northend flew out of the blocks scoring in the 7th minute through captain Conor McDonald with a cheeky finish with the outside of his foot into the bottom corner. Northend could only hold onto the lead for 7 minutes as Windmill found the net with a typically direct ball over the top. Northend continued to play attractive football in patches with midfielders Mark, McMullan and Stewart all linking up well with target man McDonald. The Blues restored their lead when a well worked corner routine found the back of the net as Ryan Mark rose highest to flick the ball home. Unfortunately this lead only lasted 2 minutes as another direct through ball caught out the Blues back four and the Windmill right winger tucked the ball home. This was a wonderful first half performance that unfortunately could not be sustained in the second half. Half time 2-2

A strong second half performance from Windmill, fatigue and a number of costly lapses in concentration saw the opposition scored 4 second half goals. The pick of which was a wonderfully crafted move on the edge of the box with a delicate finish into the bottom left leaving goalkeeper Joel McCalmont no chance. The Northend Lads can take credit from a wonderful first half performance in which they were unlucky not to have been going in ahead at half time. final score 2-6

Man of the Match: Ryan McMullan

Panel: J McCalmont, J Dallas, C Forsythe, R Dunlop, C Meeke, M Stewart, Ryan Stewart, C Metrustry, R McMullan, J Coates, C McDonald

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Northend United 1Tollymore United 6 Saturday 17th October 2015

The Northend lads took an early lead in the fourth minute when Rio Dunlop swung in a free kick from the right hand side which was flicked on and then finished by Zach Clarke, scoring his second goal in two weeks. The Ballymena boys started brightly and played some sensational two touch football with one exchange between Joseph Dallas, Rio Dunlop and Matthew Stewart particularly impressive. Tollymore began to come into the game as the half wore on but were reduced to a number of long range efforts and some half chances. Northend looked dangerous on the break with right midfielder Matthew Stewart at the heart of their counter attacks. Half time 1-0

The lead only lasted three minutes into the second half when a silly foul allowed Tollymore to capitalise from the resulting free kick. Five minutes later the visitors took the lead which was the start of the Blues demise in the second half. The Northend energy levels dropped after they had exerted so much energy in the first half and Tollymore slotted in 4 more goals as the young Ballymena men tired. However, Northend did not let their heads drop and with some new impetus from subs Conor McDonald and Cameron Young and also from the impressive Zach Clarke they managed to finish strongly with a number of attempts on goal. In the end Tollymore's greater firepower was the difference between the teams. The Blues can take comfort from the fact that they are fast improving on a weekly basis and it is only a matter of time before they take the scalp of one of the league leaders. Full time 1-6

Men of the Match: Joseph Dallas, Zach Clarke and Matthew Stewart

Panel: J McCalmont, J Dallas, C Forsythe, C Meeke, M Stewart, Z Clarke, R Dunlop, C Metrustry, R Mark, R McMullan, C McDonald, C Young, A Mooney, J Coates

Willowbank 6 Northend United 2 Saturday 10th October 2015

The Northend lads will be delighted with their performance if not the result against the league leaders. The Ballymena lads started well and put in a massive defensive display to frustrate their opponents but were undone by a looping clearance that found the net on 18 minutes. In the 25th minute some lax defending allowed Windmill to double their lead as their athletic number 10 found the corner of the net after a powerful run. The big number 10 was causing Northend all sorts of problems and was the main reason that the league leaders scored two more goals and went in at half time winning 4 - 0

A number of changes and a vocal half time talk got the Blues motoring in the second half. The Northend's boys dominated the second half and a wonderful through ball by Callum Forsythe set up Zach Clarke who coolly fired the ball into the net. Northend won a free kick which was whipped in by Rio Dunlop and was spilled by the keeper and right back Joseph Dallas scored with a rasping strike from a wide angle. The Blues were disappointed to concede two sloppy goals in the final two minutes of play but delighted manager Brian O'Hara with a determined second half performance. Final score 6-2

Panel: J McCalmont, J Dallas, C Forsythe, J Kirkpatrick, J Coates, C Metrustry, A Mooney, R Mark, M Rainey, M Stewart, R McMullan, C McDonald, C Meeke, C Young, R Dunlop, Z Clarke

