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Downpatrick 1 Northend United 2 Monday 27th April 2015

Northend travelled to Lisburn on Monday night for their final match of the season against a Downpatrick team who only needed one point from this match to win the League championship. Watched by a large group of spectators assembled to cheer on Downpatrick to League success, it was Northend who have been constantly improving in the last few months and who turned in a top performance in some very poor conditions on the night.

Right from the kick-off it was Northend who looked the hungrier team and Jamie Houston saw a shot, cross the face of the Downpatrick goals on three minutes. Sam Bennett, who was buzzing in midfield, had a great shot on the turn, but it went narrowly wide of the Downpatrick upright.

As the match wore on, the Northend midfield of Tom Campbell, Bradley Cairns and Sam Bennett, began to pull the strings and it was Cairns who tested the Downpatrick keeper firstly with a long range shot and then minutes later with a curling free-kick, which the Downpatrick keeper did well to push away for a corner.

Indeed Cairns was proving to be a handful for the Downpatrick defence and he should really have given Northend finally the lead when he got on the end of a Zack Herbison corner but his header went narrowly over the crossbar.

The Downpatrick man of the match, their goalkeeper, was again called upon to make another top save when he somehow managed to push a Tom Campbell shot over the crossbar, when it had goal written all over it.

Northend's defence of Robbie Dennison, Oliver Boyle and Ryan McKenna soaked up any pressure Downpatrick could throw at them and Josh mark was rarely called upon in the first half.

Northend kept up the relentless pressure on the Downpatrick penalty box and Sam Bennett could and should have scored from another inch perfect Zack Herbison corner. It looked like it wasn't going to be Northend's night when another Sam Bennett shot was tipped away by the Downpatrick keeper.

However on twenty-seven minutes the all elusive first goal arrived when Jamie Houston got on the end of a Northend free-kick to head the ball past the Downpatrick keeper. Minutes before half time, Northend should have doubled their lead, when a Robbie Dennison well timed pass went agonisingly across the face of the Downpatrick net with nobody able to get the all important touch. Half time score 1-0

Into the second half and the Blues knew they were up against it when they were defending into the strong wind, But what they hadn't counted on was the steadily worsening weather as the half went along.

Right from the kick-off, Downpatrick looked like a team on a mission. They used the conditions to their advantage with a number of longballs eagerly soaked up with Robbie Dennison and his fellow defenders. Northend's wing-backs Jack Dawson and Lee McAllister were cutting out the Downpatrick play down the wings, keeping overall play very compact.

Northend weathered the early storm and then began to get back into their rhythm. Zack Herbison and Jamie Houston were really taking the game to Downpatrick in this half and from a Houston throughball, it looked like Herbison might score but the Downpatrick keeper pulled off another top save.

Northend began to grow in confidence as the half wore on and Tom Campbell saw another good shot well saved by the Downpatrick keeper.

Downpatrick clawed their way level in the game, mid-way through the second half, when Northend conceded a free-kick twenty yards out. With the ball heading towards the top corner, Josh Mark got his hand to the ball and pushed it onto the crossbar but it rebounded into the path of two Downpatrick strikers who duly scored.

However such is the character in this Northend team that the boys didn't let their heads drop but instead came storming back at Downpatrick.

Zach Herbison was stretching the Downpatrick defence all over the place and he forced another good shot on goals before crossing the ball across the face of the Downpatrick goals which could and probably should have been scored by the advancing Northend strikers.

