Northend United 1 Ballymena United 1                                                        Saturday 22nd December 2012

Northend welcomed Irish League Youth Side, Ballymena United, to their Showgrounds base on Saturday in what was a highly competitive Festive Derby Match. The Blues started the match strongly with James Cameron, Niall Swann and Jamie Speirs quickly grabbing control of the vital midfield area. It was the Northend Blues who looked the more composed side on the superior 3G surface, playing the better pass and move football against their more famous neighbours.
Adam McLaverty went close with an early shot that saw the Ballymena keeper make a good save. Northend should have taken the lead on ten minutes when a Stephen Hare free kick was headed inches past the Ballymena upright by the influential Niall Swann.
In a blistering open spell, Northend again went close with another Hare free kick which Connell Lemon just failed to connect with and ended up going narrowly wide of the upright.
However Ballymena began to claw their way back into the game and began to play the long ball their left winger. On two occasions he got a cross into the Northend box and on both occasions the Ballymena striker rattled the Northend crossbar after Ryan Gault had made two good saves. Indeed Gaultie, who was making his debut in the Northend nets, went on to have an excellent match with some very assured handling throughout the match.
A tactical switch saw Anthony McAvoy move to right back and cut out any further threat from the Ballymena winger.
Northend weathered this Ballymena pressure and with Bryan Etherson and Michael Laverty in excellent form in the middle of their defence, began to come more into the game. Again the Northend midfield of Cameron, Swann and Speirs were involved in some excellent passing play for which Ballymena had no answer only to concede free kicks. Bryan Etherson nearly made them pay with two excellently delivered free-kicks to the back post however big Swanny wasn't able to get his head to the ball and saw the free kicks sail narrowly wide of the upright. However with nobody unable to break the deadlock the half time score remained 0-0

The Blues again started the second half strongly with Niall Swann, Stephen Hare and Connell Lemon in the thick of the action. Hare and Lemon were stretching the Ballymena defence with their wing play but it was that man Jamie Speirs, returning to the team after a long absence due to injury, who went on to pull all the strings in the second half for the Northend Blues.
With Jamie Speirs in full flow it didn't take Northend long to open the scoring. A high ball into the Ballymena box was only partially cleared and when the ball broke to Adam McLaverty, he back heeled the ball into the path of Connell Lemon, who smashed the ball past the helpless Ballymena keeper to give the Northend Blues a 1-0 advantage.
Back Ballymena came at Northend but Laverty, McKitterick, Etherson and McAvoy held firm. Northend should have doubled their lead on twenty minutes when a throughball left Adam McLaverty being pursued by the Ballymena centre-back but as the keeper advanced his attempted clearance rebounded off McLaverty and was heading for goal only for the centre-back get back just in the nick of time to clear off the goal line.
With legs becoming tired Northend introduced Jack Nixon and Lee Scroggie for Speirs and Laverty to give them more bite in midfield and both players went on to give a good account of themselves in the second half, where the play began to get bogged down in midfield.
With time running out, Ryan Gault dealt comfortably with whatever long distance balls Ballymena could throw at him.
Just as it was looking like the Northend Blues would take all the points, they conceded a dubious looking corner in almost the final minute of the game. A near post ball wasn't picked up by the Northend defenders and the Ballymena striker scored to level the score, much to the relief of the big Ballymena contingent, who knew this was a get out of jail free goal .
With barely time left to take the resultant centre the Northend boys were dealt another harsh lesson in how to defend a lead in a match which ended up 1-1 but could have been so much different.

The Blues now have a well earned Christmas break and return to action on 12th January with another home match against Glendowan in the Elite National League.

It was great to see Thomas Brady in attendance with the Northend team today for the match against Ballymena, giving the team a big lift for this important match.. It's only been 12 weeks from Thomas broke both bones in his right leg in the last Derby match against Ballymena United. His injury is healing well and Thomas hopes to be back in training come February and is already pencilling in a return to action in March, such is the determination of this young man!