Ballymena United 2 Northend United 5 Saturday 26th September 2015

Northend U14s claimed their first victory of the season in an impressive win over local neighbours Ballymena United. A first half blitz from the Blues was enough to see Northend triumph in this end to end derby match. The first ten minutes proved to be tense with both teams looking nervous and neither looking particularly dangerous. This changed in the next ten minutes as Northend took the ascendancy and almost scored on with Zach Clarke going close and Adam Mooney narrowly missing the target. The Northend sideline were in euphoria as a wonderful solo run and long range finish by captain Rio Dunlop set them on their way. Dunlop then added an almost identical goal 5 minutes later which was capped off by a theatrical celebration. Northend seemed to be in full control at this point with the imperious centre half pairing of Callum Forsythe and Joseph Dallas snuffing out any threat by Ballymena. Live wire Adam Mooney then got on the score sheet with a smart finish off the post. To their credit Ballymena did not give up and managed to pull a goal back right on the stroke of halftime. Half time score 1-3

Northend were soon on the scoresheet again when Josh Coates finished off a wonderful team move that involved 8 Northend players. This only seemed to spur on the young Ballymena team who began to get to grips with the game and they went close on a number of occasions but keeper Joel McCalmont was up to the task. Ballymena scored after some good build up play and had their Northend counterparts nervous as both teams went looking for a winner.

The game opened up in the last fifteen minutes with both team failing to convert chances, until, with the last kick of the game, Conor McDonald scored a fantastic long range effort into the top corner. Final score 2-5

Callum Forsythe and Joseph Dallas had their best performances of the season so far for Northend.

Man of the Match: Rio Dunlop

Panel: J McCalmont, M Stewart, J Coates, J Kirkpatrick, J Dallas, C Forsythe, R Mark, A Mooney, R Dunlop, Z Clarke, C Meeke, C Metrustry, M Rainey, C McDonald

Chimney Corner 4 Northend United 2 Saturday 19th september 2015

For the second week in a row the young Northend boys found themselves unlucky not to have picked up at least a draw. The first half was a very scrappy affair with neither team playing the free flowing football that they would have wished for. Northend won a corner which Matthew Stewart scored directly after great work down the left wing from Zach Clarke and Josh Coates. Northend were well on top at this point until influential midfielder Rio Dunlop had to go off with a nasty facial injury which allowed Corner to come into the game more. Chimney Corner levelled just before half time from a free kick which was just beyond the outstretched hand of Cameron Young. Half time 1-1

The Blues were undone by 2 quick-fire goals within 5 minutes of the second half after some good work down the right flank by the Chimney winger and striker. To their credit the Northend lads began to play their best football of the match and were rewarded with a wonderfully struck goal by the impressive Joseph Dallas. For the last 20 minutes both teams began to play counter attacking football which could have resulted in goals for either team. Substitute goalkeeper Joel McCalmont was quick off his line on two occasions making goal saving clearances, while, wing wizard Zach Clarke was causing the Corner defence all sorts of issues. Northend pressed for a goal to close the deficit but couldn't find a way through the well organised Chimney defence.

Men of the Match: Zach Clarke, Joseph Dallas

Panel: C Young, J Dallas, C Forsythe, J Kirkpatrick, J Coates, R Dunlop, R Mark, M Stewart, R Gamble, Z Clarke, A Mooney, J McCalmont, C Meeke, C Metrustry, C McDonald, M Rainey

Lisburn Distillery 6 Northend United 2 Saturday 12th September 2015

The Ballymena boys will be wondering how exactly they lost this game and will be even more confused by the 4 goal margin considering how dominant they were for long periods. Hoping to put last week's poor performance behind them Northend started well and controlled the opening five minutes when they were caught out by a delightful through ball and the pace of the Distillery number 10. Three more quick fire goals for Distillery had the young Northend men scratching their heads wondering how they had failed to make their dominance tell on the score sheet. Northend did then get on the scoreboard just before half time when a wonderful bit of individual brilliance from the electric Adam Mooney got them off the mark. Half time 4-1

The second half continued in a similar fashion as the Blues put together some wonderful combinations of passing which resulted in a fine goal scored by the industrious Ross Gamble. Two missed chances by the Ballymena boys would have put them back on level terms but as so often happens in football the opposition then scored two wonder goals from distance that gave Cameron Young absolutely no chance and the Northenders no chance of a comeback. This U14 team should be very proud of their performance and of the style of football they produced which was in stark contrast to the opposition. Best for Northend- Matthew Stewart, Josh Coates, Ross Gamble and Adam Mooney Final score 6-2

Panel: C Young, M Stewart, C Forsythe, J Kirkpatrick, J Coates, C McDonald, R Mark, R Dunlop, R Gamble A Mooney, M Rainey, C Meeke, J Dallas, C Metrustry