However Northend scored a dramatic winner ten minutes before the end of the game, when a great throughball left Herbison clear of his marker and he coolly slipped the ball past the advancing Downpatrick keeper to give Northend a 2-1 lead. The Blues seen out the rest of this game in some atrocious weather conditions to finish their season on a high note. Final score 1-2

Panel: J Mark, O Boyle, R Dennison, R McKenna (c), J Dawson, L McAllister, T Campbell, S Bennett, B Cairns, J Houston, Z Herbison, A Milligan, C Neilly, M Waide

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Northend United 0 Banbridge Town 2 Saturday 18th April 2015

A game of two halves is an old cliché but certainly applied to this game. The Blues had a slow start to this game and conceded a goal after ten minutes when Banbridge found room down their left wing. Northend continued to be second to the ball in the opening fifteen minutes of the match and worse was to follow when the referee awarded a penalty kick but missed the first infringement which was clearly offside in the build up to this. Stand-in keeper Gareth Downey was lucky not to save the penalty when he got his hand to it but didn't do enough to prevent it from scoring.

This poor decision was the spark to breath new life into this Northend team and Sam Bennett and Tom Campbell began to stamp their authority in this game and Bradley Cairns and Zack Herbison began to cause the Banbridge all sorts of problems. Indeed Cairns went closed with a header and from a Jamie Houston cross, Zack Herbison got a shot but was well saved by the Banbridge keeper. Half time score 0-2

Into the second half and it was a more determined Northend who took to the field. Robbie Dennison, Lee McAllister and Ryan McKenna were in outstanding form in the heart of the Blues defence.

Bradley Cairns should have pulled a goal back for Northend when he got on the end of a Robbie Dennison free-kick. Next it was the turn of Zack Herbison to get a shot on target. Northend introduced Matthew Waide, Andrew Milligan and Cameron Neilly to play as they went looking to try and get something from this game. Sam Bennett was driving Northend forward at every opportunity and a surging run from him ended up with the Banbridge keeper pulling off a point-black save.

Northend should really have pulled a goal back ten minutes from time when an Andrew Milligan pass found Jamie Houston clear of his marker but as he raced down on goal his shot went agonisingly past the upright with the keeper already beaten. With five minutes of the match remaining a Cameron Neilly pass gave Houston another good scoring opportunity but again his shot went agonisingly past the upright. Final score 0-2

Panel: G Downey, O Boyle, J Dawson, R Dennison, R McKenna (c), J Dawson, L McAllister, T Campbell, S Bennett, B Cairns, J Houston, Z Herbison, A Milligan, C Neilly, M Waide

Downpatrick 3 Northend United 1 Saturday 11th April 2015

Northend's influential midfielder Tom Campbell pulled up in the warm-up at the start of this match and forced a reshuffle to the team just before kick-off.

Nonetheless Northend started this match strongly and as early as the seventh minute, Zack Herbison got on the end of a long clearance and rounded the keeper but his shot went narrowly wide of the upright.

Indeed Herbison was having a good game and causing the Downpatrick defence all sorts of problems and a good shot from the left wing forced the Downpatrick keeper into a good save.

Northend took the lead after twenty minutes of the half when their player cut in from the left wing and curled a shot into the top corner of the Downpatrick net.

This is how the score remained until five minutes before half time when the Blues conceded a soft goal as the Downpatrick striker skipped past two Northend defenders and planted the ball into the bottom corner of the Blues net. Half time score 1-1

Into the second half and the match was only a few minutes old when Northend conceded a second goal, when a long ball over the top lead to hesitancy in the Blues defence and the Downpatrick planted the ball past Eamonn Elliott.

Playing against a strong wind, it was always going to be difficult to get back into this game after this error but Northend didn't give up. With McFall, Neilly, Waide and Milligan all introduced into play, Northend took the game to Downpatrick.

However just as it looked like the Blues might claw their way back into this game, they conceded a third goal when yet another defensive lapse presented the Downpatrick striker with the easiest of chances to score.

It wasn't all over yet and Northend should really have scored a second goal when Matthew Waide was well placed in front of goal. Final score 3-1

Panel: E Elliott, O Boyle, L McAllister, J Dawson, R Dennison, R McKenna (c), G Downey, J Dawson, B Cairns, J Houston, Z Herbison, A Milligan, C Neilly, L McFall, M Waide, T Campbell

Northend United 3 Ridgeway Rovers 2 Wednesday 8th April 2015

Northend turned in a top performance in this midweek match, and with Eamonn Elliott unavailable for nets, U15 keeper, Josh Mark, stepped up to the U16s for this match.

