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Newry City 0 Northend United 7 Saturday 25th October 2014

The U16s travelled to Lisburn on Saturday morning minus a number of regulars due to injury, however it didn't show as they turned in a good performance to win the game convincingly in the end.

This young team continue to start each match strongly and it was the turn of Zack Herbison to test the keeper after five minutes with a good shot. On ten minutes, from a Herbison corner, Robbie Dennison watched as his header was cleared off the Newry goal-line.

Northend continued to dominate the early exchanges and Jamie Houston fired a good free-kick inches over the Newry crossbar. Matthew Waide and Tom Campbell both had half chances to score before Waide found himself with a one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but unfortunately the keeper came out on top in this duel.

Next it was the turn of Zack Herbison to squander a goalscoring chance as he shot wide of the Newry goals with their goalkeeper already beaten. The Northend bench were beginning to wonder if it was going to be one of those days as they watched when Andrew Milligan unleashed a thunderbolt of a shot from twenty-five yards, only to see it cannon off the Newry crossbar. Milligan again had another good shot before Zack Herbison finally broke the deadlock with a shot into the bottom corner of the Newry net. The same player might have doubled the Northend lead minutes before the end of the half but the keeper pulled off a top save. Half time score 0-1

Into the second half and with Cameron Neilly on from the start, the Blues were looking to stretch the Newry defence down the wings. Robbie Dennison saw another good shot cannon off the Newry crossbar as Northend kept up the pressure.

Jamie Houston finally doubled Northend's lead after ten minutes off the half, when he scored with a good shot into the corner of the net. This goal effectively killed off Newry's resilience and Zack Herbison got his second goal of the match.

The Blues were dominating this match and with Oliver Boyle and Jack Dawson on for the Blues, it was Tom Campbell who saw a well placed free-kick, force the Newry keeper into a good save.

Jamie Houston scored his second goal and Northend's fourth of the match when he played a one-two with Zack Herbison and ran on the score with a well placed shot into the corner of the net.

Robbie Dennison continued to pose a threat from each Northend corner before Jamie Houston completed his hat-trick on the day when he clinically scored from a Jack Galbraith cross.

However it wasn't all one-way traffic and Bradley cairns pulled off a great save for Northend when the Newry striker found himself with space inside the Northend box.

The best and simplest goal of the game was scored by Jack Galbraith when he got on the end of a training ground free-kick which seen Craig Cunningham on the overlap; drive the ball into the Newry box where Galbraith applied the finishing touch.

Lee McAllister and Tom Campbell both had chances to further extend Northend's lead before Robbie Dennison had the final say in the match when he got on the end of a Northend free-kick to steer the ball past the Newry keeper. Final score 0-7

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

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Northend United 0 Midway 2 Saturday 18th October 2014

This was a below par performance from Northend in the first half of this match but they still created enough goalscoring chances to wrap up all the points in a match where the Midway keeper had an inspired performance.

The match was only five minutes old when Conor Graham threatened the Midway goals with a fierce shot from twenty yards out. The same player again found himself with time in the Midway box after ten minutes, but pulled his shot wide of the upright.

Northend continued to threaten the Midway goals, and from a Jack Galbraith free-kick, Conor Graham again found himself with time for a free header, but steered the ball wide of the upright.

However Midway weathered the early pressure and came storming back at Northend, winning the midfield tussle. As Northend failed to put in their tackles, a Midway striker was allowed to run at the Northend defence and found himself with time to plant the ball into the bottom corner of the Northend nets, giving Bradley Cairns no chance in the Northend nets.

Even though they weren't playing fluently, Northend did create a number of chances before the end of the first half and the Blues thought they had a penalty when Cameron Neilly was bundled over in the Midway penalty box.

Next it was the turn of Conor Graham, who went past two defenders before seeing the keeper pull off a good save from his stinging shot. Zack Herbison found himself with time on the ball on the edge of the penalty box but he passed instead of shooting and Jamie Houston saw a chance go abegging as Northend looked for a way back into the game.

The Midway keeper pulled off a great save from Jamie Houston's free kick which was heading for the top corner of the net and the same player broke down the Northend right wing and shot at the keeper when a pull back to Herbison would have been a better option. Half time score 0-1

Into the second half and a more determined Northend came out of the traps. Playing much better football the Blues looked a lot sharper in the second half. With Andrew Milligan and Lewis McFall providing more width to the team, Northend began to take the game to Midway and their keeper made a good save from a Herbison corner.

However as Northend went looking for an equaliser, the defence didn't pick up the Midway striker and he was able to run on and slip the ball past the Northend keeper to give them a 2-0 lead.

The Blues heads didn't drop after this and a clever Zack Herbison free-kick found Jamie Houston with time in front of the Midway goal but shot straight at the keeper.

