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Windmill 3 Northend United 0 Saturday 25th October 2014

The Blues flattered to deceive in this match against a well drilled Windmill side. Missing their talisman player James Hayburn, due to the early kick-off, the Blues were forced to make a few changes for this match with Josh Wharry slotting into left back and Ronan Laverty into the Blues midfield.

With very little to report in a first half which failed to reach any great heights, Josh Mark was called upon to make a few good saves to keep the Windmill strikers at bay. However he could do nothing almost on the stroke of half time as the Blues conceded a soft goal from a corner kick, when the Windmill striker was given all the time in the Northend penalty box to steer the ball into the Northend net. Half time score 1-0

Into the second half and the pattern of play continued with a lethargic looking Northend failing to reach any great heights. They conceded a second goal ten minutes into the half when a Windmill throughball wasn't cut out and their striker ran on and slipped the ball past the advancing Josh Mark in the Northend goals. The Blues began to rally a bit midway through the second half with Ben McGarvey being prominent for Northend.

However this good spell lead to nothing in the match and Northend conceded a third goal before the end of the match. Final score 3-0

Man of the Match: Josh Mark

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

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Newry City 4 Northend United 1 Saturday 18th October 2014

Northend went behind after five minutes of this match, when Newry scored from a corner kick, as their striker bundled the ball into the net past Josh Mark in the Northend nets. Newry further increased their lead after fifteen minutes when a defensive mistake allowed their striker to run on and plant the ball into the bottom corner of the Northend net.

However Northend began to settled into this game and Kuba Babuszewski had a shot go narrowly wide of the Newry upright. Next it was the turn of James Hayburn who made a good break down the Northend left wing and when he crossed the ball across the face of the Newry nets, nobody was able to get a simple tap on it to score.

The Blues were made to pay for these misses when Newry scored a third goal just before half time, whan again a defensive error let their striker in to score. Half time score 3-0

Into the second half and the match was only twenty seconds old when Kuba Babuszewski played a one-two with Jamie Stevenson and ran on to plant the ball into the bottom corner of the Newry net. Game on!

However the comeback was short lived when again the Northend defence gifted Newry their fourth goal, two minutes later.

The Northend central midfield of Ben McGarvey and Jamie Stevenson were beginning the pull the strings in midfield and Sam Hutchinson was unlucky to see a good header go narrowly over the bar. James Hayburn again caused havoc on the Northend left wing and again saw a good cross flash across the Newry six yard box with nobody able to score. Final score 4-1

Men of the Match: Kuba Babuszewski, Ben McGarvey

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

Mallusk Athletic 3 Northend United 3 Saturday 11th October 2014

Northend were determined to put last week's performance behind them and put some points on the board this week in a match against Mallusk Athletic.

In one of their best performances of the season, the Blues were dominating play for large stretches of the first half and opened the scoring fifteen minutes into the half. A James Hayburn defence splitting pass allowed Kuba Babuszewski to race clear of the Mallusk defence and plant the ball into the corner of the Mallusk net from the eighteen yard line to give the Blues a 1-0 lead. Declan Dobbin and Anthony Shaw were playing well at the heart of the Northend defence but they could do nothing as Mallusk equalised shortly afterwards.

With Ben McGarvey and Ronan Laverty pulling the strings in midfield, it wasn't long before Northend regained the lead. From a throw in, Jordan Adams picked up the ball and smashed a shot into the top corner of the Mallusk net, with the keeper well beaten.

James Hayburn should have further extended Northend's lead when he missed a easy chance from two yards.

In a first half which Northend almost dominated from start to finish, Sam Hutchinson got their third goal when he scored from a Jordan Adams corner. James Hayburn again had a chance to further increase the Blues lead with ten minutes of the half remaining and Aaron Campbell, back in the team after a return from injury, saw one of his shots cannon off the Mallusk upright, with five minutes of the match remaining. However Northend could not increase their lead in the first half. Half time score 1-3

Into the second half and Northend were made to pay for all their missed chances in the first half. Mallusk pulled a goal back after ten minutes of the second half when their striker found space in the Northend defence to plant the ball past Josh Mark in the Northend nets.

Play swung from end to end in an entertaining second half with James Hayburn getting in a good position to score but failing to deliver. However it was Northend who were made to pay, when Mallusk drew level in the match with ten minutes remaining. The Blues were unable to grab a goal to seal all the points in the final minutes. Final score 3-3

Man of the Match: Jacob Penny

Panel: J Mark, J Penny, J Hayburn, D Dobbin, A Shaw, B McGarvey, R Laverty, J Adams, S Hutchinson, K Babuszewski, A Campbell, E McLaughlin, J Stevenson, M Kirk, J Wharry

Donegal Celtic 5 Northend United 0 Saturday 4th October 2014

Northend U15s met Donegal Celtic in a Shield match on Saturday and as the match began with play flowing from end to end, it was Northend who had some good early exchanges. However Donegal Celtic took the lead on fifteen minutes.

