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Northend United 1 Ballymoor 3 Saturday 26th October 2013

Northend welcomed Ballymoor from the Maiden City to the Showgrounds this morning for their National League match. The U15s went into this game with no fewer than nine players not available for this match due to injuries and other commitments and with no available recognised keeper it was Lewis McFall who thankfully volunteered to stand in.

Captain Cairns won the toss and played with the slight breeze and this was turning out to be a real battle for the two teams with both not giving anything away,on 11 minutes Northend made the breakthrough. The Ballymoor's goalkeeper and defender were leaving the ball for each other when the quick thinking Herbison nipped in and slotted the ball into the net.

The big Ballymoor striker was pushing his weight about but Dennison and McLauglin, playing at centre half in his first start, were giving nothing away and McFall in Northend's goals was quick off his line to clear any danger. Herbison had another half chance but the keeper got down well at his near post to save. Cairns also had a chance but his shot cleared the bar. Half time score 1-0

Ballymoor started the second half and with in a minute had equalised when their striker broke through and slotted the ball past McFall. Now with the wind at their backs and much stronger than in the first half, Ballymoor were getting the upper hand

and it wasn't long before they took the lead when slow defending let the striker in to pounce and score. The visitors scored their third goal ten minutes from time to seal the victory 3-1.

Well done to the lads who turned up today with a lot of players playing out of position. Full time score 3-1

Men of the Match: Robbie Dennison, Caolan McLaughlin, Lewis McFall

Panel: L McFall, J Anderson, L McCann, R Dennison, C McLaughlin, O Boyle, B Cairns(c), S Bennett, J Dawson, Z Herbison, M Waide.

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Derry Colts 3 Northend United 1 Saturday 12th October 2013

The U15s travelled up to Thornhill College in the Maiden City to play another of the league favourites Derry City Colts in a game where they knew if they put in a sub standard performance like last week they would be well and truly beaten.

The game got underway and within two minutes Derry had taken the lead when non existent tackling or defending let the striker through to put the ball past Elliott in goals. Definitely not the start the boys wanted against the top side.

Derry were pushing Northend back but Elliott was on his toes and a couple of times came off his line quickly to clear the danger. Northend started coming into the match and got off a couple of shots but the Derry keeper dealt with them easily. The score remained like this to half time. Half time score 1-0

Northend kicked off the second half and put Derry on the back foot and now showing belief in themselves were giving the academy team a good match. McCann, Boyle and Kirkpatrick in the middle of the park were pushing their counterparts back and Dennison and Cairns in defence were clearing their lines well.

Fifteen minutes into the half and Northend equalized when Dennison played the ball to Boyle, he controlled and clipped the ball over the defence and Herbison was

quick enough to nip in between the two defenders, hold them off, and slip the ball past the keeper.

Northend where getting the upper hand now and Herbison had another shot from the edge of the box but the ball went over the bar and McCann linked up well with Herbison but his shot whizzed past the post.

With seven minutes remaining, Derry pumped the ball long up field for their striker to run onto, but Elliot slid out to the edge of the box to collect, but the ball was poked out of his hands and as Elliott went to grab it again the ref, who was still in Derry's half, blew his whistle for a hand ball against Elliott.

Derry scored directly from the resulting free kick and in the last minute and with Northend chasing the game Derry broke away to score their third. Full time score 3-1

Man of the Match: Team Performance

Panel: E Elliott, L McFall, A Milligan, O Boyle, R Dennison, B Cairns, S Bennett, L McCann, J Kirkpatrick, Z Herbison, J Anderson, S Olliver, J Dawson, C McLauglin

Northend United 1 Ballymena United 4 Saturday 5th October 2013

Northend entertained Ballymena Academy at the Smithfield pitch in their first home match of the season.

