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Ardglass Youth U15s 0 Northend United U15s 4 Saturday 17th December 2011

The Northend Blues made the long trip to Downpatrick to play Ardglass in the first round of the NIBFA Cup. Missing a few regulars due to injury, this was always going to be a difficult match. However Ardglass played the Blues on a day when some of their passing football was spellbinding, drawing praise from the Ardglass management team.

The Blues started off this match strongly and within five minutes Keith Hall was unlucky when his shot went narrowly wide after he turned his marker in the penalty area. Next Stephen Hare rattled the crossbar after eight minutes, when he had dribbled past three defenders and Hall was unlucky with the follow-up header which went narrowly over the bar.

However Ardglass couldn't withstand the Northend onslaught for long and on fifteen minutes, Stephen Hare again beat two defenders and from twenty yards lobbed the ball over the keeper's head to hit the underside of the crossbar and sail into the net to give the Blues a 1-0 lead.

Ardglass came more into the game but found a Northend defence of Jonny Hanlon, Ross Swan, Benny O'Neill and Anthony McAvoy on top of their game, dealing comfortably with whatever Ardglass could throw at them. Ryan Gault in the Northend nets look assured with his dealing of any high balls into the box.

Northend scored their second on twenty minutes, when from a pinpoint O'Neill corner, big Keith Hall was on hand to score his 26th goal of the season.

This goal gave the Blues the cushion they needed to get the ball down and start passing it out from the back. Indeed both Ross Swan and Benny O'Neill were both unlucky with forward runs which ended up with them shooting narrowly over the bar.

Michael Laverty who was having an inspirational game in midfield was causing the Ardglass problems with his running and he could have added to Northend's lead before half time but he chose to pass the ball when in a good shooting position.

However with no further scoring, the score remained 2-0 to Northend at the break.

Richard Sloan replaced Etherson at half time, with Gault slotting in the Blues midfield. Northend again started this half stronger defending into the strong sunlight. Johnny Hanlon and Anthony McAvoy began to cause the Ardglass midfield all sorts of problems with their overlapping play. Indeed Northend went on to play some of their best passing football of the season with Thomas Brady, making a welcoming return from injury, instrumental in every move.

Northend increased their lead after ten minutes of the half when Ross Swan played a one-two with Keith Hall and Swan went on to beat the keeper with a well placed shot into the corner of the net giving the Blues a 3-0 lead.

Northend continued to take the game to Ardglass and after eighteen minutes, Ryan Gault was to turn from goal stopper to goal scorer when some quick thinking from McAvoy released Gaultie down the Northend left wing and he outpaced his marker and cut inside to beat the keeper with a clinical shot into the corner of the net.

Captain Niall Swann was now pulling the strings in midfield, picking out his strikers with pin-point precision. From a Swann pass, Keith Hall controlled the ball and unleashed a thunderous shot which the Ardglass did well to push over the crossbar. Keith Hall was again unlucky not to add to his solitary goal when another effort cannoned off the Ardglass crossbar with the keeper well beaten this time.

To their credit Ardglass never gave up and Richard Sloan made a good save for the Blues before the final whistle, which left the final score 4-0 to the Ballymena Blues.

This was a top class performance from the Blues which shows the strength of their panel with one or two individual performances giving manager Glen Speirs food for though.

Man of the Match: Michael Laverty

Panel: R Gault, J Hanlon, B O'Neill, R Swan, A McAvoy, T Brady, N Swann (c), B Etherson, S Hare, K Hall, M Laverty, R Sloan, J Speirs

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Northend United U15s 0 Glendowan U15s 1 Saturday 3rd December 2011

Northend U15s fell to their first defeat of the season in a match where they had most of the chances but not their shooting boots. On another day the Northend strikeforce would have easily converted three or four of the chances they had in the first half and the start of the second half.

Northend started off this match brightly and from a Benny O'Neill free kick, Bryan Etherson's volley just sailed over the bar. Indeed Etherson was causing the Glendowan defence all sorts of problems with his penetrating play.

From a long throw in, Etherson's header rolled along the goal line with nobody getting a foot to it to steer it home.