Man of the Match: Team Performance

Panel: R Gault, J McKitterick, M Laverty, B Etherson, A McAvoy, J Cameron, J Speirs, N Swann (c), C Lemon, S Hare, A McLaverty, J Nixon, L Scroggie, R Sloan
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Limavady United 3 Northend United 2                                      Friday 14th December 2012

Northend made the long journey to Limavady on a very wet and cold Friday night and lost by the odd goal in five in a match where again a share of the points would have been a fair result.
It was Limavady who started the match the strongest attacking the Blues on the huge 3G pitch. A number of speculative shots were dealt with comfortably by Ross Swan, in the Northend nets in the opening exchanges. Indeed the Northend midfield struggled to come to terms with the Limavady passing game and Bryan Etherson and Michael Laverty were called upon time and time again to clear their lines.
However the Blues weathered his early pressure and began to come more into the game. Adam McLaverty was beginning to find some time to turn with the ball and run at the Limavady defence. It was from a McLaverty pass that Stephen Hare found himself outpacing the Limavady defence and he ran on and placed his shot wide of the keeper, into the bottom corner of the net to give Northend a 1-0 lead.
Limavady came back at Northend and another speculative shot come was fumbled by the Northend keeper and the Limavady striker reacted the quickest to stroke the ball home, levelling the score at 1-1.
Worse was to follow for Northend when the influential Bryan Etherson had to be substituted following a heavy clash in the Northend box.
Again Northend weathered this setback and took the match to Limavady. They were caught out when from a Northend corner, the Limavady defender's clearance caught the Northend defence all square and allowed the Limavady striker to run on and lob the ball over the advancing Northend keeper.
With the game at 2-1 Northend attacked Limavady in the final minutes of the first half. Stephen Hare who was a thorn in the Limavady defence all night, broke down the Northend right wing and pulled the ball back for Niall Swann, who somehow saw his shot go past the upright. With Northend unable to score, the half time score remained 2-1 to Limavady.

Northend made some changes at half-time and this resulted in a more fluent second half display. Niall Swann, Connell Lemon and Stephen Hare began to dominate the vital midfield area with Lee Scroggie lying in the defensive midfield position. In defence, James Cameron was putting in a full shift for the Blues in a much higher tempo half for Northend.
However the Blues conceded a third goal when from a corner the ball broke to a Limavady striker, who wasn't closed down and his shot hit the top corner of the Northend net, with Ross Swan well beaten.
The match looked all over for Northend at this stage of the game but that man Stephen Hare had other ideas.  From a jinxing run he beat two defenders only to see his eventual shot hit the post before being cleared to safety.
However fair play to the Northend boys who never dropped their heads and kept on  pressing the Limavady rearguard and got a goal back from Connell Lemon when he was on hand to score from another Stephen Hare cross.
With the score at 3-2 to Limavady the Blues pushed forward in the final ten minutes of the match, looking for the all elusive equaliser. However with a number of near chances in the final minutes unable to be capitalised on, the final score ended up 3-2 to Limavady, with the Blues again getting punished for lapses in concentration at vital moments

Man of the Match: Michael Laverty

Panel: R Swan, R Gault, J McKitterick, M Laverty, B Etherson, C Lemon, S Hare, J Cameron, N Swann (c), A McLaverty, J Nixon, L Scroggie, R Sloan
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Northend United 1 Crusaders 2                                                                     Saturday 8th December 2012

Northend entertained League Leaders, Crusaders, to the Showgrounds on Saturday in a National league match. The Blues turned in a great team performance and can feel hard done by, not to get at least a share of the points in this highly entertaining game.
Northend were on fire right from the start of this match with Niall Swann, Connell Lemon, Jack Nixon and Stephen Hare involved in some great passing play in the Blues midfield.
Northend almost opened the scoring on twelve minutes when an Adam McLaverty thunderous free-kick from twenty-five yards was pushed over the bar by the Crues keeper.
Indeed McLaverty was in top form in this match, forcing the Crusaders defence into all sorts of errors.
Northend should have taken the lead on twenty minutes, when some great play from Stephen Hare released McLaverty and he outpaced the Crues defence but saw his shot cannon of the Crues upright, with the keeper well beaten.
Northend did eventually take the lead after twenty five minutes of this half. Some great battling from Jack Nixon to win the ball in midfield, he released Connell Lemon to run at the Crues defence. Lemon forced the Crues defence into a hurried clearance and Stephen Hare picked up the loose ball and beat the keeper with a well placed shot.
Crusaders came back at the Blues but found the Northend defence of Jack McKitterick, Michael Laverty, Anthony McAvoy and Bryan Etherson in top form. Ross Swan in the Blues nets looked comfortable with whatever the Crues could throw at him in the opening half. Half time score 1-0 to Northend.