Ballymena won the toss and played with the strong sun at their backs which helped them immensely as they kept playing the high ball up the pitch which Northend's defence couldn't deal with and this lead to Ballymena's first goal, Afoul was given

30 yards out for a clumsy tackle and when the free kick was fired into the box towards goal, as the Ballymena striker slid into Northend keeper Elliott the ball rolled past them both and into the ne. Ballymena soon doubled their lead when a player broke down the left and when the ball was played into the middle the striker, seemingly in an offside position, ran on to slot the ball home. Worse was to come for Northend when once again a bad pass by a Northend player was intercepted by a sky blue player who ran through to hammer the ball home. Half time score 3-0

Northend kicked the second half off but things didn't get any better for the blue and white hoops as two players got into each others way and the ball broke kindly to a Ballymena player who drilled the ball home for their fourth. Northend did score with ten minutes to go, when a free kick was awarded 25yards out which Cairns curled in and the keeper could only palm it in to the net. No more goals were scored and the match finished 4-1 to Ballymena.

This was a disappointing display from Northend who either weren't up for the derby challenge or who just froze on the day in front of the considerable crowd, but the boys need to be able to produce the goods week in week out in this demanding league..

Men of the Match: Robbie Dennison, Liam McCann

Panel: E Elliott, L McFall, R McKenna, O Boyle, R Dennison(c), G Stewart, B Cairns, L McCann, J Kirkpatrick, Z Herbison, A Milligan, S Bennett, C McLauglin, S Olliver, J Anderson, J Dawson, M Waide.

Warrenpoint Town 4 Northend United 4 Saturday 28th September 2013

Northend travelled to Mallusk to play their fourth away match in a row and their first match this year on grass this time their opponents were academy side Warrenpoint Town. Missing five regulars through other commitments some boys were out to prove a point and claim a starting place.The game got underway with both midfields battling hard but none gaining much supremacy over the other but after twenty minutes the game sparked into life with Herbison playing Cairns through and he battled hard to hold off the defender to slot the ball home but ten minutes later Warrenpoint equalized. Half time score 1-1

The second half started with Northend starting to see more of the ball and it wasn't long before they took the lead again with Herbison once again playing in Cairns and once again the big man rifled the ball into the net. In a strange five minute period Northend seemed to have a concentration lapse and Warrenpoint scored twice to take the lead. Heads didn't drop and the boys went up the pitch soon after and once again Herbison played in Cairns to thump the ball home for his hat-trick and Northend's third. The ball was being played long by Warrenpoint and from one of these balls, the Warrenpoint striker ran through, seemingly from an offside position, and put the ball past stand in keeper McKenna to give them the lead again. Northend pushed Warrenpoint back and on two accounts had the ball kicked off the line but with a couple of minutes left Northend got their deserved equalizer, this time Herbison putting in Waide and he held off a challenge to slip the ball past the keeper...

The boys need to start from the first whistle as the first half was very lack lustered but a more improved performance in the second half. Final score 4-4

Men of the Match: Bradley Cairns, Zack Herbison

Panel: R McKenna, S Olliver, A Milligan, O Boyle, R Dennison(c), G Stewart, B Cairns,S Bennett, J Dawson, Z Herbison, J Anderson, C McLaughlin, M Waide

Glenavon 4 Northend United 0 Wednesday 11th September 2013

Northend travelled to Lurgan on Wednesday night, for their third away match in a row, to play Glenavon on the 3G, The boys were full of confidence after their great performance in their last match.

The match got underway and Northend had the first shot, with Herbison firing in from the edge of the box but the keeper got down low to save at the post. That's really as good as it got for Northend with the bigger Glenavon team taking control of the game. Northend having played their last two games on slow 3G pitches couldn't get to grips with the fast pitch,

Glenavon took the lead midway through the first half with a contentious offside goal and new signing Eamonn Elliott in goals, pulled off a couple of crucial saves to keep the young Blues in the match. Half time score 1-0

The second half started and once again Glenavon scored from an offside position and the boy's heads did start to drop. Kirkpatrick on his first outing due to injury broke through but the Glenavon keeper pulled off a terrific save to deny him. Then Bolton, also on his debut, drove down the left wing and cut inside for his shot to go narrowly wide. Glenavon scored two late goals to put the game out of sight to leave the score 4 nil. This was a disappointing display from the lads who know they can do much better. Full time score 4-0

Man of the Match: Eamonn Elliott

Panel: E Elliott, L McFall, R McKenna, R Dennison, O Boyle, G Stewart, L McCann, A Milligan ,S Bennett, Z Herbison, B Cairns, J Kirkpatrick, C Bolton, J Dawson, S Olliver, C McLauglin

Portadown 4 Northend United 3 Friday 6th September 2013

The U15s travelled to one of the league favourites Portadown on Friday night, missing a few players but with a bit more confidence after their good display in their last game.

