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Hillsborough 1 Northend United 0 Saturday 28th February 2015

Northend's manager Johnny Sayers will feel aggrieved that the Blues didn't get something out of this game. Playing some of their best football of the season, they should really have taken the lead on four minutes when Kuba Babuszewski was straight through on the keeper but he scuffed his shot at the last moment.

The Blues midfield of Ben McGarvey, Sam Hutchinson and Ronan Laverty began to settle into the game and started to dictate play. Aaron Campbell was as always causing the Hillsborough defence all sorts of problems and linking up well with Kuba Babuszewski. When Hillsborough did break, they found Dekky Dobbin, Jacob Penny and Brandon Millar in top form in the Blues defence. Half time score 0-0

Into the second half and the match picked up where it left off in the first half, with play becoming bogged down in midfield. Hillsborough had their first chance to score after fifteen minutes but Josh Mark, in the Blues nets, was able to save the shot.

As the half wore on, Hillsborough came more into the game and Josh Mark was aagain called upon to make a good save from a fierce Hillsborough shot.

However just as the match was heading from a draw, Hillsborough scored their winner with eight minutes of the match remaining, when their striker scored when the Northend defence didn't clear the ball. Final score 1-0

Panel: J Mark, B Millar, D Dobbin (c), J Penny, B McGarvey, R Laverty, S Hutchinson, R Campbell, J Adams, A Campbell, K Babuszewski, M Kirk, G Macartney, E McLaughlin, J Wharry

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Donegal Celtic 4 Northend United 1 Saturday 21st February 2015

A rejuvenated Northend really started this game in top form with Ronan Laverty and Sam Hutchinson bossing the midfield play. The Northend rearguard of Brandon Millar, Jordan Adams, Jacob Penny, and Jordan Adams were soaking up anything that Donegal Celtic could throw at them.

It was no surprise when the Blues took the lead on twenty minutes. Brandon Millar went on an overlapping run down the Northend right wing and his cross was met by Jordan Adams, whose well placed shot beat the DC keeper.

However within a few minutes it could have been all equal, when Northend conceded a penalty. Stand-in keeper Graeme Macartney was in top form to save the resultant penalty kick. Northend came storming back and Aaron Campbell and Eoin McLaughlin were stretching the DC defence all over the place but unfortunately couldn't add to their lead. Half time score 0-1

Into the second half and it was Donegal Celtic who started on the front foot. They drew level after ten minutes of the half when a Northend defensive slip let their striker in to score. DC scored two more goals in quick succession as Northend looked shell shocked after conceding so early in the half.

Northend came more into the game in the final ten minutes of the half, returning to the good football they played in the first half but with Matthew Kirk looking dangerous for the Blues, they were unable to get back in the game and conceded a final goal almost of full time to take the shine of a much improved performance. Full time score 4-1

Man of the Match: Graeme Macartney

Panel: G Macartney, B Millar, D Dobbin (c), A Shaw, J Adams, J Penny, R Laverty, R Campbell, S Hutchinson, A Campbell, E McLaughlin, M Kirk, J Wharry

Northend United 0 Carrick Rangers 5 Saturday 14th February 2015

This match was a much closer encounter than the scoreline suggests, with Northend conceding a few late goals, and was a repeat of the previous week when the two teams met in the Lisburn Cup.

Northend started brightly with Ben McGarvey bossing the Blues midfield and Aaron Campbell stretching the Carrick defence all over the place. In defence, Declan Dobbin and Anthony Shaw had to be alert to deal with the lively Carrick strikers.

Carrick took the lead on twenty minutes, when their corner wasn't properly cleared and the Carrick striker was quickest to react and volley home from eight yards out.

Northend came storming back after this and Ronan Laverty forced the Carrick keeper into a good save.

Carrick doubled their lead just before half time when their defender broke out of defence and unleashed a shot from thirty yards into the top corner of the Blues net. Half time score 0-2

Into the second half and Carrick increased their lead after five minutes when in a carbon copy of the first goal, a corner wasn't properly cleared and the Carrick striker smashed the ball into the Blues net, giving Josh Mark no chance.