Northend kept up the pressure and from another free-kick, Jamie Houston saw the keeper push his shot onto the post and was eventually cleared to safety.

With Matthew Waide and Craig Cunningham on for the Blues, it was Robbie Dennison who should really have scored for Northend from another free-kick in the dying minutes of the match. Final score 0-2

The team know they can play a lot better than they did today but on the plus side it was a much better second half performance.

Panel: B Cairns, J Galbraith, L McAllister, R McKenna, R Dennison, T Campbell, C Graham, C Neilly, J Dawson, J Houston, Z Herbison, M Waide, S Olliver, L McFall, A Milligan, C Cunningham

Lurgan Town 1 Northend United 2 Saturday 11th October 2014

The U16s continued their good run of late against a Lurgan Town team who have been producing some good results in the League and Shield competitions this season.

Northend started this match on the front foot and Zack Herbison and Conor Graham tested the Lurgan keeper in the opening minutes.

On ten minutes Tom Campbell flashed a cross across the face off the Lurgan goals but no Northend player could get the touch required to steer the ball into the net.

With Cameron Neilly, Zack Herbison and Jamie Houston all linking up well together, Northend were dominating all the first half play.

Conor Graham was next to test the Lurgan defence but his shot went narrowly wide of the upright and Zack Herbison's cross into the Lurgan penalty box went narrowly wide.

Northend could have opened the scoring from a corner kick five minutes later, but the Lurgan keeper got a finger tip to the ball to direct it away from Sam Bennett's head, who had the goal at his mercy.

However the Lurgan defence was getting stretched all over the park and it was only a matter of time before the Blues would score. From another Herbison corner, Robbie Dennison's powerful header smashed into the back of the net to give the Blues a deserved 1-0 lead.

Minutes before half time and Lurgan scored an equaliser when their centre forward chased down a long punt upfield and as he entered the Northend penalty box was hauled down to earn a penalty. The same player dusted himself down and planted the ball past Bradley Cairns, in the Northend nets. Half time score 1-1

Into the second half and as Northend presses again, Jack Galbraith saw a long range shot go inches past the upright. With Matthew Waide replacing the injured Sam Bennett, Lurgan came more into the game and hit the Northend upright with a powerful shot.

The Northend defence of Galbraith, McAllister, Dennison and McKenna were called upon to dig deep to keep the Blues in the game and another Lurgan left-wing cross flashed across the face of the Northend goals.

With a double substitution of Andrew Milligan and Jack Dawson providing a stabling effect on the Northend team, the Blues started to come more into the game and Herbison and Houston continued to stretch the Lurgan defence.

With ten minutes of the match remaining the Blues won a corner kick. Zack Herbison's inswinging corner kick flew into the back of the Lurgan goals taking a slight deflection along the way.

With the Blues having a 2-1 lead, play swung from end to end in the last few minutes of the match and the Lurgan striker saw a good header go narrowly over the Northend crossbar. Stephen Olliver replaced Houston before Zack Herbison almost had the final say in the match when he had a good shot at the Lurgan goals with two minutes of the match remaining.

However the Blues maintained a disciplined end to the game to record another good win. Final score 1-2

Panel: B Cairns, J Galbraith, L McAllister, R McKenna, R Dennison, T Campbell, C Graham, s Bennett, C Neilly, J Galbraith, J Houston, Z Herbison, M Waide, S Olliver, A Milligan, J Dawson, L McFall

Hillsborough Boys 1 Northend United 2 Saturday 4th October 2014

Northend travelled to Lisburn on Saturday to play Hillsborough Boys in a Shield match and turned in another top display to progress to the quarter finals.

Hillsborough started the match on the front foot and tested Bradley Cairns after five minutes but the big Northend keeper easily gathered the ball.

This was the wake-up call Northend needed and with Zack Herbison and Jamie Houston stretching the Hillsborough defence all over the park, it was Herbison who opened the scoring for Northend when he was on hand to score into the bottom corner of the net after the Hillsborough keeper brought off a good save from Cameron Neilly's well struck shot.

As the game flowed from end to end, the Northend defence of Jack Galbraith, Robbie Dennison , Ryan McKenna and Lee McAllister were in no mood for giving anything away but could do nothing as the Hillsborough striker headed the ball against the crossbar from a corner.

With Tom Campbell and Connor Graham starting to pull the strings in midfield, it wasn't long before Northend came storming back at Hillsborough. From a Herbison cross, Sam Bennett should have doubled their lead when he somehow shot straight at the keeper with the goals at his mercy.

Northend doubled their lead after twenty-five minutes with a contender for goal of the month when team captain Ryan McKenna hit a free-kick from inside his own half and watched it sail into the top corner of the Hillsborough net.