Crusaders started the second half, putting pressure on the Northend full backs and this pressure paid off after five minutes, when a long ball deceived the Northend right-back and the Crues striker ran on and lifted the ball over Northend's keeper and into the net, to leave the score 1-1.
James Cameron was putting in a great performance playing in the Northend midfield in the second half but he could do nothing when a high ball into the Northend box wasn't dealt with, and the Crues striker equalised when he was first to react to a loose ball in the box.
This was a cruel blow for the Blues, who had the majority of play in this match so far.
Northend began to claw their way back into this match and introduced Ryan Gault and Lee Scroggie to replace some tired legs. Northend should have equalised the score when from a Stephen Hare free-kick, Connell Lemon saw his mistimed touch go agonisingly wide of the post, with the goal at his mercy.
Northend looked like a team who wouldn't lie down and in the last fifteen minutes of this match ran the Crues ragged with some great play.
Captain Niall Swann went on one of his trademark jinxing runs and saw his final shot well saved by the Crues keeper.
From another Stephen Hare free-kick, Bryan Etherson saw his shot go narrowly wide of the post. However the Crues defence held on to thwart the Blues strikeforce and the match ended up a 2-1 win for the Crues.
This was a great team performance from Northend with the whole team turning in spirited performances and the League leaders knew they were fortunate to come away with all the points. It was also great to see Thomas Brady at today's game, minus his leg casting. All at Northend are looking forward to seeing Thomas back in training in the not too distant future...........

Man of the Match: Team Performance

Panel: R Swan, J McKitterick, M Laverty, B Etherson, A McAvoy, C Lemon, S Hare, J Cameron, N Swann (c), J Nixon, A McLaverty, L Scroggie, R Gault, R Sloan
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Northend United 0 Crusaders 6      NIBFA Cup                                      Saturday 1st December 2012

The scoreline doesn't reflect what a close game this was for thirty minutes but a devastating spell at the start of the second half saw the Blues concede three quick goals in what can only be described as a moment of madness in this match.

Northend started off this game in determined mood and took the game to the Crues with Adam McLaverty looking dangerous up front for the Blues. Jamie Speirs and Niall Swann were linking up well in midfield as the Blues went forward.
Indeed McLaverty was unlucky when his angled cross went across the face of the goals with nobody able to get a touch on it.
Play began to get bogged down in midfield as the half wore on, with James Cameron and Bryan Etherson playing well at the heart of the Northend defence.
Crusaders took the lead towards the end of the first half, when a long throw-in wasn't dealt with by the Northend defence and the Crues striker poked the ball home.
Northend had to replace their influential midfielder Speirs just before the halftime break with an on-going injury.
The Crues doubled their lead almost on the stroke of half-time when a high cross into the Northend box was headed home by the big Crues striker. Half time score 2-0

Northend reorganised at half time with Stephen Hare also replaced due to a niggly injury. Crusaders started the half strongly and scored their third after five minutes with a speculative looping shot high into the sun deceived Richard Sloan in the Northend nets.
With the Blues visibly shaken, Crusaders went on to score another two goals in quick succession, as they gained control of the midfield in this match.
Northend staged a mini revival after this with Connell Lemon and Keith Hall both testing the Crues keeper with stinging shots before Crues had the last say in the game when they tucked away their sixth goal of the game, minutes before the end of the game.

