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Crusaders 4 Northend United 1 Saturday 23rd February 2013

Northend travelled to the Shore Road on Saturday to play League Challengers, Crusaders, in a League Cup match on the excellent Grove United pitch..

Northend started strongly with Speirs, Cameron and Hare prominent for the Ballymena Blues. Play flowed from end to end with some great pass and move football from both teams.

Crusaders were finding the Northend defence of Scroggie, Swan, Laverty and Etherson in top form. However Crusaders opened the scoring, midway through the first half when some good play down their right wing, saw a good throughball to their striker, who tucked the ball past Ross Swan in the Northend nets.

Northend came storming back at Crusaders and after some good play from Stephen Hare, Adam McLaverty found himself chasing down the ball with the Crusaders keeper, who slipped and left McLaverty with the simplest task of scoring into an empty net.

It was all Northend at this stage of the game and Thomas Brady could have put Northend in the lead, only to see the Crusaders keeper dive low to his left to push his shot around the post.

With the score finely poised at 1-1, play began to get bogged down in midfield but just before half-time, Crusaders again broke down the right wing and when the cross came into the Northend goalmouth, it wasn't dealt with and the Crusaders scored at the back post. Half time score 2-1

The second half started with Crusaders winning an early corner from which Ross Swan pulled off a good save. Northend came more into the game after this corner with Jamie Speirs and James Cameron looking dangerous for the Blues. Indeed Speirs forced a great save from the Crusaders keeper when he hit a blistering shot from all of twenty-five yards, to see the Crusaders keeper again push the ball around the post.

Jack Nixon and Jack McKitterick were introduced to the game to replace some tiring legs

As Northend piled on the pressure in the opening exchanges of the second half, Niall Swann saw his header go inches past the post from a Northend corner.

Crusaders came more into the game and scored their third goal from a well executed corner when they were quickest to react to a knock-down from the big Crusaders striker.

This goal effectively killed off the Northend fight back and Crusaders added a fourth goal before the final whistle.

Man of the Match: Niall Swann

Panel: R Swan, L Scroggie, B Etherson, N Swann (c), M Laverty, A McAvoy, J Cameron, J Speirs, T Brady, C Lemon, S Hare, A McLaverty, J Nixon, J McKitterick, R Sloan

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Northend United 0 Glenavon 4

Northend welcomed National League challengers, Glenavon to the Showgrounds on Saturday for a friendly match. Manager Speirs used the opportunity to give all his squad a good run-out against a team featuring no less than a number of players who have already experienced Irish League football or are on pre-contract terms with some of the Scottish Premier League Clubs.

The first half started with Glenavon playing some quality pass and move football but gradually Northend came more into the game. The midfield trio of Speirs, Cameron and Brady began to string together a number of passing moves and Stephen Hare looked lively in the striking role for Northend.

In defence, Brendan O'Neill was having a good game ably assisted with Lee Scroggie, Emmet Kerr and Anthony McAvoy.

Glenavon took the lead towards the end of the first half when they scored from a disputed move, giving Ross Swan no chance in the Northend nets.

However Northend came storming back at Glenavon and after some good play from James Cameron and Jack Nixon, Connell Lemon found himself clear of the Glenavon defence but pulled his shot inches past the post when a goal looked likely. Half time score 1-0

Northend introduced Jack McKitterick and Adam McLaverty at half time. As the half wore on, play began to get bogged down in a midfield tussle. Glenavon scored their second goal early in the second half, when the Northend defence allowed them too much time on the ball Richard Sloan replaced Swan in nets.

Northend came back at Glenavon and following good play between Stephen Hare and Jamie Speirs, Lee Scroggie saw his shot go narrowly wide of the Glenavon upright.

However as the Northend legs began to tire, Glenavon ran in two late goals in the match to leave the final score 4-0 to the team current lying second in the top tier of the National League, two points behind Cliftonville.

This was a good workout match for Northend against a very strong Glenavon team, but one where their panel was badly depleted by missing four regulars, including keeper Ryan Gault, who is now sidelined for the rest of the season. On the plus side, it was good to see Thomas Brady back in the team, making his first appearance for the Blues, after his leg break in September.