The pattern of play continued and next it was Keith hall's turn to miss a glorious opportunity when from a knock down from a Speirs header, he slipped when striking the ball, with an open goal at his mercy, and the ball went narrowly wide.

Glendowan came more into the game and were awarded a free- kick on the edge of the Northend penalty box. Ryan Gault in the Northend net was alert to push the ball over the bar with a great save.

Most of the Glendowan tackling went unchecked by the referee at this stage of the game leaving the Northend bench wondering what was going on.

Northend went on to have further chances in the first half again with the ball bobbling around in the Glendowan penalty box but with nobody able to convert the chances into goals. Half-time score 0-0

Northend again started the second half brightly and had a number of good chances with Hall again shooting wide when well placed.

As the half wore on, Glendowan came more into the game and after twelve minutes, were awarded a penalty when Benny O'Neill was adjudged to have climb over the Glendowan attacker for a header in another rare decision by the referee. Their striker gave Ryan Gault in nets no chance, to score with a well taken penalty.

From this point in the match onwards, Glendowan's brand of streetwise football began to kick in. With no attempt to play the ball on many occasions the Glendowan tackling went almost unchecked by the referee, resulting in injuries to a number of the Northend panel.

As Northend piled on the pressure, a number of their free-kicks went wastefully past the Glendowan nets and it was not to be Northend's day when Niall Swann., when well placed, put the ball wide of the Glendowan net with five minutes of the game remaining.

The final score remained 1-0 to Glendowan who no proceed to the next round of the cup,

Man of the Match: Bryan Etherson

Panel: R Gault, J Hanlon, B O'Neill, R Swan, A McAvoy, S Scott, J Speirs (c), N Swann, B Etherson, S Hare, K Hall, M Laverty, R Sloan, A O'Donnell

Northend United U15s 8 Antrim Rovers U15s 1 Saturday 26th November 2011

For only the third time this year, Northend's home game was in Ballymena at not Belfast. The Blues were in sparkling form against an Antrim Rovers side who narrowly lost to Glendowan the previous week. Stephen Hare put them 1-0 in the lead after five minutes, when big Keith Hall's header placed him clear of the Antrim defence and he beat the Antrim keeper with a low shot.

The same player put the Blues 2-0 ahead on ten minutes when he dribbled past two defenders and again beat the keeper with a low shot into the corner of the net.

Just as it looked like the Blues were taking control of the game , Antrim Rovers broke away and hesitancy in the Northend defence allow the Antrim striker in to beat Ryan Gault in the Northend net with another low shot into the corner of the net. Game on at 2-1. Anthony McAvoy had to leave the pitch after a heavy tackle to be replaced by Michael Laverty

However this goal spurned the Blues on to play some scintillating football with Captain Jamie Speirs and midfield powerhouse Niall Swann at the centre of every Northend attack. Indeed Speirs was to increase Northend's lead when his run ended up with him getting apprehended inside the Antrim penalty area. The same player dusted himself down to beat the keeper with the resultant penalty, leaving the score 3-1 to the Blues.

The Blues who were camped mostly in Antrim's half for the rest of the first half further increased their lead through Keith Hall when he was quickest to the ball and his shot beat the Antrim keeper to give the Blues a 4-1 lead.

Just before half time, in one of the best moves of the game, Keith Hall back-heeled the ball to Speirs and as he raced clear of the Antrim defence he slipped the ball past the advancing keeper only to see the ball go inches wide. With no further scoring in this half, the Blues went in with a 4-1 lead.

Northend started off the second half where they left off the first, playing some excellent passing football. Michael Laverty was having a good game in midfield and his passing was causing Antrim all sorts of problems. From a Laverty pass, Stephen Hare outpaced the Antrim defence and cut inside to release the ball to Jamie Speirs who thundered the ball past the helpless Antrim keeper to leave the score 5-1.

Antrim came back at the Blues but their defence of Hanlon, O'Neill, Swan and Etherson were on top of their game, giving nothing away.

On the next Northend attack, in what can only be described as goal of the game, after a Northend cross, Stephen Hare picked up the loose ball on the end of the Antrim penalty box and slipped the ball past a defender before lifting the ball high over a packed penalty area and into the top corner of the net.