The match kicked off with both teams passing the ball round well with some neat football with no one getting the upper-hand early on. Northend dealt the first blow, Bennett put Cairns down the right wing and his excellent cross was met by Herbison at the near post who eventually tucked the ball home after a save by the Portadown keeper. Straight from the kick off Portadown equalised when their left winger broke through some tame tackles to fire home. Three mins later the Ports were in front when from a cross the striker prodded the ball into the net. This time the Northend

heads didn't drop and they went on the attack and forced a corner. Herbison sent a lovely cross in for big Cairns to produce a stunning volley giving the keeper no chance to equalise. More was to come from Northend as some neat build up work involving Dennison, Stewart, Boyle, McCann and when McFall played the ball though to Herbison there was no stopping the wee fella as he outpaced the defence and shot over the advancing keeper. However back came the Ports and 5 mins before half time they once again equalised. Half Time score 3-3

The second half got underway and with Dennison, McKenna and McFall holding strong in defence and Milligan, McCann, Boyle, Stewart and Bennett playing some very nice football in midfield. Both teams where at a stalemate. Milligan replaced Olliver for some fresh legs. With 10mins to go Portadown got the breakthrough when the right winger beat the offside to score and give Portadown the 3 points which to be fair was a bit of rough justice for Northend who had played their own part in a very good game of football. Dawson replaced Stewart, but the Ports held on for the last 10mins to secure the points.

This was another outstanding display from the boys and disappointing not to get something from the game. Full Time score 4-3

Panel: L McFall, R McKenna, R Dennison(c), A Milligan, S Bennett, O Boyle, G Stewart, L McCann, B Cairns, Z Herbison, S Olliver, J Dawson, C McLauglin

Coleraine YA 5 Northend United 2 Tuesday 2nd September 2013

Northend U15s travelled to Coleraine to play their first league match of the season, with a depleted squad due to injuries and missing players. The boys who took to the pitch certainly gave a good account of themselves and done everyone connected to the team proud. For a team of players who'd never played together before the boys started the match well and settled down early and actually started playing the better football by pushing the Academy team onto the back foot with Herbison and Cairns giving Coleraine's defenders no time on the ball and testing the big keeper out with a few efforts.

Coleraine came more into the game as the half wore on but the Blues backline of McFall, Dennison, Milligan and with the help of Boyle, Stewart, Anderson, Bennett and McCann in midfield stood firm and McKenna in goals dealt with any long range efforts. Twenty minutes into the half Northend took the lead. McFall played the ball through and as the keeper rushed out to clear the danger Herbison put pressure on

him and the keeper miskicked the ball for Herbison to run through and poke the ball home.

Coleraine equalised 5 minutes later when a Northend player dallied on the ball at the edge of the box and was robbed of the ball for the Coleraine striker to play in his partner to shoot giving McKenna no chance. Olliver replaced the injured Anderson.

The game took a cruel turn for Northend with a couple of mins to go to half time when a Coleraine player shot from inside the box and this would of been a good goal but as the ball was heading goal-bound another Coleraine player standing on the goal line and in an offside position prodded the ball home. However for some reason the referee allowed the goal to stand to the astonishment of everyone and the Northend's heads seemed to drop. Half Time score 2-1

Coleraine started the second half stronger, McLauglin and Waide replaced Bennett and Olliver, but with Northend's heads still down Coleraine took the upper hand and scored three goals in twenty minutes to make the game safe, Dawson replaced Boyle, but fair play to Northend they kept pushing Coleraine back and maybe if not for the Coleraine keeper pulling off a series of good saves the score would of been closer but Northend did score the last goal with Herbison bursting through and blasting the ball past the big keeper to give a final score of 5 2 to Coleraine.

This was a terrific display from the boys and with a few players to come back and a bit o luck, the boys mite surprise a few this year. Full Time score 5-2

Panel: R McKenna, L McFall, A Milligan, R Dennison(c), O Boyle, G Stewart, L McCann, S Bennett, B Cairns Z Herbison, J Anderson, S Olliver, M Waide, C McLauglin, J Dawson