Northend started on top in the match with Tom Campbell and Gareth Downey starting to boss the midfield, however it was Ridgeway who scored the first goal when their striker scored at the second attempt, following an initial good save from Mark.

However Northend began to claw their way back into this game and Bradley Cairns pulled Northend level in the match when he scored a good goal midway through the half. Northend began to stamp their authority on the game with McFall and Milligan providing overlapping options down the Northend wings.

On twenty-five minutes, Northend took the lead when Cameron Neilly controlled the ball in the Ridgeway box and turned his marker to smash the ball past the Ridgeway keeper. Half time score 2-1

Into the second half and Northend introduced Dawson, McKenna, Houston and McAllister to play. The Blues further increased their lead when ace marksman, Zack Herbison cut in from the left wing and curled his shot into the bottom corner of the net.

Just as it looked like Northend would go on and take full control off the game, they took their foot off the pedal and allowed Ridgeway to come back in the game and with five minutes remaining, they scored their second goal.

However Northend seen out the rest of the game to record a good win. Final score 3-2

Panel: J Mark, L McFall, A Milligan, O Boyle, R Dennison, G Downey, T Campbell (c), C Neilly, B Cairns, Z Herbison, M Waide, J Dawson, R McKenna, J Houston, L McAllister

Lisburn Distillery 2 Northend United 1 Saturday 28th March 2015

The Blues playing their second match in a few days were down to the bare bones for this encounter with Lisburn Distillery and have to thank Anthony Shaw from the U15s for coming along with us this morning.Northend won the toss and elected to play with the strong wind in the first half.

As early as the seventh minute Northend should really have opened the scoring when from a Zack Herbison corner, the ball should have been buried in the Distillery net.Sam Bennett, Tom Campbell and Cameron Neilly were getting to grips in midfield with the bruising Distillery play and beginning to stamp their authority on the game.

Northend were using the wind to their advantage with Bradley Cairns and Zack Herbison constant thorns in the Distillery defence throughout the first half.

Herbison was next to go close with a good chance but the Distillery keeper pulled off a good save.

As Northend began to take control in the game it was Sam Bennett who saw a good shot go narrowly over the crossbar.

However it wasn't all one way traffic in the game and Oliver Boyle and Gareth Downey had to be alert in the Blues defence. Indeed Distillery could have scored when their striker got to the bye-line but his shot went into the Blues side netting with Eamonn Elliott having it well covered.

Northend continued to play good football with Cameron Neilly at the heart of all the Blues attacks, with his link-up play with Bradley Cairns and Zack Herbison, a pleasure to watch.

Northend took the lead with ten minutes of the half remaining when from a great move down the Northend left wing, the ball was crossed into the Distillery box, where a Blues player was hauled down. Up stepped Zack Herbison to take the penalty and he beat the keeper and the referee; who moved the ball, just as Zack was about to take the penalty, and plant the ball into the bottom corner of the net.

Northend kept trying but couldn't add to their score for the remainder of the half. Half time score 0-1

Into the second half and it was always going to be a struggle playing into the strong wind but someone should have told this to Oliver Boyle, Garth Downey, Lewis McFall and Andrew Milligan as they were simply outstanding in this half.

Indeed it was Northend who could have scored first in this half when Bradley Cairns saw his shot go narrowly past the post.

As play began to get bogged down in midfield it was Tom Campbell and Sam Bennett who were putting in a full shift for the Blues with their tireless play, closing down the Lisburn midfielders and frustrating their pattern of play.

However Distillery were starting to force a few corners with the wind in their favour but the Blues defence stood firm.

With twelve minutes of the half remaining, Distillery drew level when their striker cut in from the left wing and fired a shot into the corner of the Blues nets.