Man of the Match: Niall Swann

Panel: R Sloan, R Swan, M Laverty, J Cameron, B Etherson, S Hare, J Speirs, N Swann (c), C Lemon, K Hall, A McLaverty, L Scroggie, R Gault
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Sion Swifts 6 Northend United 3                                                                       Saturday 17th November 2012

The Blues travelled to Strabane to play local team Sion Swifts in a National League match. Northend started strongly and dominated the early exchanges with Niall Swann and Keith Hall prominent for the Blues.
On six minutes, Northend opened the scoring, when from a Keith Hall cross, Stephen Hare was on hand to steer the ball past the Swifts keeper. Indeed Hall was in fine form in the opening exchanges and should have further increased Northend's lead but as he outpaced the defence, he delayed his shot and allowed the Swifts defender to get in a blocking tackle.
In what is becoming a similar pattern in this League, the Swifts equalised in this match when their striker scored from an offside position. Not for the last time in this match, the referee awarded an unexplainable decision.
This decision and goal clearly knocked Northend out of their stride and as they went looking for another goal, a long clearance from the Swifts defence, caught Northend's defence napping and the Swifts striker ran on and scored to leave the score 2-1 to Sion.
All credit to Northend, they came back at Sion after this setback and Lee Scroggie should have equalised when he found himself free of the Swifts defence two yards out but miskicked the ball and allowed the Swifts keeper to collect the ball.
In an eventful first half, Sion Swifts broke down their left hand side and as the cross came in their striker scored with his arm but again the referee awarded the goal, in what was becoming a very controversial match.
The Blues had the last say in this half when Keith Hall pulled a goal back for Northend to leave the half time score 3-2 to Sion Swifts.

After a defensive reorganisation at half time, Northend again took the game to the Swifts in a more composed fashion. Niall Swann was leading by example in the middle of the Blues midfield and when Keith hall made a break down the Northend left wing; his cross found Adam McLaverty with an open goal to score in, but his miss-control of the ball saw the chance go abegging.
Next it was Niall Swann who went close for the Blues when after a good run his shot went narrowly wide.
Midway through the half, as the Blues were in the driving seat in this game, a ball into the Swifts box saw Stephen Hare bundled over to gain a penalty for Northend. Keith Hall stepped up and placed the ball past the Swifts keeper to equalise for Northend at 3-3.
Just as it was looking like Northend could go on and take all the points in this game, a second silly bookable offence by a Northend defender saw the Blues reduced to ten men and with it all hopes of a win.
This totally destroyed the concentration of the Blues and as Etherson was lying with a head injury on the pitch, the Sion strikers ran on and scored their fourth goal against a nine man Northend.
In the dying minutes of the game, Sion scored a further two goals against a very despondent Northend team.

Man of the Match: Niall Swann

Panel: R Swan, C Lemon, M Laverty, J Cameron, A McAvoy, B Etherson, N Swann (c), R Gault, S Hare, K Hall, A McLaverty, L Scroggie, J Speirs
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Northend United 0 Cookstown United 3                                                   Saturday 10th November 2012

Northend welcomed in-form side, Cookstown United, to the Showgrounds on Saturday. Fresh from good wins over Ballymena United and Crusaders, the Co. Tyrone side had one eye on the top of the table.
The Blues started the strongest and from a corner kick, Ryan Gault saw the keeper make a good save from his header.
Ryan Gault was prominent in the early exchanges and only a top class save from the Cookstown keeper, prevented him from opening the scoring, when he controlled a ball on the edge of the penalty area and shot for what looked like the opening goal, only for the keeper to push it round the post.
Northend again should have taken the lead, when a corner kick flashed across the Cookstown six yard line, but nobody could get on the end of it to steer it home.
Cookstown gradually weathered the early Northend pressure and won a free kick twenty-five yards out. Ross Swan, in the Northend nets, pulled off a good save to keep the game all square.
Cookstown took the lead after twenty-five minutes when a poor clearance from a back-pass left the Cookstown striker with almost an empty net to score into.
The goal lifted Cookstown and for the rest of the half they dominated play in the crucial midfield area with Northend struggling to get into the game.

