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Northend Colts 1 Rosario Colts 0 Saturday 22nd February 2025

A bright, brisk morning at Mallusk playing fields would see the Pizza Parlour sponsored colts face tough opposition in a big physical Rosario side on a difficult, sodden pitch. Northend put in a great performance in a very competitive, tense affair and came out winners by the single goal of the game.

Rosario started the stronger of the two with a higher intensity and used their physical advantage. They kept moving the ball forward quickly and getting ball into the box where their big forward was winning all the aerial duals. A close call from a long throw in and flick on the box saw a scramble that Northend were relieved to clear. Northend grew into the game and King and Da Prato set the tone with aggression and intensity, winning ball, showing composure and making good use of it. Northend changed shape bringing Hamill in as a third in the centre which wrestled control of the game. A great bit of play through the thirds saw Devlin buy a yard of space out wide and find King who shot just wide. The back four of Maguire, Slattery, McKay and O’Hara had to work hard but were in control and Hardy was quick off his line to any threats. Neeson and Devlin played higher up and MacNeill was released on a number of occasions. Just before the half end Devlin turned and swivelled with a left footed volley just inside the box and smashed low and hard into the near corner. The keeper pulled off a brilliant save to push it round the post and keep the scores level at the break. Half Time 0-0

Northend started the second half on the front foot dominating the midfield. The front three of Devlin, MacNeill and Neeson were a handful. Northend were pressing aggressively with intensity and within three minutes of the restart they got their reward. Northend forced Rosario under the press back to the keeper. Neeson was on him in a flash, charging down his clearance. Neeson forced the ball looping into the goal over the keepers head. The ball hit down off the crossbar and onto the line. Neeson and the keeper reacted quickly sliding together, forcing the ball into the net and a precious lead. It was all Northend. In the next five they fashioned two openings for Devlin but shooting just wide on both occasions. Gordon came on to bolster Northend’s threat and almost immediately he was slipped in on goal. Oisin tried to chip the outrunning keeper but it was just saved. Not long after Gordon was in on goal again. He was forced wide of goal but fired his shot left footed into the bottom corner but the keeper pulled off another good save. Rosario tried their hardest to force the game to penalties but they were up against a blue wall and Northend saw this game out very impressively although there was a bit of nervous tension when Rosario threw the kitchen sink at it in last few minutes. Full Time 1-0

A very impressive battling performance by the young blues, every one of them emptying the tank. They continue to improve each week showing a bit of steel, built on a very strong, solid defence. Every player was out on their feet after putting lots of energy into the game. They March on to the next round of the cup. Maguire gets the plaudits for a great performance at the back, showing improvement and consistency of performance, always on the front foot winning all his duels.

Ballymena Pizza Parlour sponsored Player of the Match: Ronan Maguire

Panel: Lughan Hardy, Liam Slattery, Ronan Maguire, Joshua Dillon, Harry McKay, Corey King, Joseph O’Hara, Caleb Da Prato (c), Pearse Neeson, Oisin Gordon, Ruairi Hamill, Pearse Devlin and Kane McNeill

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Northend Colts 2 Barn United 0 Saturday 15th February 2025

Beautiful playing conditions at a great facility, Brookvale Park 3G, would see the young Pizza Parlour Colts pitted against a strong Barn United. A tight, highly contested game in good spirit saw the young blues reverse the score-line from an earlier defeat to Barn, before Christmas.

Barn started the stronger dominating possession, moving the ball around quickly and Northend struggled to get their foot on the ball. When Northend finally got it Barn were pressing intensely. Northend back four of Maguire, O’Neill, Slattery and O’Hara did well to limit any danger to long shots which didn’t trouble Hardy in goal. In fact Northend looked the most threatening on the counter with the pace of Devlin and Neeson up top. Devlin came close when he beat the last man, but his shot was down the middle and a fairly comfortable save. Then O’Neill came close with a header from a Da Prato corner but just wide. Northend started to grow into the game and had belief. They switched to a 4-3-3 and started to take control of the game with Da Prato, O’Neil and new signing Hamill dominating the midfield. King had moved further forward in the attacking line and Northend looked threatening. Again, danger man Devlin broke through the backline but his shot just wide of target. Barn had created little but came close when a handling error by Hardy gave opportunity to the Barn striker. However, Lughan recovered quickly diving at his feet and smothering the ball. O’Neill who had pushed forward, started joining in attacks and came close when his shot from edge of the area sailed past the upright. Then with 5 mins before the half end a quick throw in saw Neeson get the ball in quickly to O’Neill who had made a forward run. Kian shielded the ball well and then side stepped the last defender slotting the ball clinically into the far corner for a deserved half time lead. Half Time 1-0