Donegal Celtic doubled their lead five minutes later when their striker planted the ball into the bottom corner of the net, with Josh Mark, in the Northend nets, well beaten.

The Northend central defence of Anthony Shaw and Declan Dobbin were soaking up all the DC pressure but they could do nothing to prevent the third goal, minutes before half time , when a good through ball left the DC striker clear of the Northend defence and allowed him to go on and score past the advancing Josh Mark. Half time score 3-0

Into the second half and Northend conceded a fourth goal ten minutes into the half, when a right wing cross wasn't deal with in the Northend defence and the DC striker scored from close range.

The game flowed from end to end in the second half and Kuba Babuszewki should have pulled a goal back for Northend when he somehow rocketed the ball over the crossbar from a few yards out, as he met a Northend corner, full on.

However Northend were made to pay for this near miss, as Donegal Celtic ran in a fifth goal, minutes before the end of the match. Final score 5-0

Man of the Match: Declan Dobbin

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

Northend United 0 Lisburn Youth 5 Saturday 27th September 2014

Northend continued their roller coaster of a season when they played Lisburn Youth on Saturday. Missing a few regulars, this was always going to be a tough fixture for the Northend Boys.

Ben McGarvey and Jacob Penny were having good games for Northend in the midfield engine room as play swung from end to end in the first half. Josh Mark was again in top form in the Northend nets but he could do nothing to prevent Lisburn taking the lead, almost on the stroke of half time. Half time score 0-1

The game was only two minutes old in the second half when Lisburn struck a killer blow and scored their second goal, following a defensive lapse. This goal visibly shook Northend and five minutes later, Lisburn had added a third goal, when their striker found time in the Northend penalty box to place the ball past Josh Mark.

After this Northend began to settle down and Graeme Macartney went close with a good goal scoring opportunity.

However try as they might, Northend could not get a goal to get them back in the game and Lisburn went on to score two more goals very late in the game Final score 0-5

Panel: J Mark, B Millar, J Hayburn, D Dobbin, J Stevenson, B McGarvey, J Adams, S Hutchinson, J Penny, G Macartney, J Penny, E McLaughlin, J Wharry, M Kirk, A Campbell

Northend United 3 Hillsborough Boys 0 Saturday 13th September 2014

The U15s put last week' disappointing result behind them with a good win over a fancied Hillsborough Boys team. The game was fairly even for the first fifteen minutes with chances falling to both sides.

Kuba Babuszewski gave Northend the lead on twenty minutes. The ball was worked out of defence down the left hand side where Babuszewski took the ball down and cut inside before unleashing the ball into the top corner of the net.

Northend went looking for a second and it came five minutes before the break. Again Babuszewski was the man on target when from a Jordan Adams corner. He volleyed home from 12 yards. Half time score 2-0

Into the second half and Hillsborough came more into the game, but the defensive line-up of Millar, Dobbin, Shaw and Hayburn were not prepared to concede any soft scores. When Hillsborough did penetrate the Northend defence, they found Josh Mark in the Northend nets, in his usual top form.

Northend should have extended their lead with ten minutes remaining when striker Ronan Laverty went clear of the Hillsborough defence, but his shot was well saved by the advancing Hillsborough keeper.

James Hayburn made the points safe for Northend when he fired home a free kick from all of 30 yards with five minutes remaining. Final score 3-0

This was a great team effort and a great win.

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

Greenisland Boys 4 Northend United 1 Saturday 6th September 2014

The Blues were made to pay for a series of first half chances squandered, when they conceded four goals in a crazy start to the second half of the match.

Northend dominated play from the off with Jamie Stevenson and Ben McGarvey pulling the strings in the midfield for a rejuvenated Northend. With Graeme Macartney and Jacob Penny stretching the Greenisland defence, it was James Hayburn who came closest to scoring. On fifteen minutes, Hayburn's stunning free-kick skimmed the Greenisland crossbar.

However it wasn't long before the Ballymena Blues took the lead, when Ben McGarvey was apprehended after a surging run. Up stepped Jordan Adams to take the free-kick and curl the ball into the top corner of the net. In a one-sided first half, Northend went on to squander a few chances, which should really have doubled their lead. Half time score 1-0

Into the second half and the referee awarded a very soft penalty against Northend after only two minutes. Josh mark, who had been a virtual spectator in the first half, got a hand to the ball but couldn't prevent it going in, leaving the score 1-1. As the team come to terms with this soft penalty, what happened next can only be described as defensive frailties, when Greenisland scored another three goals in a ten minute spell. Firstly the ball should have been cleared out off the Northend 6 yard box and wasn't and secondly a very short back-pass allowed the Greenisland striker to run on and take the ball past the advancing Josh Mark and slip it into an empty net. Northend were unable to pull any goals back before the end of the match. Final score 4-1

On the injury front, the team received some good news that Aaron Campbell's injury is getting better and he may be avialable fior next week's match

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