Northend replaced Neilly by Anthony Shaw as they looked to reorganise to see out the remainder of the game.

However the Blues defence was finally penetrated with seven minutes of the match remaining when from a corner the Distillery striker smashed the ball and Northend player into the Blues net to give them a 2-1 lead. Final score 2-1

A special mention has to go to Lewis McFall and Andrew Milligan, our fullbacks today, who normally don't start every game, but today were simply outstanding, cutting out the Distillery wing play, especially in the 2nd half when we were playing into the strong wind.

Panel: E Elliott, L McFall, A Milligan, O Boyle, G Downey, T Campbell (c), S Bennett, C Neilly, B Cairns, Z Herbison, S Olliver, A Shaw

Northend United 2 Greenisland 2 Monday 23rd March 2015

Northend U16s made a rare appearance in Ballymena on Monday night when they entertained Greenisland Boys in a Lisburn League match under floodlights.

The match started with Northend on the front foot with Tom Campbell and Sam Bennett pulling the strings in their midfield.

Northend could have taken the lead after five minutes when a Gareth Downey free-kick struck the Greenisland upright. However it was Greenisland who scored the first goal after twelve minutes. From a Greenisland corner, Northend failed to pick up their striker and he headed the ball past Josh Mark in the Blues nets.

The Blues again took the game to Greenisland and it was Bradley Cairns who scored for Northend after twenty minutes of the game when he received a cross from Zach Herbison, turned his marker and planted the ball past the advancing Greenisland keeper. Lee McAllister replaced the injured Oliver Boyle at this stage in the game.

Northend were on top at this stage of the game but failed to capitalise on a further scoring opportunity. The game was being played at a frantic pace and it was Greenisland who thought they had taken the lead on twenty-five minutes, only for Josh Mark to pull off a good save from a point blank shot. Indeed as Greenisland created a number of chances, they found the Northend centre backs soaking up what Greenisland could throw at them.

With five minutes of the half remaining, it was Bradley Cairns who could have given Northend the lead when shooting from an acute angle, but he saw the ball hit the Greenisland side netting. Half time score 1-1

Into the second half and the game continued with end to end action. Northend saw a header from a Herbison corner, well saved by the Greenisland keeper. Another Gareth Downey free-kick went inches over the Greenisland crossbar and from another inch perfect Herbison corner; Northend should really have taken the lead.

However these squandered chances came back to bite Northend when a long clearance from Greenisland found their striker who wasn't being picked up and he ran on and slipped the ball past Josh Mark in the Blues nets.

This was the queue for Northend to make the changes with Jack Galbraith, Cameron Neilly and Lewis McFall all being introduced to the game.

It proved to be an inspired substitution when with eight minutes of the game remaining, Cameron Neilly scored Northend's second goal in the game, when he tucked the ball past the Greenisland keeper. this was Neilly's second goal in as many games.

Northend went on to apply all the pressure in the remaining minutes of the game and thought they had won the game in the dying minutes, only to see the Greenisland keeper pull off a top goal-line save, when the ball looked destined for the back of the Greenisland net. Final score 2-2

Panel: J Mark, O Boyle, J Dawson, R McKenna (c), G Downey, T Campbell, S Bennett, B Cairns, J Houston, Z Herbison, A Milligan, C Neilly, L McFall, M Waide, J Galbraith, L McAllister

Banbridge Town 3 Northend United 1 Saturday 14th March 2015

This was a match against two evenly matched teams which turned in Banbridge's favour with fifteen minutes remaining when yet again a refereeing decision changed the course of the game.

Northend started this match strongly with Tom Campbell and Sam Bennett pulling the strings in midfield. The Banbridge keeper pulled off a good save from a Zach Herbison shot after five minutes.

On fifteen minutes Banbridge could have taken the lead but for some good goalkeeping from Eamonn Elliott and Robbie Dennison who eventually cleared the ball off the Northend goal-line. Indeed the Blues defence of Dennison, McKenna and Downey were giving the Banbridge strikers no time on the ball.