Northend continued in the same vain in the second half. They dominated the midfield moving the ball quickly with some nice slick passing and patterns of play. Devlin got another opportunity early in the half but again thwarted by the keeper. Then a brilliant bit of play saw Northend pass the ball through the thirds from the keeper to Gordon who beat the last man and shot incisively into the far bottom corner. However, the keeper was down quickly making an impressive save. Barn were not out of it and fought hard gaining some momentum in the middle of the half. Indeed, they were so close to an equaliser when their midfielder smashed one into the top corner from the edge of the area. Yet again for the second time in a week Hardy pulled off a remarkable diving save at full stretch to keep their slender advantage. Northend should have killed the game with 10 to go when Devlin and Neeson were clear with only the keeper to beat. Yet again the keeper pulled off another save from Devlin. Then up the other end Hardy parried a long shot and in the melee to get clear bundled over the Barn striker. Northend cleared their lines to cries for penalty but the referee waved play on. To rub salt into the wounds Devlin went up the other end and this time slotted his shot at second time of asking to win the game and take all three points. Full Time 2-0

A very impressive battling performance by the young blues and a great game of football with a very satisfying result. Da Prato gets the plaudits in midfield for a strong combative performance, displaying composure and using the ball well. Well done all.

Ballymena Pizza Parlour sponsored Player of the Match: Caleb Da Prato

Colts Panel: Lughan Hardy, Liam Slattery, Ronan Maguire, Joshua Dillon, Harry McKay, Corey King, Joseph O’Hara, Caleb Da Prato (c), Pearse Neeson, Oisin Gordon, Ruairi Hamill, Kian O’Neill, Pearse Devlin, Kane McNeill

Northend Colts 0 Clonduff 1 Saturday 8th February 2025

A cold morning at Mallusk playing fields would see the Pizza Parlour sponsored colts face tough opposition in Clonduff. A depleted squad with one sub between two teams gave a good account of themselves but unfortunately no result for their effort today.

Clonduff started the stronger dominating possession and Northend were very deep with no obvious outball. Gordon worked tirelessly as a lone striker but nothing would stick and Northend had little going forward. They worked hard and the back four of Maguire, McKay, Slattery and O’Hara were resolute. Clonduff were limited to long shots which didn’t overly trouble Hardy although one effort did sale past the upright. The central midfield three of Da Prato, King and Dillon worked hard to try and wrestle momentum with Neeson and Devlin working tirelessly down either flank. The bench changed it up bringing on McNeill and pushing Neeson and Devlin further forward and McKay into midfield. This gave better balance had immediate impact with Devlin getting his first sight of goal but just wide. Then Devlin made a great weaving run down the left and played a brilliant ball into Neeson, unmarked in the area. His touch just let him down with the best chance of the half. Not long after Devlin was released in over the top in the clear and he was about to slot his finish before it was called back for a marginal offside. Half Time 0-0

The second half started in the same fashion as the first. Northend defended well restricting Clonduff to long shots which were comfortable for Hardy. Then a long nothing ball accidentally deflected off Slattery’s hand as he tried to head clear. The resultant free kick from the edge of the area was smashed down Hardy’s throat which was saved but no one reacted to the loose ball leaving a very easy tap in for the Clonduff forward. A very soft goal to give away after all the effort of the game so far. Northend heads dropped but they still defended manfully but couldn’t get that cutting edge to put pressure of the Clonduff defence. Northend began to push going to three at the back allowing three on three to the Clonduff counter. A breaking ball on the edge of the Northend area so a smashing shot low into the far corner of the goal. Somehow at full stretch, Hardy pulled off a diving reflex save to push the ball round the post with a very strong hand. A better save you will be hard pushed to see. Northend pushed for the last ten and created a few last gasp openings but couldn’t get the break of the ball and the equaliser. Full Time 0-1

A very impressive battling performance by the young blues and they felt very hard done by leaving empty handed and goalless despite their efforts. Every player was out on their feet after putting lots of energy into the game. Hardy gets the plaudits for a great performance, kicking brilliantly and pulling off one of the best saves you’re likely to see in youth football.

Ballymena Pizza Parlour sponsored Man of the Match: Lughan Hardy

Panel: Lughan Hardy, Liam Slattery, Ronan Maguire, Harry McKay, Joshua Dillon, Caleb Da Prato (c), Pearse Devlin, Pearse Neeson, Oisin Gordon, Corey King and Kane McNeill.