After a half-time reorganisation, the Blues again started the half strongly. Jamie Speirs and Niall Swann were winning the midfield battle and Adam McLaverty started to cause the Cookstown defence all sorts of problems with his persistent running.
After fifteen minutes of the second half, Northend should have equalised when two chances were missed, with shots blocked each time on the Cookstown goal line.
Northend kept plugging away with Connell Lemon and Bryan Etherson posing a threat for the Blues.
With ten minutes of the match remaining, a great cross from Lemon was headed against the crossbar by Ryan Gault, with the keeper well beaten.
Almost immediately, Cookstown broke out of defence and a long ball found their striker who slipped the ball past the Northend keeper and placed the ball into the net to give Cookstown a two goal lead.
With minutes remaining, a Cookstown free kick found their striker who volleyed the ball first time  into the Northend net to leave the final score 3-0 to Cookstown in a match that looked for so long like it was heading for a 1-1 score line.

Man of the Match: Bryan Etherson

Panel: R Swan, L Scroggie, J Cameron, B Etherson, A McAvoy, C Lemon, J Speirs, N Swann (c), R Gault, S Hare, K Hall, A McLaverty, R Sloan, M Laverty
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Northend United 3 Ballinamallard 1                                                               Saturday 3rd November 2012

The U16s entertained Irish League Academy side, Ballinamallard, to their Showgrounds base on Saturday morning and turned in a super performance to take all the points in a match were they were always the dominant team..
The Ballymena Boys started strongly with Jamie Speirs and Niall Swann pulling the strings in midfield and Stephen Hare and Keith Hall stretching the Ballinamallard defence with their attacking play.
However it was Ballinamallard who settled down and began to play some good football with a strong breeze at their backs.
The Northend defence of Connell Lemon, James Cameron, Bryan Etherson and Anthony McAvoy looked comfortable with whatever Ballinamallard was throwing at them and gradually the Blues came more into the game.
From a Speirs free kick on ten minutes, the ball was knocked down and Bryan Etherson was first to react to the ball and smashed the ball past the Ballinamallard keeper to give Northend a 1-0 lead.
This goal gave the Blues confidence and they began to play some great first time passes. It wasn't long before they were two ahead in the game. Again some great passing play between Ryan Gault and Jamie Speirs, released Stephen Hare down the Northend right wing. Hare slipped the ball past his marker and crossed the ball into the Mallard's box where Keith Hall was on hand to drive the ball past their keeper to put the Ballymena Boys 2-0 up in this game.
Northend continued to play some good football for the rest of this half but couldn't add to their total. Half time score 2-0

Northend started the second half knowing that another goal would effectively kill off the game. With the breeze their backs, the Blues pushed forward looking for the all important break.
Jamie Speirs went on a jinxing run which took him into the Mallard's penalty box but the keeper pulled off a good save from his shot.
Next it was the turn of Niall Swann who reciprocated his midfield partner Speirs, with a surging run at the Mallard's defence and looked like he had scored the third goal, only for the Mallard's keeper to push the ball over the bar at the last moment.
After ten minutes of the second half, Northend scored their third goal. After some great play down the Northend right wing, Lee Scroggie's cross looked like it had deceived the Mallard's keeper but Keith Hall made sure at the back post with a header into the net for his second and Northend's third of the match.
Northend kept pressing and Stephen Hare, who was proving to be a thorn in the Mallard's defence slipped the ball past his marker and pulled the ball back from the bye-line to the on-rushing Jamie Speirs, but his shot went narrowly over the bar.
As Northend kept pressing the Mallard's defence, they were awarded a free-kick thirty yards out. Man of the Match, Jamie Speirs, shot the thunderbolt of a shot at the keeper but as in the previous match between these teams this season, the keeper made a good save from Speirs free-kick.
Ballinamallard weren't finished yet, and after a lapse in concentration in the Northend defence they pulled a goal back, giving the Northend keeper, Richard Sloan, no chance with the shot.
Northend saw out the remaining ten minutes of the match to record a good win over the Irish League Academy side.

Man of the Match: Jamie Speirs

Panel: R Swan, C Lemon, J Cameron, B Etherson, A McAvoy, S Hare, J Speirs, N Swann (c), R Gault, S Hare, K Hall, A McLaverty, L Scroggie, R Sloan
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NORTHEND UNITED YOUTH FC
Ballymena, N. Ireland
Est 2003