Next it was the turn of the Blues to test the Banbridge defence when from a Dennison header; the ball rebounded to Sam Bennett, whose shot went narrowly over the crossbar.

In an end to end game, it was Banbridge who eventually took the lead after twenty-five minutes when their player turned Ryan McKenna on the left wing and crossed into the box, where their striker met the ball first time to steer past Elliott in the Blues nets.

However Northend should have pulled level just before half time, when Cameron Neilly was well positioned but saw the Banbridge keeper get down low to save his shot. Half time score 1-0

Into the second half and the Blues again started strongly and a Jamie Houston free-kick went narrowly over the crossbar. With Northend piling on the pressure, a Zack Herbison inswinging corner was saved by the Banbridge keeper just in below the cross-bar.

Again play was flowing from end to end and Elliott was called upon to make a good save from a Banbridge break-away. A bizarre lapse in concentration in the Northend defence, presented Banbridge with a good goalscoring opportunity but a combination of good goalkeeping and Bradley Cairns eventually cleared the ball to safety.

Northend eventually pulled level in the game, when Sam Bennett ran at the Banbridge defence and unleashed an unstoppable shot which hit the underside of the crossbar and bounced down to the goal-line, where it was only partially cleared to Jamie Houston and his shot was parried by the keeper but found Cameron Neilly at the backpost who coolly slipped the ball into the corner of the Banbridge net.

Just as it looked like Northend would go on and look for the winner, they began to sit back in the game. They conceded a corner with five minutes of normal time remaining, and from the resultant corner kick, the Banbridge striker scored when he wasn't properly picked up.

To make matters worse, Northend conceded a third goal, three minutes into injury time to take the shine off a good performance on the day. Final score 3-1

This was a good team performance on the day

Panel: E Elliott, R Dennison, R McKenna (c), G Downey, O Boyle, J Dawson, T Campbell, S Bennett, J Dawson, J Houston, Z Herbison, C Neilly, A Shaw, M Waide

Downpatrick 3 Northend United 0 Saturday 7th March 2015

This Lisburn League Cup quarter final match was a much closer affair than the scoreline suggests with the strong wind playing a major part in this game. The Blues were missing a few regulars for this match and it was always going to be an uphill task against the current League leaders.

The match started with Northend defending into a very strong wind but none-the-less they looked strong going forward in the opening exchanges. Indeed Northend won a series of corners and free-kicks in the opening fifteen minutes but their strikers couldn't find a way past the excellent Downpatrick keeper.

Downpatrick opened their scoring after twenty minutes of the match when a long throughball caught the Northend defence out of position and the Downpatrick striker ran on and slipped the ball past Lewis McFall in the Blues nets.

Downpatrick scored a second goal five minutes before half time when again a good throughball left their striker clear of the Northend defence and he ran on to shot into the corner of the Northend nets. Half time score 2-0

Into the second half and the Northend midfield of Sam Bennett, Tom Campbell and Jack Dawson began to get the upper hand in the match. However with the Downpatrick defence looking a lot more determined than the Northend strikeforce, the Blues were finding it hard to get back in the game. Sam Bennett went on a jinxing run against the Downpatrick defence and could have pulled a goal back for Northend. Robbie Dennison and Gareth Downey had to be on top of their game in defence as Downpatrick clawed their way back into the game but it was a moment's lapse of concentration that allowed Downpatrick to get their third goal and kill off the Northend fightback.

Andrew Milligan and Zack Herbison had goal scoring opportunities near the end of the game but couldn't convert these chances. Final score 3-0

Northend wish Downpatrick all the best for their Cup semi-final but its back to League action next week for the Ballymena Blues.

Panel: L McFall, O Boyle, L McAllister, R Dennison, R McKenna (c), G Downey, T Campbell, S Bennett, J Dawson, Z Herbison, A Milligan, C Neilly, J Galbraith