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Lower Maze 4 Northend United 2 Saturday 21st October 2017

Northend were up for this clash, following last week's good win over Belvoir, and Mateusz Las should have opened the scoring after a great through ball by McAuley. The Blues kept the pressure on and were awarded a free-kick. Pearse Esler found Jamie Montgomery who made no mistake to open the scoring.

The Northend defence weren't put under much pressure but when they did it was Joel Telford and Man of the Match Ruben Shirley who tidied up. Mateusz Las came close another 3 times with one shot coming of the bar. It wasn't too long though when Telford again found Las in open space in his own half and this time he turned and outpaced his marker and chipped the ball over the keeper and into the Lower Maze net. Half time 0-2

The second half started with the Northend on the back foot and within 5 minutes Lower Maze scored from a free kick from outside the box . This seemed to rattle Northend and a massive mistake in the centre of defence led to the equalizer. Jamie Montgomery, Joel Telford, Mateusz Las and Conor McAuley all came close but a poor refereeing decision gave Lower Maze the lead. Conor McAuley came close again when his volley rattled the crossbar.

With Northend pushing for an equaliser they gave the ball away in midfield and Lower Maze made it 4 with a free kick which found the back of the net. Full time 4-2

This was a game the Northend lads should have won with countless chances missed and some really bad defensive errors.

But I can add that they played well In parts with some good football they just have to keep this going a lot longer and learn from their mistakes.

Man of the Match: Ruben Shirley

Panel: D Gregg, R Shirley, O McGregor, P Esler, D King, J Telford, C McAuley, J Montgomery, S Penny, M Las, O McAuley, C Young, B Ogilvie

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Northend United 3 Belvoir 2 NIBFA Cup Saturday 14th October 2017

Northend had only 11 players available this week but started the game well with some good football. It was 15 minutes into the game when they took the lead when Owen McAuley picked out Cameron Young just inside the 6 yard box to open the scoring.

There was some very physical tackles going In but the lads were giving there all with Pearse Esler Owen McGregor, Dylan King and Ruben Shirley solid in defence and Joel Telford and Conor McAuley were the two anchor men in the midfield.

Some great pressing from Owen McAuley and Mateusz Las, led to the Belvoir defender putting it through his own goal. Northend could easily have scored a third goal only a piece of brilliance from their keeper kept a Mateusz Las shot at bay.

Belvoir were awarded a penalty after a dubious hand ball but stand in goalkeeper Caleb Gibson who was also playing well managed to keep it out. Half time 2-0

The lads knew they had to keep it tight and did so. Early pressure from Belvoir was soaked up by a well drilled defence. Mateusz Las and Simon Penny should have put the game out of sight but a combination of another good save from the Belvoir keeper and a shot off target, kept the score the same.

20 minutes into the second half Northend failed to clear their lines and were punished for it.

Within 5 minutes Mateusz Las made it 3, after a great through ball by Dylan King and cross by Cameron Young.

However Belvoir managed to get another goal back with 8 minutes of the match remaining, before one of their players got his marching orders for a cynical tackle on McAuley. The Northend lads dug deep and were rewarded with therir first win of the season. Full time 3-2

I would like to thank these 11 lads for there commitment on Saturday everyone of them played with there hearts and they got what they deserved .

Men of the Match: Team Performance

Panel: C Gibson, R Shirley, E McGregor, P Esler, D King, J Telford, C McAuley, S Penny, M Las, C Young, E McAuley

Annagh United 5 Northend United 1 Saturday 7th October 2017

In this early kick off Annagh started with the wind and made use of it by putting the Northend defence under pressure but some great defending from the back 4.

Simon Penny should have scored midway through the first half after some neat play from Connor McAuley. With 10 minutes remaining in the first half Annagh got a free kick just outside the penalty area and they punished Northend with the free kick . The lads kept things tight through Esler,McGregor, King and Montgomery but with the last kick of the first half a fumble from Gregg in goals gifted Annagh their second. Half time 2-0

Northend made a couple of changes at half-time and it wasn't too long before they grabbed a well deserved goal from Mateusz Las, who turned his marker on the half way line and outpaced two others, to plant the ball over the head of the advancing Annagh keeper .

This seemed to lift the lads but 15 minutes from time they lost their captain Joel Telford and the outstanding right back Owen McGregor.