Richard Sloan replaced Gault in nets and Aidan O'Donnell replaced Swan who had picked up a nasty knee injury.

Stephen Hare added to his man of the match performance when from another cross, he volleyed the ball past the Antrim keeper from twenty yards.

Just before the end of the game, some good passing play between Simon Scott and Aidan O'Donnell, found Captain Jamie Speirs with the ball and he clinically finished the move with a shot that gave the Antrim keeper no chance, leaving the final score 8-1 to the Blues in another convincing victory.

Man of the Match: Stephen Hare

Panel: R Gault, J Hanlon, B O'Neill, R Swan, A McAvoy, J Speirs (c), S Scott, N Swann, B Etherson, S Hare, K Hall, R Sloan, M Laverty, A O'Donnell

Northend United U15s 2 Larne Youth U15s 0 Saturday 19th November 2011

Northend started off this match brightly and the pace of Keith Hall and Stephen Hare was causing problems in the Larne defence. Jamie Speirs, Simon Scott, Niall Swann and Bryan Etherson began to get to grips with the Larne midfield.

Keith Hall went close with a shot from the edge of the penalty box but the game began to get bogged down in midfield.

Midway through the half, Keith Hall opened the scoring for the Blues when his well struck shot from outside the penalty box found the top corner of the Larne net.

Larne came back at the Blues put the Northend defence of Hanlon, Swan, O'Neill and McAvoy were on top of their game.

Following a midfield throughball, Stephen Hare picked up the ball twenty yards out and danced around two defenders before trying to lob the keeper, only to seethe ball sail narrowly over the crossbar. With no further goals, the half-time score remained 1-0 to the Blues.

A reorganisation at half-time, saw Northend come more into the game, with Niall Swann resorting to his central midfield position. Larne again pressed Northend but Ryan Gault, making his debut in goals, was more than equal to whatever Larne could throw at him.

Gradually during this half Northend began to attack down their right wing with Jonny Hanlon overlapping at every opportunity. The Larne goalkeeper deservedly won the referee's man of the match, with a string of saves to hinder the Blues attacks. Niall Swann, Jamie Speirs, Keith Hall and Stephen Hare all saw their shots well saved.

Northend increased their lead when a Speirs pass found Keith Hall, who outpaced hismarker and slid the ball past the keeper into the bottom corner of the net.

Michael Laverty and Aidan O'Donnell came on to give the Blues added pace in midfield. The Blues played some good possession football as they ran down the clock and turned in another good performance, winning 2-0 at full time.

Men of the Match: Brendan O'Neill, Ross Swan

Panel: R Gault, J Hanlon, B O'Neill, R Swan, A McAvoy, J Speirs (c), S Scott, N Swann, B Etherson, S Hare, K Hall, M Laverty, R Sloan, A O'Donnell

Northend United U15s 9 Barn United U15s 0 Saturday 12th November 2011

Northend again travelled to Newtownabbey for their "home" match against Barn United. The Blues have been playing well recently and started off this game at a storming pace and Keith Hall gave them a 1-0 lead in the first minute.

Northend played the possession game and Niall Swann further increased the Blues lead, when on a trademark run down the Northend right wing, he cut inside and beat the keeper with a thunderous shot.

Barn were not to be outdone at this stage of the game and from a corner kick their big goalkeeper when close with a header.

The Blues further increased their lead, when Captain Jamie Speirs beat four players before tucking the ball in the corner of the net, past the advancing keeper.

Keith Hall scored his second of the day when he headed the ball past the keeper from a Bryan Etherson cross. And Niall Swann also scored his second and the Blues fifth when he ran onto a Speirs throughball and planted the ball past the big Barn keeper.

Hall scored his hat-trick when he clinically finished off a three man move, beginning with the Blues keeper's, Richard Sloan, throw out.

In a storming finish to the first half, Stephen Hare bagged a brace of goals when he firstly ran onto an Etherson throughball and secondly when he ran at the Barn defence and placed the ball low and hard into the Barn net.