Northend were well on top in this game and Bennett should have further increased their lead, when he found himself with time on the ball in the six yard box from a Northend corner. Half time score 0-2

Into the second half and as the game again flowed from end to end, the Northend central defensive partnership of Robbie Dennison and Ryan McKenna were both having a good game.

Fifteen minutes into the half and the game should have been all over when Herbison broke down the Northend left wing and following a good cross in the Hillsborough box, Cameron Neilly found himself with time on the ball in the six yard box, but shot straight at the keeper.

Northend were made to pay for this missed chance as within five minutes Hillsborough had pulled a goal back when the their striker was given time to turn in the box and plant the ball into the bottom corner of the Northend net. With Waide, Olliver and Mucka all introduced into play for Northend, it was Stephen Olliver who went close with a good header which the Hillsborough keeper did well to get his hands to.

Northend had further chances from Herbison and Jamie Houston before the end of the match but the entire Northend team seen out the remaining minutes of the match to earn a hard fought win, when in reality it could have been all over at half time if only the clear chances were taken. Final score 1-2

This was another good display from Northend with Dennison, McAllister and McKenna all having very good games.

Panel: B Cairns, J Galbraith, L McAllister, R McKenna, R Dennison, C Graham, T Campbell, S Bennett, J Houston, Z Herbison, C Neilly, M Waide, S Olliver, M Mucka

Northend United 3 Lisburn Youth 1 Saturday 27th September 2014

Northend travelled to Lisburn on Saturday determined to put last week's disappointing result behind them in their match against Lisburn Youth. With Graham, Boyle and Savage on the injury list and Bradley Cairns playing in goals, it was a Northend team down to the bare bones for this match.

The Blues started brightly, playing some neat football but it was Lisburn Youth who almost opened the scoring when a shot rattled the Northend crossbar.

However the Blues again came more into the game and a clever Cameron Neilly pass, split the Lisburn defence and allowed Zack Herbison to race clear of the Lisburn defence and plant the ball into the bottom corner of the net.

Lisburn came storming back at the Blues but found Robbie Dennison and Ryan McKenna in top form in the heart of the Blues defence. However the Lisburn side went close, just before the end of the half, when their striker found himself with time just outside the Blues penalty box and he lifted his shot over keeper Bradley Cairns, and also over the crossbar. Half time score 1-0

Into the second half and Lisburn were the team on top in the opening exchanges and equalised the score after ten minutes. When the ball was crossed into the Northend penalty box, the Lisburn striker planted the ball into the bottom corner of the net after the ball wasn't properly cleared.

Northend introduced Stephen Olliver and Matthew Waide to play and they had an immediate impact in the game. Stephen Olliver released Sam Bennett down the Northend wing and his cross flashed agonisingly across the face of the Lisburn net with nobody getting a touch on it.

Maciek Mucka replaced the injured Bennett shortly after this before Northend regained the lead midway through the half. Following some good play from Jamie Houston and Matthew Waide, it was Waide who closed down the Lisburn defender and slipped the ball to Zack Herbison to plant the ball past the Lisburn goalkeeper.

Northend was now the team on top in this game and Jamie Houston made sure of the points, when he score Northend's third goal, following another good pass from Matthew Waide. Final score 3-1

This was a good performance from the Ballymena Boys with Robbie Dennison and Tom Campbell in top form on the day.

Panel: B Cairns, J Galbraith, L McAllister, R McKenna, R Dennison, J Houston, T Campbell, A Milligan, S Bennett, Z Herbison, C Neilly, M Waide, S Olliver, M Mucka

Lisburn Rangers 3 Northend United 2 Saturday 20th September 2014

How Northend didn't win this match by a margin is a mystery, with a number of good chances going abegging and a few soft goals being conceded, this was a match which should have been all over by half time.

Lisburn took the lead on five minutes when a ball through the Northend defence allowed their striker to run on and chip the ball past Lewis McFall in the Northend nets.

The Blues didn't let this early setback affect them too much and Zack Herbison should have equalised for them when a good pass from Bradley Cairns left him free of his marker but he pulled his shot too close to the keeper.

Bradley Cairns was next with a good goalscoring opportunity but he shot into the side netting when a simple pullback would surely have resulted in a goal.

Bradley Cairns was again presented with another good opportunity when a good pass left him free of his marker but his shot was easily saved by the keeper.

Sam Bennett was causing the Lisburn defence all sorts if problems with his wing play and the same player should have scored when he found himself with a free header at the Lisburn back post, from a Jamie Houston cross, but he couldn't direct the header into the net.

Cairns was again involved in another good move but again couldn't place the ball pst the Lisburn keeper.