Panel: R Swan, L Scroggie, B O'Neill, E Kerr, A McAvoy, J Cameron, J Speirs (c), T Brady, C Lemon, S Hare, A McLaverty, J McKitterick, R Sloan

Northend United 1 Limavady United 2 Saturday 2nd February 2013

The Blues started on the back foot against the hungrier Limavady team and found themselves a goal down after five minutes when from a Limavady free kick, their striker rose unchallenged in the Northend box to steer his header past the helpless Ryan Gault in the Northend nets.

Northend came more into the game after this goal and from an Adam McLaverty throughball, Niall Swann outpaced his marker but delayed his shot and allowed the defender to get in a super tackle just as he was about to shoot.

In a lethargic first half, the Blues had a number of chances to equalise but a combination of poor finishing and good goalkeeping saw the half end in a 1-0 to Limavady.

The second half kicked off with play becoming bogged down in midfield. Jamie Speirs and Niall Swann were pulling the strings for the Blues but Northend didn't look dangerous going forward.

In defence Bryan Etherson and Benny O'Neill were having a good game against the lively Limavady strikers with Ryan Gault, in nets, a virtual spectator for much of the second half.

McLaverty should have equalised the score for Northend when he headed the ball wide, from a free-kick, with an open goal at his mercy. The finishing didn't get any better when a Speirs free-kick deflected off the Limavady wall and found three Northend players in space with only the keeper to beat but ironically they all left it for each other and the keeper was able to save the ball.

Against the run of play, Limavady scored a second goal towards the end of the second half when another free-kick was delivered into the box and their striker wasn't picked up and stuck out a foot to score a soft goal.

With minutes remaining Jamie Speirs got on the end of a thrown-in and got to the by-line before pulling the ball back across the face of the Limavady goalmouth, where Stephen Hare was on hand to score for the Blues. With the score now 2-1 this proved too little too late for the Blues as Limavady defended a frantic final few minutes to go into the nest round of the National League Cup with an away match against Dungannon Youth.

Northend now play Sion Swifts next week in a match where Manager Glenn Speirs is looking for a vast improvement from some of the Blues players.

Panel: R Gault, R Swan, B O'Neill, B Etherson, A McAvoy, M Laverty, J Speirs, N Swann (c), C Lemon, S Hare, A McLaverty, L Scroggie, R Sloan

Northend United 2 Coleraine Academy 1 Saturday 26th January 2013

The Northend Blues wrapped up their Elite National League campaign at Dunfane on Saturday with an excellent 2-1 win over Irish League Academy Side, Coleraine.

The Blues were really up for this match and started in whirlwind fashion. Jamie Speirs, Niall Swann and James Cameron quickly began pulling the strings in midfield for the Blues. Northend had all the early pressure and Connell Lemon should have put them in front on two separate occasions after he connected with high balls into the box but on both occasions, Coleraine were able to clear the danger.

Next Jamie Speirs was unlucky when after a jinxing run; he saw his blockbuster of a shot well saved by the Coleraine keeper.

However, with all the pressure the blues were exerting it wasn't long before they would take the lead. Stephen Hare ran onto an Adam McLaverty pass in the Coleraine box and as he slipped his marked he was bundled over for a penalty. Jamie Speirs stepped up and smashed the penalty past the helpless Coleraine keeper to give Northend a 1-0 lead...

The Blues should have gone on to dominate the match but took their foot of the pedal and allowed Coleraine back into the game. A break down the Coleraine left wing and cross into the Northend box resulted in the Coleraine striker scoring a good goal past Ryan Gault in the Northend nets.

Coleraine went on to take the game to Northend but found Bryan Etherson in top form in the middle of the Blues defence and Ryan Gault dealt comfortably with the Coleraine long range shots. Gradually Northend came back into the game and Connell Lemon saw his shot cleared off the Coleraine goal-line. Northend should have taken the lead just before half time when Speirs slipped the ball to Stephen Hare but he pulled his shot wide of the post with the Coleraine goals at his mercy. Half time score 1-1

Coleraine opened the second half with a strong run down their right wing and when the ball was crossed into the Northend box, Michael Laverty had to be alert to clear the ball.

Northend took the game to Coleraine in the early exchanges in the second half and when Adam McLaverty latched onto a Jack Nixon throughball, he saw the Coleraine goalkeeper make a good save from his shot.