This put more pressure on the lads and David Gregg was called upon to keep the score at 2-1 . However, 3 goals in the last in the last 10 minutes sealed it for Annagh

These lads deserve a win as there work rate is really good just need a little luck in front of goal. Full time 5-1

Keep it going lads it's a massive improvement from last season.

Panel: D Gregg, O McGregor, J Montgomery, P Esler, D King, J Telford, C McAuley, S Penny, M Las, B Ogilvie, R Shirley, C Young, O McAuley, C Gibson

Northend started the game well with some good football and it wasn't too long before they took the lead when a cross ball was converted with an overhead kick by Ciaran Martin . Matty Las came close minutes later after a through ball by Joel Telford

Distillery got back in the game after the Northend defence couldn't clear their line. This seemed to spur on Distillery and they took the lead after a dubious goal .

Jamie Montgomery who was outstanding in defence picked a pass to Martin but his shot went wide. Another defensive error cost the lads and Distillery made it 3 just before half time. Half time 3-1

Northend kept up the pressure at the start of the second half and a Pearce Esler pass found Matty Las and he made no mistake this time with a well taken goal.

Northend still kept pressing and should have been awarded a penalty when Ruben Shirley was clearly brought down inside the box but the referee judged it to be outside.

As Northend started to push up this left space at the back which Distillery exploited and made it 4 -2

Tan came close again in the dying minutes of the game but it wasn't the lads day. Full time 4-2

Men of the Match: Jamie Montgomery and Mateusz Las

Panel: D Gregg, O McAuley, J Montgomery, P Esler, D King, J Telford, C McAuley, S Penny, M Las, C Martin, B Ogilvie, C Gibson, R Shirley, O McGregor

Camlough Rovers 6 Northend United 1 Saturday 16th September 2017

Northend started this game on the front foot and took the lead after 10 minutes. A Connor McAuley free kick found Joel Lynn in the penalty box and he made no mistake, planting the ball wide of the keeper.

Northend were playing some good football at this stage of the game but a Camlough ball to the back post found their striker unmarked and he scored past Caleb Gibson in nets. Camlough followed this by a carbon copy second goal minutes later.

Camlough were now in the game and the Northend midfield were having a hard time keeping up with their passing and move play. Camlough went on to score another two goals before the end of the first half to effectively kill of the game Half time 4-1

Into the second half and with David Gregg in nets, the Northend defence looked more assured. Pearse Esler, Jude Moore and Joel Telford were urging their team mates on in a more even second half. However, Camlough added a fifth goal before Mateusz Las should have pulled a goal back for Northend.

In the final minutes of the match, Northend defence gave away a poor penalty which keeper Gregg got close to but couldn't keep out. Full time 6-1

Panel: C Gibson, J Moore, B Ogilvie, P Esler, D King, J Telford, C McAuley, S Penny, M Las, J Lynn, C Kennedy, D Gregg, R Shirley

Northend United 0 Banbridge Town 2 Saturday 9th September 2017

This was a much-Improved performance from the previous week with one defensive lapse and a dubious penalty separating the sides at the end of the match. Top performances from Jude Moore and Pearse Esler in defence and hard-working displays from Connor McAuley, Joel Telford and Jamie Montgomery in midfield, kept the Blues in the match throughout.

Panel: C Gibson, J Moore, B Ogilvie, P Esler, D King, J Telford, C McAuley, J Montgomery, M Las, C Young, C Martin, R Shirley

Ballymoney United 6 Northend United 0 Saturday 2nd September 2017

Northend U15s kicked off their new season on the back of some impressive pre-season friendlies. With a number of players missing, it was a makeshift side that took the field for Northend with U14s player Tyrone Mitchell getting his chance in midfield.

Northend started the match on the front foot with some good passing play and as play swung from end to end, it was Ballymoney who opened the scoring after 25 minutes from a corner. The Blues should have drawn level on thirty minutes when Mitchell found himself with only the keeper to beat but planted the ball wide of the upright. Ballymoney scored a second goal just before half time. Half time 2-0

Into the second half and with Telford and Martin introduced to play, Northend were looking for an early goal to get back in the game. However, Ballymoney went on to expose a few lapses in the centre of the Northend defence and ran a further four goals in the second half. Final score 6-0

Panel: D Gregg, B Ogilvie, C Gibson, D King, J Montgomery, C McAuley, T Mitchell, M Las, J Lynn, J Moore, C Young, J Telford, C Martin, R Shirley