Carrick added to this score in the final ten minutes of the match, running in two late goals. Full time score 0-5

Men of the Match: Josh Mark, Ben McGarvey

Panel: J Mark, J Penny, B Millar, D Dobbin (c), A Shaw, J Wharry, B McGarvey, R Laverty, S Hutchinson, M Kirk, A Campbell, G Macartney, J Adams, E McLaughlin, R Campbell

Carrick Rangers 6 Northend United 0 Saturday 7th February 2015

Northend came up against a well drilled Carrick Rangers side on Saturday in the Cup and were well in the game until half time.

Carrick took the lead in the opening minutes of this match but Northend came storming back and Kuba Babuszewski went close with a good shot.

Northend conceded a second goal midway through the half aftNorthend United 0 Carrick Rangers 5

This match was a much closer encounter than the scoreline suggests, with Northend conceding a few late goals, and was a repeat of the previous week when the two teams met in the Lisburn Cup.

Carrick took the lead on twenty minutes, when their corner wasn’t properly cleared and the Carrick striker was quickest to react and volley home from eight yards out.

Northend came storming back after this and Ronan Laverty forced the Carrick keeper into a good save.

Carrick doubled their lead just before half time when their defender broke out of defence and unleashed a shot from thirty yards into the top corner of the Blues net. Half time score 0-2

Into the second half and Carrick increased their lead after five minutes when in a carbon copy of the first goal, a corner wasn’t properly cleared and the Carrick striker smashed the ball into the Blues net, giving Josh Mark no chance.

Carrick added to this score in the final ten minutes of the match, running in two late goals. Full time score 0-5

Men of the Match: Josh Mark, Ben McGarvey

Panel: J Mark, J Penny, B Millar, D Dobbin (c), A Shaw, J Wharry, B McGarvey, R Laverty, S Hutchinson, M Kirk, A Campbell, G Macartney, J Adams, E McLaughlin, R Campbell

er Josh Mark had made a good save minutes before hand.

Again Northend took the game to Carrick and Jordan Adams' shot went narrowly past the Carrick upright. Half time score 2-0

Into the second half and Northend could do nothing to prevent Carrick running in four goals in a blistering second half performance. Final score 6-0

Men of the Match: Josh Mark, Ben McGarvey

Panel: J Mark, B Millar, D Dobbin (c), A Shaw, J Wharry, J Adams, B McGarvey, J Stevenson, R Laverty, S Hutchinson, K Babuszewski, A Campbell, J Penny, M Kirk, G Macartney, E McLaughlin

Northend United 1 Oxford Sunnyside 4 Saturday 24th January 2015

This was Northend's first match in a few weeks and with sickness affecting a number of players, the Blues found it tough going in the opening minutes. Northend conceded a goal after five minutes when a defensive error allowed the Oxford striker in to score.

Gradually Northend began to settle down with Jamie Stevenson and Ben McGarvey beginning to pull them into the game. Anthony Shaw saw a good free-kick well save by the Oxford keeper before the turning point in the game. Aaron Campbell's well weighted throughball found Ronan Laverty, who found himself clear of the Oxford defence and only the keeper to beat. As he pushed the ball past the Oxford keeper, he was floored just outside the penalty box. The referee didn't see this as a last-man rule, even though there was only Ronan and the keeper near the ball and instead only awarded a free-kick and allowing the Oxford keeper to stay on the pitch.

With minutes of the half remaining, Sam Hutchinson saw a shot well saved by the Oxford keeper. Half time score 0-1

Oxford started the second half strongly and doubled their lead on ten minutes of the half. Northend were second to the ball at this stage of the game and it was no surprise when Oxford scored a third goal on fifteen minutes of the half

Gradually Northend began to claw their way back into the game and when Sam Hutchinson was brought down in the penalty box, up stepped Josh Mark to score his first goal for the Club, leaving the score 1-3.

With time running out in the game, Northend went looking for a point but conceded a final goal with almost the last kick of the game. Final score 1-4

Men of the Match: Josh Mark, Ben McGarvey

Panel: J Mark, J Adams, D Dobbin (c), A Shaw, G Macartney, B McGarvey, J Stevenson, R Laverty, S Hutchinson, A Campbell, M Kirk