However the Blues continued to dominate the play and won a free-kick thirty yards out from the Coleraine goals. Jamie Speirs floated the ball to Coleraine' s back post where Bryan Etherson rose above his marker to plant the ball into the back of the Coleraine net with the keeper well beaten, to give them a 2-1 advantage. Lee Scroggie replaced Lemon as Northend looked to increase their lead.

In the best move of the match, Speirs picked up the ball in midfield and jinxed his way past the Coleraine defenders and when he planted his cross across the face of the goals; Stephen Hare completely miskicked the ball in front of an open net, with ten minutes of the match remaining.

Northend saw out the remaining minutes of the match as the final score ended as 2-1 to Northend

Men of the Match: Jamie Speirs, Ryan Gault

Panel: R Gault, J McKitterick, R Swan, B Etherson, A McAvoy, J Cameron, J Speirs, N Swann (c), C Lemon, A McLaverty, S Hare, J Nixon, L Scroggie, R Sloan, M Laverty

Northend United 4 Glendowan 2 Saturday 12th January 2013

Northend U16s welcomed Glendowan to their Showgrounds Base on Saturday and right from the kick-off, the Blues took the game to their Belfast opponents. In the opening ten minutes Connell lemon saw two good shots go narrowly wide of the Glendowan upright As Jamie Speirs and Niall Swann took control of the midfield.

Following some good interlinking play down the Northend left had side, James Cameron wipped in a cross from which Jack Nixon's shot was well saved by the Glendowan keeper.

However for all their possession, Northend still looked rusty and a change in their formation led to the first goal. James Cameron jinxed past a few Glendowan players and found Stephen Hare with a great pass and Hare ran on and slipped the ball past the Glendowan keeper to give the Blues a 1-0 lead.

Indeed Stephen Hare was starting to cause the Glendowan defence all sorts of problems and from another good move, saw his shot go across the face of the Glendowan goals with nobody able to get the required touch.

In a blistering opening half, as the Blues dominated play, Niall Swann was fouled on the edge of the area. Jamie Speirs stepped up to take the free-kick and gave the Glendowan keeper no chance with a stinging shot to put the Blues 2-0 in the lead.

Bryan Etherson in the centre of the Northend defence dealt comfortably with whatever high balls Glendowan played into the Northend box and Ryan gault in nets dealt comfortably with Glendowan 's long range shooting.

However it wasn't long before Northend further increased their lead in the best move of the match, as a pass played up to Stephen Hare was controlled and laid off to the advancing Jamie Speirs who outpaced the Glendowan defence and smashed his shot from the edge of the box past the advancing Glendowan keeper to give the Blues a 3-0 lead.

Northend added a fourth goal just before half time, when a good ball played out of defence by Ross Swan found James Cameron down the Northend right wing and as Cameron found a way past his marker, he got to the Glendowan bye-line and crossed the ball into the Glendowan box where Ross Swan had continued his run and met the ball with full force to beat the keeper with a low shot that left the half time score 4-0 to Northend.

Northend made three substitutions at half time with Lee Scroggie, Jack McKitterick and Adam McLaverty coming on. This was almost an inspired substitution as McLaverty should have scored two goals in the opening ten minutes of the second half but somehow pulled his shot wide of the Glendowan post on both occasions.

Northend kept pressing the Glendowan rearguard and when the Blues won another free-kick on the edge of the Glendowan box, Jamie Speirs saw his blockbuster of a shot well saved by the Glendowan keeper.

As the half wore on, play began to get bogged down in midfield with no team gaining the upper hand.

McLaverty had another chance for the Blues when from a Speirs corner, he headed narrowly wide.

With eight minutes of the match remaining, Northend conceded a goal when the Glendowan striker scored in a goalmouth scramble. Glendowan went on to score another goal with minutes of the match remaining when their striker scored a header from a corner.

However the Blues saw the match to the end and ran out 4-2 winners.

Men of the Match: Bryan Etherson, Ryan Gault

Panel: R Gault, R Swan, M Laverty, B Etherson, A McAvoy, J Cameron, J Speirs, N Swann (c), C Lemon, S Hare, J Nixon, L Scroggie, R Sloan, J McKitterick, A McLaverty

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