Northend finished off the half with a 8-0 lead, in a half where Simon Scott in the Northend midfield was pulling the strings for the Blues.

Northend started the second half, where they left off the first and Stephen Hare was in explosive form, rattling in another two goals. Thomas Brady and Ryan Gault were introduced to the game for the Blues and what an inspired substitution this proved to be. Ryan Gault teased the Barn United defence with his wing play before scoring two unstoppable goals, both from the edge of the penalty area.

The Blues with their midfield of Speirs, Scott, Gault and Swann were playing their best football of the season further increased their lead when Keith Hall bagged another two goals with his darting runs through the Barn defence.

Johnny Hanlon and Anthony McAvoy with their overlapping runs were adding further ammunition to the Northend strike-force.

Jamie Speirs was in inspirational form and he went on to complete his hat-trick with two well taken goals, on both occasions, bursting through the Barn defence with his midfield runs.

Northend weren't finished yet and Keith Hall went on to complete his sixth goal of the match and an incredible twenty-two goals so far this season, with ten minutes of the match remaining. Aidan O'Donnell came on with ten minutes remaining but the biggest cheer of the day was for Simon Scott who scored his first goal for the Blues with almost the final touch of the match.

This was another excellent team performance from a team now sitting proudly at the top of the league.

Man of the Match: Simon Scott

Panel: R Sloan, J Hanlon, B O'Neill, M Laverty, A McAvoy, S Scott, J Speirs (c), N Swann, B Etherson, S Hare, K Hall, T Brady, R Gault, A O'Donnell

Antrim Rovers U15s 1 Northend United U15s 6 Saturday 5th November 2011

The Northend Blues started this match in blistering fashion and Keith Hall went close on five minutes, forcing the keeper to pull off a great save. The same player, on ten minutes, ran on to a Stephen Hare throughball and he outpaced his marker to beat the keeper with a clinical finish, keeping the ball low and hard into the bottom corner of the net.

Northend were now playing some great passing football but the all elusive second goal wouldn't come. Keith Hall again went close with an effort before a Jamie Speirs's volley went narrowly over the cross-bar.

However as chance after chance went a begging, Antrim began to take the game to Northend and Richard Sloan in the Northend net, pulled off a good save to keep the Blues in the game. The Northend defence of Hanlon, O'Neill, Swan and McAvoy were soaking up whatever Antrim could throw at them but could do nothing when a free-kick was awarded just outside the Northend box. A thunderous shot beat the Northend defence and keeper to pull the match level at 1-1.

This was the wake-up call for Northend and they now stepped up a gear, playing some fluent passing football. Keith Hall restored their lead when he beat the keeper to a back-pass and slipped the ball into an empty net. It was all Northend now and with their midfield of Scott, Swann, Speirs and Etherson, dominating the play, it was no surprise when Northend increased their lead.

Stephen Hare picked up the ball, thirty yards out and dribbled past two defenders before scoring with a shot that hit the back of the net with the keeper well beaten.

Towards the end of the first half Northend were awarded a free-kick and from Speirs's cross, Niall Swann headed the ball home to give the Blues a 4-1 half-time lead.

Northend again came out with all guns blazing at the start of the second half. Jamie Speirs rattled a post with a shot before the same player got Northend's fifth goal when he beat the Antrim keeper with a shot from a tight angle.

With a convincing lead, Northend now packed their defence and began to soak up the Antrim pressure. Time and time again O'Neill, Etherson, Swan and McAvoy soaked up whatever Antrim could throw at them.

Michael Laverty, Ryan Gault and Thomas Brady were introduced to the Northend team to strengthen it in certain places before Jamie Speirs scored Northend's sixth goal from the penalty spot.

Aidan O'Donnell came on for a final flurry in his accustomed striking role to try and pinch another goal but it was that man Hall who went close with another shot before the referee blew for full-time, leaving the Blues with a 6-1 win.

Men of the Match: Anthony McAvoy, Keith Hall

Panel: R Sloan, J Hanlon, B O'Neill, R Swan, A McAvoy, S Scott, J Speirs (c), N Swann, B Etherson, S Hare, K Hall, M Laverty, R Gault, A O'Donnell, T Brady