In defence Robbie Dennison and Ryan McKenna were in top form, ably supported with Jack Galbraith and Lee McAllister.

Bradley Cairns, who was involved in every move of the first half, saw a great cross flash across the face of the Lisburn goal with nobody able to get a finishing touch to it and saw another shot cleared off the Lisburn goal-line by their full-back.

However all the pressure had to pay off and with seven minutes of the half remaining, a Jamie Houston pass found Cairns on the wing, and following his cross, Zack Herbison was on hand to drill the ball past the Lisburn kepper to level the score at 1-1.

However the Blues weren't finished yet and Conor Graham could have given thrm the lead with virtually the last kick of the first half. Half time score 1-1

Into the second half and the calamity of misses continued with Houston combining with Herbison in some good passing play but Herbison saw his shot cleared off the goal-line.

The pressure continued and Jamie Houston saw a good shot hit the side-netting. Next it was the turn of Jordan Savage, who had come on at half time, to run at the Lisburn defence but his shot was easily saved by the Lisburn keeper.

Northend did take the lead in the match with fifteen minutes remaining when the livewire Jamie Houston planted the ball past the Lisburn keeper.

With a win looking increasingly likely, the Blues conceded a free-kick just inside their half with ten minutes of the match remaining. The Lisburn striker planted the ball in on top of keeper McFall and into the top corner of the net to pull them level in a match they barely deserved.

With five minutes of the match remaining, a great Robbie Dennison throughball placed Zack Herbison well clear of the Lisburn defence and in a one-on-one with the Lisburn keeper, he planted his final ball inches past the Lisburn upright.

Worse was to follow when in the final two minutes of the match the Blues conceded a corner kick and Lisburn went on to get their winner, when the ball wasn't properly cleared. Final score 3-2

This was a hard lesson to learn for a team which has not as yet reached its true potential and having missed so many chances throughout the match, were always susceptible to conceding goals from set-pieces.

Panel: L McFall, J Galbraith, L McAllister, R McKenna, R Dennison, C Graham, J Houston, T Campbell, S Bennett, B Cairns, Z Herbison, J Savage, C Neilly, M Waide, A Milligan, M Mucka

Hillsborough Boys 1 Northend United 1 Saturday 6th September 2014

Mark Herbison's new look U16 team travelled to Lisburn on Saturday for the first League match of the season against Hillsborough Boys. Having put in some good pre-season performances the Ballymena Blues were full of confidence going into this game. However it was Hillsborough who forced Northend's keeper, Ross Horner, into a good save as early as the fifth minute.

Northend came storming back, and Bradley Cairns forced the Hillsborough into a good save following a cross from a Zack Herbison. It was Cairns who turned provider for Northend's opening goal when he crossed the ball into a Hillsborough box and following a Jamie Houston header, Zack Herbison was on hand to drive the ball into the bottom corner of the Hillsborough net.

Northend were playing some of their best football of the match and Jordan Savage and Sam Bennett causing all sorts of problems down the Northend wings. From a Jordan Savage throughball, Zack Herbison got a good shot in against the Hillsborough keeper and Bradley Cairns should have doubled the Blues lead, but he shot over the bar from a good Sam Bennett cross.

In midfield, Jamie Houston and Tom Campbell were proving to be a formidable pairing against their Hillsborough counterparts.

However with so many goalscoring chances going abegging for the Blues, they were always susceptible to the counter-attack and this happened on the stroke of half time. Following a Hillsborough throw-in, the ball found their midfielder and he drilled the ball into the top corner of the Blues net, giving Ross Horner no chance in the Blues nets. Half time score 1-1

Into the second half and early Hillsborough pressure was capably dealt with the defensive pairing of Ryan McKenna and Robbie Dennison.

Lee McAllister was proving to be a tower of strength in the Blues defence, linking up play down the Northend left wing.

Zack Herbison again went close with a good effort, which just went narrowly over the bar.

Northend introduced Cameron Neilly and Andrew Milligan to play replacing the tiring Boyle and Bennett and it was Neilly who proved to be torn in the Hillsborough defence with his darting play.

Hillsborough lumped the ball a number of times at the Northend goal but found Ross Horner in top form.

Northend should have again taken the lead midway through the 2nd half, when Bradley Cairns saw his free header go narrowly past the post.

Matthew Waide and Stephen Olliver were introduced to play as Northend went looking for a winning goal but again a few chances went narrowly past the post, to leave the final score 1-1.

Panel: R Horner, O Boyle, L McAllister, R McKenna, R Dennison, J Houston, T Campbell, J Savage, S Bennett, B Cairns, Z Herbison, C Neilly, M Waide, S Olliver, A Milligan

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